Matty Lees called up for England Rugby League World Cup squad

Former Mayfield star Matty Lees

Former Mayfield player Matty Lees has been named in the 24-man squad for the first Rugby League World Cup on home soil for nine years.

St Helens prop Matty Lees – a Mayfield junior graduate – made his first team debut at Wakefield in 2017, joining St Helens the following year. His form saw him rewarded with an England Knights debut.

Lees, 24, was named Super League’s Young Player of the Year in 2019 and also took away the same award at the Saints Awards Dinner.

Unfortunately his season was cut short that year and he missed out on the Wembley Challenge Cup Final and Super League Grand Final after he perforated his bowel in a match against Leeds Rhinos. Wayne Bennett had confirmed he would have been called up for Great Britain had he not picked up the injury.

Lees recovered from his injury in 2020 and was often utilised as a starting prop, playing 20 times in total as he picked up his second Grand Final ring.

Matty was a regular in 2021 and his performances helped Saints win three Super League Grand Finals in a row and a first Challenge Cup for 13 years.

England will play a World Cup warm-up match against Fiji at the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford next Friday (7 October), before they begin their World Cup campaign against Samoa at St James’ Park in Newcastle on Saturday October 15 – the opening match of the tournament.

Shaun Wane, the England Head Coach, said: “After so many conversations with the players over the last two years, it’s exciting for all of us to be getting ready to go into camp for a home World Cup.

“The mood of the players and staff is fantastic. The opening match against Samoa in Newcastle is going to be a massive occasion, and I know English Rugby League fans and the sporting public will get behind us.”