Rugby League World Cup: England rocked by injury with Perth Bears-bound Morgan Smithies ruled out | Rugby League News | Sky Sports
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Morgan Smithies has been ruled out of the Rugby League World Cup in a blow to England head coach Brian McDermott; he has been replaced by Leeds Rhinos’ Kallum Watkins
Wednesday 14 October 2026 14:35, UK
Morgan Smithies has been ruled out of the World Cup
England have been rocked by injury on the eve of the Rugby League World Cup with Perth Bears-bound Morgan Smithies ruled out of the tournament.
Leeds Rhinos’ Kallum Watkins is set to depart for Australia to take the place of lock and second-row forward Smithies.
Watkins, who played in two of last year’s three Ashes Tests against Australia, will arrive in Perth ahead of the weekend but is not set to feature in Saturday’s opener against Tonga.
Head coach Brian McDermott said: “It’s really unfortunate what has happened to Morgan with an injury picked up in training.
“Morgan has been great since we entered camp. He’s a real team player and his work ethic and toughness are qualities that we will certainly miss.
“Kallum enjoyed a terrific season with Leeds this year and has been part of our England Performance Programme building into this World Cup.
“I look forward to welcoming him into camp as we step up our preparations.”
Watkins, 35, started out his glittering career as a centre but has transitioned to the pack in recent years and has played under McDermott at club level during his first stint as a player at Headingley.
Should he feature, he will play in his fourth Rugby League World Cup after previously representing his country on home soil in 2013 and 2022 plus Down Under when England progressed to the 2017 final.
Men’s Pools
- Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji
- Group B: England, Lebanon, Samoa
- Group C: France, Papua New Guinea, Tonga