The England women's rugby league team intensified their preparations for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup with a commanding display against France in a mid‑season test match held on Saturday in Toulouse. This encounter, staged at the Stade Ernest‑Wallon—home ground of Toulouse Olympique—served as England's first international outing of the calendar year and offered a valuable opportunity to fine‑tune tactics, build cohesion, and assess the form of both seasoned campaigners and newcomers ahead of the global tournament. From the outset, the English side demonstrated a clear intent to dominate, responding swiftly after France seized an early advantage through two well‑executed penalty kicks.
The French side's disciplined forward play and accurate goal‑kicking put them ahead, but England's resilience soon manifested. Debutant Ellise Derbyshire broke the deadlock for the visitors, crossing the try line to level the scores and signalling the impact that fresh talent could have on the squad's dynamics. Her try not only restored parity but also injected confidence into a team eager to assert its superiority.
The momentum continued to swing in England's favour as Lucy Murray, a prolific scorer known for her speed and positional awareness, added two tries of her own. Murray's first try showcased her ability to exploit gaps in the French defensive line, while her second highlighted her composure under pressure, finishing a well‑crafted move that involved multiple phases of play. These scores were complemented by a historic moment for Ella Donnelly, who celebrated her inaugural try wearing the England jersey.
Donnelly's effort was a testament to the depth of talent within the squad, illustrating how emerging players are ready to step up on the international stage. Halfway through the first half, the match took a decisive turn when the reigning Woman of Steel, Eva Hunter, executed a spectacular solo run. Demonstrating exceptional agility and strength, Hunter evaded a series of French defenders before grounding the ball in the corner, extending England's lead to 28‑4 at the break.
Her try epitomised the blend of individual brilliance and collective execution that England hopes to replicate throughout the World Cup campaign. The second half saw England maintain, and indeed amplify, the intensity displayed earlier. Playmaker Jenna Foubister, renowned for her vision and distribution skills, added another try, further widening the margin.
Derbyshire, already on the scoresheet, secured a second try, underscoring her immediate impact and hinting at a promising future within the national setup. Throughout the match, England's goal‑kicker Izzy Rowe proved reliable, successfully converting five of the seven attempts, a conversion rate that contributed significantly to the final tally. In total, England amassed a comprehensive 38‑4 victory, with the try scorers listed as follows: Ellise Derbyshire (2), Lucy Murray (2), Ella Donnelly (1), Eva Hunter (1), and Jenna Foubister (1).
The match not only highlighted the attacking prowess of the English side but also exposed areas for refinement, such as defensive organization against set‑piece opportunities—a facet that the coaching staff, led by Stuart Barrow, will likely address in subsequent training sessions. Beyond the scoreboard, the fixture served several strategic purposes. It offered the coaching team a live environment to experiment with combinations of seasoned internationals and newcomers, assess fitness levels after the rigours of the domestic season, and fine‑tune set‑piece routines. Moreover, the experience gained by debutants like Derbyshire and Donnelly will be invaluable when the squad converges for the World Cup, where the intensity and stakes will be markedly higher.
The victory also carries symbolic weight. Playing on French soil, the English side demonstrated an ability to perform away from home, a quality that will be essential when facing hostile crowds in future tournament venues. The confidence derived from such a dominant performance can translate into a psychological edge, fostering belief that the team can impose its style of play against any opponent. Looking ahead, England will continue to build on this momentum, scheduling further warm‑up matches and intensifying training camps.
The objective remains clear: to refine tactical systems, solidify defensive structures, and ensure that the blend of experience and youth coalesces into a cohesive unit capable of competing for the Rugby League World Cup title. For fans seeking more information, updates, and in‑depth analysis, the official England Rugby League website provides a dedicated homepage featuring the latest news, player profiles, and behind‑the‑scenes content related to the women's program.
Stay tuned for further developments as the team progresses toward the World Cup, where they will aim to translate their preparation and recent triumph into tournament success.