England's Rugby League World Cup Failure: Where It Went Wrong for Men and Women

England's Rugby League World Cup campaign ended in double disappointment on Friday, with both the men's and women's teams falling short of their goals. The men's side, tipped as strong contenders on home soil, failed to reach the final, while the women's team also exited earlier than expected. The early exits have triggered immediate inquests into what went wrong, with questions being asked about preparation, selection, and tactical decisions. Key figures such as head coaches Shaun Wane and Craig Richards are under scrutiny, as are the performances of star players like George Williams and Emily Rudge. The results are a major blow for the Rugby Football League, which had hoped a successful World Cup would boost the sport's profile in the UK. With the tournament continuing without the host nation in the latter stages, attention now turns to rebuilding and learning lessons ahead of future international competitions. The coming weeks will be crucial for the sport's leadership as they seek to explain the failures and chart a path forward.