Last updated on .From the section Rugby League

France an ideal warm-up, says Brown

England would benefit from a mid-season warm-up, to match New Zealand's Anzac Test with Australia, going into November's Test series, says international half-back Kevin Brown.

Steve McNamara's side play France on 24 October in their only friendly match.

The Kiwis, in contrast, have Friday's Test against Australia and then take on Leeds on 23 October.

Brown told the Super League Show: "That will only harden them for the end of the season, we need something similar."

He continued: "Australia v New Zealand will be 80 minutes of sheer intense rivalry.

"I think it would be good for the players getting together and playing [in mid-season]."

Previously, England have tried to create a representative rugby series in the shape of the Exiles format, which brought together a squad of international players playing in the European Super League competition.

However the format only lasted three seasons, with two one-off fixtures in 2011 and 2013 either side of a two-game series in 2012, and each side won two games apiece.

"It'd be especially good if we could play an Australia or a New Zealand, to get a real physical, intense game," Brown, who has three caps for England, added.

Ex-Roosters prop Remi Casty is among the star names in the France side that will face England

"You don't just want to play any team and win by 50 points."

France had a poor 2013 World Cup, losing group matches to Samoa and New Zealand before tumbling out to England 34-6 in the quarter-finals.

Coach Richard Agar will draw the majority of his squad from the Catalans Dragons side, who have handed debuts to domestic talent such as Gadwin Springer, Stan Robin and Fouad Yaha in 2015.

Sunday's win against Hull KR featured 12 of 17 French-qualified players, and highlighted the talent pool available.

"They need to put a performance together," former Great Britain head coach Brian Noble added.

"The pressure is on England to stop New Zealand winning the series, but that's a great warm-up game.

"France are growing and growing but they haven't quite done it on the international stage and they'll be keen to do that."