The countdown to the 2025 Ashes series is truely on as England prepare to take on Australia at Wembley Stadium in the opening test in nine days time.

Over the years, Leeds have had 25 Australian internationals pull on blue and amber, starting with Joe 'Chimpy' Busch and the most recent being Trent Merrin. 

Here's our run down of the top Australian international that has played for Leeds players from each decade:

1980s - Andrew Ettingshausen

Cronulla Sharks legendary full back and NRL Hall of Famer Andrew Ettingshausen played two years at Leeds between two spells at the Sydney club.

Internationally, Ettingshausen featured for Australia 25 times from 1988 until 1994, and was part of four test teams that faced Great Britain in the Ashes. Debuting for the Kangaroos in the 1988 series, he scored in the second test to secure the series win for the Aussies, plus he also featured in the 1990, 1992 and 1994 Ashes series - scoring one try in the latter. During his time in Green and Gold, Ettingshausen also recorded tries in the 1990 clash against Great Britain as well as two tests against France. He capped off his time in green and gold with a hat trick against France in 1994 before retiring internationally.

Arriving at Leeds in 1986 whilst out of the NRL season, Ettingshausen debuted against Salford before going onto score 30 tries in 41 appearances in blue and amber. He later returned to Cronulla, where he is a club immortal.

1990s - Cliff Lyons

NRL Hall of Famer Cliff Lyons was one of five former Leeds players to play for the Kangaroos during the 90s when the Green and Golds won three Ashes series.

Having played all three tour matches against Wakefield, Cumbria and Castleford in the lead up to the 1990s Ashes, Lyons made a try scoring debut as he gained his first international cap in a 14-10 win over Great Britain at Old Trafford. It was one of two tries scored by Lyons in his brief time in an Australia shirt as he added a second try against Papua New Guinea in 1991. In total, he made six test appearances for the Kangaroos, as well as seven tour matches.

Prior to his selection for his country, Lyons spent the 1985-88 seasons at Headingley as he was signed from North Sydney Bears. Over three seasons, he played 53 games and scored 24 tries in blue and amber, plus he was part of the side that lifted the Yorkshire Cup in his final season before returning to Manly.

2000s - Danny Buderus

Hooker Danny Buderus had already accrued 24 appearances for Australia before arriving at Leeds ahead of the 2009 season.

Whilst at Newcastle Knights - the only NRL club he represented during his career - Buderus was first capped for the Kangaroos on the back of lifting the NRL Premiership with the Knights during the 2001 season and went on to play 25 times in green and gold. That is the joint-most out of any Knights player in the Club's history, alongside Andrew Johns. Making his Australia bow against New Zealand in a 28-10 win, Buderus only lost five times in the Kangaroos jersey as he went on to win the Ashes series in 2001 and 2003, plus he also added the Tri-Nations title in 2004.

In total, he scored four tries for his country, including in his final game in the 2006 Anzac test win over the Kiwis.

Joining Leeds in 2009, the hooker became one of a select group of players to win both an NRL Grand Final and Super League title as he was part of the Rhinos' 2011 side that lifted the trophy from fifth in the table. 

2010s - Trent Merrin

The Kangaroos teams of the 2010s have featured only two former Leeds players, the most recent of which was St George Illawarra Dragon and Penrith Panther loose forward Trent Merrin.

Capped for the first time for Aussie's 2015 Anzac test loss to New Zealand, Merrin accumulated seven caps for his country in three years, which included the 2016 Four Nations trip to the UK. He played in all four games during the series, and was a try scorer in the final as Australia marched out 34-8 winners over the Kiwis at Anfield. He added a further cap in the 2017 Anzac test in his final test appearance for the Green and Golds.

After much talk during the 2018 off-season, Merrin confirmed a deal with Leeds and arrived for 2019 in his sole season at the club. During a rollercoaster season, he was named club captain following Richard Agar's appointment as head coach, and scored four tries in 28 appearances as the Rhinos finished eighth.

Get your Wembley tickets now!

Although tickets for the tests at AMT Headingley and Everton have sold out, there is still time to get your hands on tickets for the opening game of this year's Ashes at Wembley Stadium.