England Rugby League coach Steve McNamara will travel to Australia this week for a 21-day fact-finding mission where he will meet all eight of the English NRL based players.

McNamara will spend the first week in Sydney before moving onto Melbourne for five days and returning to Sydney for the final week.

“Each year I always try to get over to Australia to keep abreast of Rugby League and other sporting developments in the Southern Hemisphere,” said McNamara.

“I have a number of meetings planned with clubs, coaches, other Australian based sports and, most importantly, all of the English players playing in the NRL.

“I will have a couple of meetings with the players where I will present our plans for the next two years. The Australian based players, alongside the ETS and Knights squads, form an integral part of our plans ensuring we are fully prepared over the next two years.”

The England boss will also carry out a number of media interviews during his time in Australia and has agreed to speak to broadcast and written media with a view to creating awareness of the England programme in the build up to the Rugby League World Cup in 2013

“I think it is important to continue to spread the word on the work we are doing at international level,” added McNamara.

“I have agreed to speak to a number of journalists, radio stations and TV shows whilst I’m in Sydney and I hope to get across my plans with the England team as we continue our preparation ahead of the World Cup in 2013. It is important to embrace the sport and there is no better way to create awareness of the international game than speaking to the Australian media in their own backyard.”

McNamara will visit a number of high profile sporting organisations including NRL clubs Brisbane Broncos, Canterbury Bulldogs, Melbourne Storm, Newcastle Knights South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers. He will also be a guest of AFL teams Essendon Bombers and Sydney Swans.