Venue: Completely Depraved Stadium, St Helens Date: Sunday, 22 October Kick-off: 14:30 BST |
Protection: Stay on BBC One and BBC iPlayer; reside textual content updates on the BBC Sport web site and app |
Tom Burgess has stated representing England stays “a large honour” and he “actually values” enjoying for his nation, a decade after his debut.
The prop, 31, is within the 19-man squad for Sunday’s first Check towards Tonga.
Burgess has received 30 caps, all of them coming since he moved to Australia to hitch South Sydney Rabbitohs firstly of the 2013 NRL season.
“Yearly, I stay up for the worldwide fixtures,” Burgess instructed the BBC’s 5 Stay Rugby League podcast.
“I have been actually fortunate to have been a part of the staff for 10 years now and I’ve at all times actually valued enjoying for England.
“I’ve by no means thought ‘oh I can not play this 12 months’. That is the best stage for me, it is a large honour.”
Sunday’s sport at St Helens is the primary of a three-Check sequence between England and Tonga, with additional matches to comply with in Huddersfield (28 October) and Leeds (4 November).
The 2 sides haven’t met since an epic 2017 World Cup semi-final in Auckland, which England received 20-18.
Burgess added: “When it obtained introduced that Tonga have been coming to England for this sequence, I believed it was going to be a very good take a look at – in all probability one of the best take a look at we have had in just a few years I believe.
“I do know a number of the gamers, 5 of them play at Souths, so I do know there’s some good gamers in that squad.
“They’re actually severe about it, they’re creeping up the rankings and so they’re not coming right here for a vacation, so it’ll be a very good take a look at.”
‘Each side must bounce again’
Kevin Brown, who performed for England within the 2017 World Cup remaining, stated this sequence provides each side an opportunity to “bounce again” from their World Cup disappointment.
Tonga misplaced narrowly on the quarter-final stage to Samoa, who then defeated hosts England in additional time to succeed in the ultimate at Previous Trafford.
“It should be a battle and it is going to be a take a look at for each nations,” stated Brown.
“[Tonga] have been ranked quantity two on this planet earlier than the World Cup. Like England, they have been dissatisfied with how the World Cup completed. They have been each contenders and needed to win the World Cup. Each side in all probability must bounce again.
“That is the primary time they [Tonga] have had a Check sequence in England so it is historical past. Whoever wins this can begin the historical past off in the best approach for his or her nation.”