England and Wales Students will clash in a two-match series starting later this month, with the old rivals meeting in home and away games.
Wales will host England on Sunday 30th June at Aberavon Harlequins RFC, kick-off 3pm, in the first game of the series.
Then six days later on Saturday 6th July, England then welcome Wales to the Arthur Miller Stadium, Stanningley, Leeds, the venue where Wales won the Student Four Nations title in 2009, for a 2.30pm kick-off.
The matches replace this year’s scheduled Student Four Nations tournament which will not take place in 2024 as Scotland and Ireland are unable to compete.
The Welsh have been preparing well for the matches, recently scoring a big win over JES Group Rugby League Conference leaders South Wales Jets in a friendly match that paid tribute to Wales squad member Gabriel Holt who sadly died earlier this year.
Wales Students head coach Craig Fisher said: “Following from the cancellation of the Four Nations, we find ourselves preparing now for two games against arguably the best student nation team of the last decade. We intend on putting our best foot forward to get a result in both games in what has been a very disrupted and frustrating year for our student programme.
“I was fairly pleased with how we played in the game against the Jets but know we need to be much more clinical and professional in order to turn England over. Hopefully, a big crowd and Gabe Holt looking down on us will act as the extra man we may need in those tough times.”
England will be well prepared for the series with next Wednesday’s game against Great Britain Teachers at Lock Lane (kick-off 7pm) marking their third game of the year in the RFL President’s Cup in which a victory will see them crowned back-to-back champions after last week’s 24-0 win over UK Armed Forces.
“We’re thrilled that we have been able to arrange this series with Wales Students and are very grateful to them for working quickly to arrange the series” said David Butler, England Universities Team Manager. “It’s very disappointing that we won’t have a Student Four Nations this year, but we’ve heard about the progress that Wales have been making and look forward to renewing our rivalry with them over this series. We are also continuing to work with Scotland and Ireland towards next year’s Four Nations tournament and will be working to secure that tournament early so we have certainty for 2025.”
Admission for the first match at Aberavon Harlequins costs £5 for adults, free for U16s.