Brad O'Neill: England call-up a 'dream come true' for Wigan Warriors hooker

The senior outfit are set to fly out on Friday, with the double-header in Toulouse to celebrate 90 years of the French game.

O’Neill has won every club honour available in the last two years with the Warriors, most recently securing a record-extending 21st Challenge Cup triumph at Wembley earlier this month.

He also played an integral role in the Warriors’ successful pursuit of the 2023 Super League title and League Leaders’ Shield, as well as the record-equalling World Club Challenge triumph earlier in February against NRL champions Penrith Panthers.

Now, the 21-year-old looks set to make his international bow with teammates Harry Smith, Luke Thompson and Tyler Dupree also selected in a strong 20-player squad for the game at Stade Ernest-Wallon, while Tiaki Chan has been named in the French squad.

“It’s a proud moment for me and my family and I’m really excited for the weekend,” O’Neill said.

“Waney (Shaun Wane) rang me earlier last week and told me I’d be involved for the French Test.

“I was over the moon. It was a very proud moment and I rang my family straight away.

“It was a surprise, because there’s great competition. I was pretty speechless.

“It’s always been a dream, a young lad playing rugby, all you want to do is play the pinnacle which is playing for England.

“It’s a dream come true.”

O’Neill received the starting number nine shirt at The Brick Community Stadium for the first time ahead of the 2024 Super League campaign, having enjoyed a somewhat quick rise in the senior ranks with just 65 appearances to date.

And he has delivered on the field for the Warriors as one of the standout performers of the 2024 campaign, with Matt Peet’s side having lost just twice all season to sit at the top of the Super League table.

“I’ve been working hard on my game with all the coaches at Wigan, I feel like it’s almost come in two, two-and-a-half-years time,” O’Neill explained.

“But the work has been done all the way through leading to this.

“I’ve enjoyed the hard work that’s got me to this position.”