The Rugby League Ashes is set to make a triumphant return later this month, with all the action being broadcast live on the BBC for the first time in over two decades. This historic best-of-three series has been contested 39 times between Great Britain and Australia since its inception in 1908, but has not taken place since 2003. Now, after more than 20 years, the event has been revived, albeit with a significant change to one of the competing teams.

Previously, the series saw a Great Britain side take on Australia, but the new event will see England step up as the challengers to the Kangaroos. The Great Britain brand was largely dissolved in 2006, except for an unsuccessful return six years ago. With England participating in the Tri-Nations, and then Four Nations, they have not faced the Australians in eight years, their last encounter being the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final in Brisbane.

Under the leadership of head coach Shaun Wane, England will carry on the legacy of their Great British predecessors, who narrowly lost out to Australia in the overall head-to-head record when the event concluded in 2003. Up until that point, they had won 19 of the series, with the Kangaroos winning 20, having triumphed in all 13 series held since 1973.

The comeback will see teams compete at three venues across England, with the opening match scheduled for Wembley Stadium on October 25.

The next event will be a face-off at Everton’s new venue, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, on November 1, with a potential series decider set for AMT Headingley Stadium in Leeds on 8 November.

All three matches will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with Match of the Day host Mark Chapman leading the broadcaster’s coverage alongside a team of pundits including Sam Burgess, Kev Brown, Jon Wilkin, Jamie Peacock, Jodie Cunningham and Robbie Hunter-Paul.

Welsh dual-code legend Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies will join lead commentator Matt Newsum for co-commentary duties, with James Graham, John Kear, and Brian Noble also contributing. Tanya Arnold and Damian Johnson will provide pitch-side reports.

“Bringing the Rugby League Ashes back to audiences for the first time in a generation isn’t just about broadcasting the matches, it’s about reconnecting fans with one of the sport’s most iconic rivalries,” said Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport.

“Alongside the live action on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, we’re diving deeper into the stories, moments and players to take fans right into the heart of the action.”

Rhodri Jones, the Managing Director of RL Commercial, added: “The return of the Rugby League Ashes after a 22-year absence is a landmark moment for the sport in this country, and we are delighted that all three Tests will be shown live on BBC One.

“BBC Sport’s relationship with Rugby League, and specifically international Rugby League, stretches back many decades, to Clive Sullivan’s World Cup winning try in France in 1972, through other classic moments such as the famous Jonathan Davies score against Australia at Wembley in 1994, and more recently Herbie Farnworth’s long-range effort against Samoa in the World Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium in 2022.

“We’re looking forward to Shaun Wane’s England team, and the 2025 Kangaroos, providing more classic sporting moments for a national audience in London, Liverpool and Leeds this autumn.”