Burnham Gives England's Three World Cup Squads a Chequers Send-Off
Prime Minister Andy Burnham hosted England's men's, women's and wheelchair rugby league squads at Chequers for a World Cup send-off before the teams fly to Australia, with Brad O'Neill, Jodie Cunningham and Lewis King representing the three sides.
England's rugby league World Cup hopefuls received a prime-ministerial send-off this week, with Andy Burnham inviting representatives of the men's, women's and wheelchair squads to Chequers ahead of their departure for Australia.
Men's hooker Brad O'Neill, women's captain Jodie Cunningham and wheelchair international Lewis King attended the reception at the Prime Minister's country residence, enjoying morning tea with Burnham before the tournament gets underway.
O'Neill, the 24-year-old Wigan Warriors hooker who claimed the Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award after winning the Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield this season, described the visit as a privilege. He said Burnham, a lifelong rugby league fan from Leigh — the club the Prime Minister supports — chatted freely about the sport with all three representatives.
The World Cup begins this week, with England's men opening their campaign against Tonga in Perth on Saturday, October 17. Cunningham will lead the women's side out against Wales as part of the same double-header, while the wheelchair team — champions on home soil in 2022 — start their title defence against Wales in Wollongong on October 30.
Premier Sports will broadcast every match across the men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments in the UK, while the Rugby Football League says all three squads have settled well in camp under their respective coaches.