Shaun Wane days away from first session with England 'in person'

Shaun Wane is days away from meeting his England squad in person for the first time.
England and former Wigan coach Shaun WaneEngland and former Wigan coach Shaun Wane
England and former Wigan coach Shaun Wane

He was appointed national coach more than a year ago but because of the pandemic, he has conducted all his conversations over the phone or online - and he has yet to have a training session with them.

That frustrating wait is nearly over.

The former Wigan coach is set to hold a meeting with them on April 6 - possibly in Manchester - ahead of a training session the following week.

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Warriors players John Bateman, Oliver Gildart, Liam Farrell, Dom Manfredi and Zak Hardaker were included in the last provisional squad.

The sessions can go ahead after the RFL Board this month approved some changes in response to Covid-19, allowing players to move from a professional environment to international environment, subject to lateral flow testing.

Wane was appointed England coach last February but a planned meeting with his squad at Old Trafford the following month fell victim to the first national lockdown, while the pandemic scrubbed the Ashes series from the fixture list.

Organisers are still confident this autumn's World Cup will go ahead and Wane is planning for a June clash against a revived Exiles team comprised of Super League's best overseas players.