ALEX Walmsley will be 35 by the time the next Rugby League World Cup comes around in France – but as long as he is fit and playing well enough to get selected, he is determined to be on that plane with England.

The big front rower’s ambition is fuelled by missing out on last Autumn’s home World Cup campaign after picking up a significant foot ligament injury in August which also denied him another winning Grand Final appearance with Saints.

Now fully fit, having had the benefit of a longer than normal off-season, Walmsley is getting ready for another big year with Saints - but he has already given thought to what will be happening three years down the track.

Walmsley said: “The 2025 World Cup is something that I have thought about already.

“If I had played in the recent World Cup I would have probably come out and said that is me being done in terms of my international career.

“Watching the semi-final was tough to take.

“Missing out on playing in big games and at big stadiums like the semi at the Emirates and the opener at St James’ Park – big occasions - was gutting.

“I am not saying I would have made any difference, but being part of what I was hoping would be a successful World Cup campaign was something I had been building towards and looking forward to for five years since 2017.

“Missing out – and how much it meant to me missing out and how gutted I felt - has re-ignited that aim to play in the next World Cup.

“I realise I will have got to bat smartly to play in a World Cup at 35.

“I don’t want it to look like I am picking and choosing international campaigns, but it will all depend on what the international scene looks like at the end of the year as I I don’t think I could have two big international campaigns consecutively and play in a World Cup at 35.

“But all that would come down to a conversation I would need to have with Shaun Wane or whoever is the England coach at the time.

“Hopefully I can formulate a plan where I am part of a World Cup team at 35.

“The big caveat to that is as long as I am playing well enough to still be selected.”

Walmsley suffered the injury in the away game at Wigan in August, frustratingly just before the business end of the campaign.

Alex Walmsley describes Lisfranc injury

The injury was a significant one - the Lisfranc - the point at which the metatarsal bones and the tarsal bones in the foot arch connect.

Walmsley explained: “It is the main ligament structure in your foot that holds the main bridge in your foot together. If that goes your foot collapses, basically, that is why you have to respect them.

“They are quite tricky injuries but I was lucky to avoid surgery.

“These type of injuries are awkward and you do have to respect them – that is why I had to call the season as early as I did.

“Instead of a 12-week injury it could have been a 12-month injury and that was one to avoid at all costs.

“But it was tough to miss out on the Grand Final and the World Cup.

“I am very much a club person first so to miss out on Old Trafford was a tough one to take.

“That being said I would not change it now, knowing that the boys got the job done and I know what it meant to the team and the club to do what no one else has ever done before and win four in a row.

“As gutted as I was to miss out, I wouldn’t change it now, knowing what happened.”

It has afforded Walmsley time to get other niggles sorted and to work on his strength and conditioning for the year ahead.

That is something the 32-year-old powerhouse sees as a big plus going into another big campaign under new coach Paul Wellens.

“I have just got to dress it up as a positive – I have had four months where I have not had to tackle anyone, where I have been able to do strength work that I have not been able to do since lockdown.

“Hopefully that will pay dividends further down the line.

“I feel good, I feel strong and I feel fit,” said Walmsley.