The European Championship offers rugby league fans quirky delights

A fter the success of the Rugby League World Cup, it was somewhat dispiriting that the Super League season began, yet again, with no autumn international programme in place for later this year. Fans were assured that things were different now, that under the new IMG regime such seemingly shambolic organisation was a thing of the past. On this occasion, though, it is not the RFL’s fault: the ongoing standoff between the NRL and players’ association in Australia over their collective bargaining agreement has prevented the Asia-Pacific nations from confirming their international plans.

However, England know they will play at least three internationals in October and November: against Ireland, Scotland and (pray for them) Serbia in the European Championship. England will expect to top their group in the eight-team tournament and then face France – who have been drawn against Wales, Italy and Spain in Group B – in the final on Saturday 21 November.

In rugby league, the Euros lie well below the World Cup and series between the top nations as far as status goes. In contrast with the turbo engine that is the Six Nations, rugby league’s elite European international competition is no more than a hubcap on the northern hemisphere’s commercial vehicle. But as Theodore Roosevelt remarked, comparison is the thief of joy, and league’s Euros has little acorns of quirky delight to be relished.

For a start, unlike the Six Nations’ closed shop, league’s Euros is typically egalitarian. In theory, every European member-nation can work their way up from the C and B into the A competition. Spain and Serbia have been given their chance this year, and two teams will be relegated for the 2026 event to make way for those promoted from the B