The Ashes — Rugby League

Every Ashes series between Great Britain (now England) and Australia since 1908 — rugby league borrowed the name from cricket. Played intermittently rather than annually, with long gaps for both World Wars and a 22-year hiatus between 2003 and the 2025 revival.

Data last verified: 11 August 2026.

Rugby League: Champions ▾
Competition: The Ashes ▾

40 series covered. Australia have won the most (20). Most recent: 2025 — Australia (3-0).

Results

SeasonWinnerRunner-upVenueResult
1908-09Great BritainAustralia—2-0 (1 tied)
1910Great BritainAustralasia—2-0
1911-12AustralasiaGreat Britain—2-0 (1 tied)
1914Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1920AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1921-22Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1924Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1928Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1929-30Great BritainAustralia—2-1 (1 tied)
1932Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1933Great BritainAustralia—3-0
1936Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1937Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1946Great BritainAustralia—2-0 (1 tied)
1948Great BritainAustralia—3-0
1950AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1952Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1954AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1956Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1958Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1959Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1962Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1963AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1966AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1967AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1970Great BritainAustralia—2-1
1973AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1974AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1978AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1979AustraliaGreat Britain—3-0
1982AustraliaGreat Britain—3-0
1984AustraliaGreat Britain—3-0
1986AustraliaGreat Britain—3-0
1988AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1990AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1992AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
1994AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
2001AustraliaGreat Britain—2-1
2003AustraliaGreat Britain—3-0
2025AustraliaEngland—3-0

Notes, by series

SeasonNotes
1908-09First series; Great Britain's team was still known as the "Northern Union" at this point.
1910Played in Australia; opponent officially named "Australasia" (a combined Australia/New Zealand side).
1914Last series before a five-year gap for the First World War (no series 1915-1919).
1920First series after the First World War.
1924Great Britain's touring side was labelled "England" in match records this era.
1929-30Four matches played, including one draw.
1937Last series before an eight-year gap for the Second World War (no series 1938-1945).
1946First series after the Second World War; still labelled "England" in some match logs.
1948"Great Britain" used consistently as the team name from this series on.
1970Great Britain's last Ashes series win to date.
1973Start of a long run of Australian series wins.
2001Seven-year gap since the previous series in 1994.
2003Last series before a 22-year hiatus — the concept was folded into the wider international calendar (Tri-Nations, Four Nations, and Rugby League World Cup finals) rather than played as a standalone series again until 2025.
2025Revival series after a 22-year gap (2004-2024). Team renamed from "Great Britain" to "England." Test 1: Wembley Stadium, London, 25 Oct 2025, England 6-26 (att. 60,812). Test 2: Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium, Liverpool, 1 Nov 2025, England 4-14 (att. 52,106). Test 3: Headingley, Leeds, 8 Nov 2025, England 8-30 (att. 19,500). Total attendance 132,418 across the series. Next series scheduled for 2028.

Format note

Every series is a multi-Test tour (2, 3 or 4 Tests). No genuine single-Test edition exists in this competition's history.

Sources

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