FOUR England teams will play five fixtures this autumn to step up the nation’s preparations for the Rugby League World Cup which will now be staged in the autumn of 2022.

England’s Men and Women will play a double header against France in Perpignan on Saturday October 23 – with the Women’s game kicking off at 2pm French time (1pm BST), followed by the Men’s Test at 430pm local time (330pm BST).

England Wheelchair will host France, the reigning world champions, in a two-Test series at Medway Park, Gillingham on November 10 and 13 – with those matches kicking off at 730pm and 6pm respectively.

And Paul Anderson’s England Knights team will play their first match for two years against Jamaica - another nation preparing for the Men’s World Cup – at the Mend-a-Hose Jungle on Friday October 15 (745ko), in a match which will form part of the testimonial year for Jordan Turner.

These five games have all been welcomed by European Rugby League and International Rugby League, along with two other Men’s internationals - Jamaica versus Scotland on October 29, and the annual Griffin Cup fixture between Germany and Holland in Dusseldorf on October 2 - and two Wheelchair internationals for Wales, both at Glyndwr University, Wrexham - against Ireland on Saturday 16 October and Scotland on Saturday October 30.

In addition Wales and Ireland will play a Women’s international, the first for both nations, on Sunday October 17 at Colwyn Bay.

Simon Johnson, RFL Chair: said: "It has been a priority to secure competitive international fixtures for our three England teams – Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair – this autumn as they refocus on the postponed Rugby League World Cup in 2022.

"With French Rugby League on a high following the success of the Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique this season, and their Wheelchair team the reigning world champions, we are delighted to have arranged these fixtures with the French Federation, and we thank Luc Lacoste and his team for working so quickly to confirm the matches. We are also delighted that our Knights team will receive a competitive outing, providing important opposition for Jamaica in their World Cup preparations, and also supporting Jordan Turner’s testimonial.”

Shaun Wane, England Men’s Head Coach, sees the France game as a good option for the national side this autumn as they refocus on the World Cup in 2022.

"French Rugby League is on the up through Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique, and I know from experience that the French fans will passionately support their team at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

"Come October I’ll pick the strongest possible team and make sure we’re well prepared for a tough challenge.

"The France game will come with less than a year until our World Cup opener against Samoa in Newcastle, and that makes it an important part of our planning.”

Laurent Frayssinous, France Men’s Head Coach, said: "We are excited about playing a strong nation like England with lot of good players.

"This game is the first step of our programme and plan to lead us to the RLWC 2022. We have not played for two years in France so this is an excellent opportunity for all fans and players to come back to Brutus - which is known as a hostile land for all English teams.”

England fixtures, autumn 2021.

Friday October 15: England Knights v Jamaica (Mend-a-Hose Jungle, Castleford – 745pm).

Saturday October 23: France Women v England Women (Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan – 1pm BST).

Saturday October 23: France Men v England Men (Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan – 330pm BST).

Wednesday November 10: England Wheelchair v France Wheelchair (Medway Park, Gillingham – 730pm).

Saturday November 13: England Wheelchair v France Wheelchair (Medway Park, Gillingham – 6pm).