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• BBC
• Sat Nov 8 2025

When England trudged off the field at Headingley, disappointment hung in the air for several reasons.

Not only because of the 30-8 defeat on the day and the 3-0 series loss to Australia, but for the fact that this might be the last time England play in front of a home crowd until 2027.

England do not have a home Test booked in for 2026, before next year's World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea. They will then play New Zealand in a three-match series, starting 23 months from now.

With Super League expanding to a 14-team competition next term, a mid-season Test fixture, removed from the calendar in 2025, appears unlikely.

It is a shame, given that this Ashes series ? the first since 2003 ? has proved a huge draw.

A total of 132,418 fans attended the three games, including more than 60,000 at Wembley and 50,000-plus at Hill Dickinson Stadium. One suspects Headingley ? the 19,500-seater venue for the final Test ? could have sold out at least twice over.

So given its popularity, what chance the Ashes become a regular event?

There is a tour of Australia planned for 2028, and BBC Sport understands it would be an England team who travel rather than Great Britain. The series is likely to happen, but details have not yet been confirmed.

Australia are keen to play England again - and not just because of the glow that comes with a 3-0 series win.

Peter V'landys, chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, told BBC Sport after the first Test: "It's a high priority for us to make the international game a higher profile and put the pride back in.

"I think there's an appetite with the audience ? which was the case here with 60,000 people [at Wembley]. So you know there's certainly a demand. It has to be a regular series."