Shaun Wane Resigns as England Rugby League Coach

Shaun Wane resigned as head coach of England's rugby league team on Wednesday, ending a six-year tenure that included notable series victories but ended amid criticism following a heavy defeat to Australia. The Rugby Football League announced it would immediately begin searching for a successor, with the role reverting to part-time status ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Wane, 61, who took charge in February 2020 after previously coaching Wigan Warriors, oversaw 19 matches in a full-time capacity. His time in the job brought successes, including clean-sweep series wins over Tonga in 2023 and Samoa in 2024. England also reached the semifinals of the 2022 Rugby League World Cup hosted at home, though they fell to Samoa in a close contest. However, the team struggled on major stages, including failing to advance to the final in 2022 and suffering a 3-0 whitewash by Australia in the Ashes series last October and November. The Kangaroos defeated England at Wembley, the Halliwell Jones Stadium and Headingley, prompting questions about Wane's leadership.

"It has been the honor of my life to coach England Rugby League over the last six years," Wane said in a statement released by the RFL....