Area: 130,422 km2

Capital: London

Population: 60 million

World Cups played (13): 1954*, 1957*, 1960*, 1968*, 1970*, 1972*, 1975, 1977*, 1985-88*, 1989-92*, 1995, 2000, 2008. *As Great Britain

England enjoy a unique position within Rugby League history having given birth to the sport in 1895 when disillusioned clubs from the north of England rebelled against their southern counterparts to form their own breakaway league. It became known as the Northern Union, predecessor to the modern day Rugby Football League.

The first ever Rugby League international test was played several years later in 1904, when representatives of the Northern Union, which was effectively an England side, played against a team of players of other nationalities and lost 9-3.

With Rugby League spreading around the world during the 1905-1907 period, England, under the team banner of Great Britain, played host to the famous New Zealand ‘All Golds’ touring side in 1907 and then to the first ever Australian touring side in 1908. In 1910, England then embarked on their first ever Rugby League tour, playing numerous games in both New Zealand and Australia.

England have since appeared in every World Cup played although they played, up until 1975, under the banner of Great Britain and won the trophy on three occasions including the inaugural tournament in France in 1954. Great Britain became England in 1975 but reverted back to GB for the 1977, 1988 and 1992 tournaments before permanently becoming England.

England have produced some of the greatest Rugby League players of all time, including the uncompromising forward Malcolm Reilly, Ellery Hanley, widely regarded as one of the toughest competitors ever to play the game and the legendary Harold Wagstaff, who led Huddersfield to an unprecedented four titles during the 1915 season.