Major sporting event returns to BBC for first time since 2003 as big change announced
The popular event has not been staged for over 20 years but will be available to watch on free-to-air television as it makes its long-awaited return
The Rugby League Ashes will return to the BBC later this month as the event takes place for the first time in over 20 years.
This historic best-of-three series started back in 1908, with Great Britain taking on Australia on 39 occasions before it abruptly ended in 2003. However, after more than two decades away, the event is being revived, albeit with a major change to one of the competing teams.
While the previous incarnation of the Ashes saw Great Britain face Australia, the new event will see England step up as challengers to the Kangaroos. The Great Britain brand was largely dissolved in 2006, barring an unsuccessful return in 2019.
With England taking part in the Tri-Nations and then Four Nations, they haven't squared off against the Australians in eight years, with their last encounter being the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final in Brisbane.
Led by head coach Shaun Wane, England will now take up the mantle from their Great British predecessors, who narrowly lost to Australia in the overall head-to-head record when the event concluded in 2003. Up until that point, they had won 19 of the series, with the Kangaroos winning 20, having triumphed in all 13 series held since 1973.
The much-anticipated return of the event will see the teams compete at three venues across England, with the opening match kicking off at Wembley Stadium on October 25.
That will be followed by a clash at Everton's new ground, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, on November 1, before a potential series decider at AMT Headingley Stadium in Leeds on November 8.
All three fixtures will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with Match of the Day presenter Mark Chapman leading the broadcaster's coverage alongside a punditry panel featuring Sam Burgess, Kev Brown, Jon Wilkin, Jamie Peacock, Jodie Cunningham and Robbie Hunter-Paul.
Welsh dual-code icon Jonathan 'Jiffy' Davies will provide co-commentary alongside lead commentator Matt Newsum, who will also be accompanied by James Graham, John Kear, and Brian Noble. Tanya Arnold and Damian Johnson will report from pitch-side.
"Bringing the Rugby League Ashes back to audiences for the first time in a generation isn't just about broadcasting the matches, it's about reconnecting fans with one of the sport's most iconic rivalries," said Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport.
"Alongside the live action on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, we're diving deeper into the stories, moments and players to take fans right into the heart of the action."
Rhodri Jones, the Managing Director of RL Commercial, added: "The return of the Rugby League Ashes after a 22-year absence is a landmark moment for the sport in this country, and we are delighted that all three Tests will be shown live on BBC One.
"BBC Sport's relationship with Rugby League, and specifically international Rugby League, stretches back many decades, to Clive Sullivan's World Cup winning try in France in 1972, through other classic moments such as the famous Jonathan Davies score against Australia at Wembley in 1994, and more recently Herbie Farnworth's long-range effort against Samoa in the World Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium in 2022.
"We're looking forward to Shaun Wane's England team, and the 2025 Kangaroos, providing more classic sporting moments for a national audience in London, Liverpool and Leeds this autumn."