Jack Welsby becomes England's youngest-ever captain for historic Tonga clash

20 October 2023 , 07:23

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England's Jack Welsby after last year's World Cup win v Papua New Guinea (Image: Getty Images for RLWC)

Jack Welsby will become the youngest England captain in rugby league history when he leads his country out on Sunday.

Boss Shaun Wane has selected the St Helens star - who is just 22 - as his skipper against Tonga with George Williams banned for the opening two games of the three Test series. It is another huge accolade for full-back Welsby who has already achieved so much in his career so far. Wane could easily have selected more experienced campaigners such as Canberra co-captain Elliot Whitehead, 34, or Wigan skipper Liam Farrell, 32, but he views Welsby - shortlisted for Man of Steel this season - as the ideal man.

With the opening Test at his home ground at St Helens, Welsby admitted: "I’m really excited to be named England captain, and if I’m honest, I’m extremely humbled. It’s a dream come true. It’s a huge accolade for me and to be leading the lads out on Sunday in front of my family is going to be a huge honour. There’s also the added bonus that it will be at St Helens. When Shaun came over and spoke to me it took me by surprise and wasn’t what I was expecting at all."

He will follow in the distinguished footsteps of Andy Farrell, who became the youngest player to captain Great Britain when he led the Lions in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand at the age of 21 in 1996. Welsby’s versatility has seen him named in the Betfred Super League Dream Team in three different positions in three consecutive seasons lifting the Betfred Super League on three occasions with St Helens as well as a Betfred Challenge Cup and a World Club Challenge following a historic win over Penrith Panthers in February. Welsby made a try-scoring England debut in the huge 60-6 victory over Samoa in last year’s Rugby League World Cup opener against Samoa at St James’ Park.

He went on to be an ever-present throughout the tournament before also featuring against France earlier this season.

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England's Jack Welsby and Tonga's Keaon Koloamatangi at a press conference at St Helens' Totally Wicked Stadium (PA)

Wane added: “It’s a massive privilege for me to give Jack the chance to captain his country. Since coming into the England squad last year, I’ve been really impressed with Jack’s performances on the field but his actions and behaviour away from the field have impressed me just as much.

“We have a lot of senior players within the squad who are natural leaders but with the international schedule locked in for the next four years we need to look to the future and Jack is a massive part of that.”

David Craven