England and France's men's teams last played in 2018 ©Getty Images

Scrums will be absent from the rugby league international later this month between England and France on health grounds, International Rugby League (IRL) has ruled.

England's national governing body, Rugby Football League (RFL), banned scrums when its top-tier Super League competition returned from a COVID-19 hiatus in 2020, and they are ye to return.

The RFL Board has approved their return in 2022, but the internationals between France and England will follow the no-scrum rule, it has been confirmed.

Scrums were axed in an attempt to reduce the number of close contacts over the course of a match.

England and France will face off in men's and women's games on October 23 in Perpignan.

Scrums have been removed from rugby league for COVID-19 reasons in the northern hemisphere ©Getty Images
Scrums have been removed from rugby league for COVID-19 reasons in the northern hemisphere ©Getty Images

The doubleheader will be played on the same day the 2012 Rugby League World Cup in England was due to begin.

The Rugby League World Cup - due to feature men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments - was delayed until 2022 after Australia and New Zealand pulled out.

Australia and New Zealand are the top-ranked women's and men's rugby league national teams, with the Australians reigning men's and women's world champions.

France hold the wheelchair crown and will play England in Gillingham on November 10 and 13.