Graham to captain, Widdop picked for England
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St George Illawarra prop James Graham has been named as England captain for the upcoming World Cup Nines after being one of six NRL players in Wayne Bennett's squad for the tournament at Bankwest Stadium.
Graham will be joined in the 16-man squad by Dragons teammate Gareth Widdop, Raiders pair Elliott Whitehead and Ryan Sutton, South Sydney prop Tom Burgess and Sydney Roosters winger Ryan Hall.
Canberra-bound halfback George Williams has also been selected for the World Cup Nines, which will played on October 18 and 19 and feature 12 men's teams and four women's teams.
Graham, Widdop, Whitehead, Burgess, Hall and Williams will also be selected for November's Great Britain Lions four-match tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, which also includes a Test against Tonga in Hamilton.
Canberra forwards John Bateman and Josh Hodgson are also expected to be in the 24-man Lions squad, which will be named after next weekend's Super League grand final between St Helens and Salford at Old Trafford.
No members of the Super League grand final teams were considered for the World Cup Nines squad, which also includes former Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins, who now plays for Catalans.
England will also field a women's team at the World Cup Nines, along with Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
England's men's side has been drawn in a qualifying group with Wales, France and Lebanon, with the winner advancing to a semi-final.
England World Cup Nines squad
- James Graham (St George Illawarra) (captain)
- Tom Burgess (South Sydney)
- Daryl Clark (Warrington)
- Jake Connor (Hull FC)
- Ryan Hall (Sydney Roosters)
- Ash Handley (Leeds)
- Jack Hughes (Warrington)
- Reece Lyne (Wakefield)
- Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield)
- Ryan Sutton (Canberra)
- Sam Tomkins (Catalans)
- Jake Trueman (Castleford)
- Liam Watts (Castleford)
- Elliott Whitehead (Canberra)
- Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra)
- George Williams (Wigan).
For ticket and travel packages for the Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s Sydney 2019, head to nrl.com/tickets.
