More than 60,000 tickets sold within hours to the historic Rugby League Ashes series in the UK

Tens of thousands of sporting fans have snapped up tickets to the historic Rugby League Ashes series which will return for the first time since 2003.

Tens of thousands of rugby league fans have rushed to snare tickets to the historic rugby league Ashes test series to be played in the UK later this year and will return after a 22-year hiatus.

On Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) pre-registered league fans were able to snare tickets to the three tests and within hours more than 60,000 tickets were already sold.

There are about 150,000 tickets available across the three tests with almost half already snapped up.

Coach Mal Meninga looks on during an Australian Kangaroos captain's run at Apollo Projects Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

The three tests that are part of the ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes Series will be played between England and Australia at Wembley Stadium in London, Everton Stadium in Liverpool and AMT Headingley in Leeds in October and November.

UK Rugby League said the majority of tickets at Headingley – which holds about 19,000 fans and is where the third Test match will be held – have already sold and only about 1500 tickets are left.

It’s unclear whether there will be any tickets left when they go on sale for general admission on Monday.

UK Rugby League Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones said he was thrilled with the surge in fans rushing to buy tickets to the test series.

“These are unprecedented and exciting figures for rugby league – easily the most tickets that have been sold for any series in a single day,” he said.

“It confirms the huge demand to see Shaun Wane’s England team taking on Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos this autumn in the first Ashes series since 2003.

“We believe our choice of venues has captured the imagination of rugby league and sports fans in all parts of the country and even overseas.

“We have set ambitious goals to ensure the series is played in front of the audiences it deserves and we are already well on course to meet those goals”.

Australia has not come head-to-head with England since the 2017 World Cup final which the Kangaroos won 6-0 at Lang Park in Brisbane.

Tickets, which start at £30 ($62) for adults and £15 ($31) for under 16s, will continue to be available to fans who have pre-registered and they can gain early access to seats until Monday 10am BST (7pm AEST).

They will then become available to the public.

The famous Wembley Stadium will be home to the first test on Saturday, October 25, before the series heads to northern England.

The second test will be played at the new Everton Stadium in Liverpool on Saturday, November 1 and the final test is played at AMT Headingley in Leeds on November 8.

Originally published as More than 60,000 tickets sold within hours to the historic Rugby League Ashes series in the UK