England’s women’s rugby league head coach, Stuart Barrow, has unveiled a 23‑player roster to represent the nation at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. The selection features a blend of seasoned internationals, emerging talent, and a handful of heritage players who qualify through family ties to the United Kingdom. Among the newcomers are four athletes who have yet to earn an England cap. Notably, NRLW Grand Final participant Jasmin Strange has earned a place in the squad.
The 23‑year‑old second‑rower was born in Australia but qualifies for England through her mother, who was born in the country. Strange will join the England camp in Perth after her club, the Sydney Roosters, complete their match against the Brisbane Broncos on 4 October.
The other three uncapped players are Connie Boyd of the Leeds Rhinos, Hope Millard from the Canterbury Bulldogs, and Lucie Sams, who turns out for the Wigan Warriors. Their inclusion signals a willingness by the coaching staff to inject fresh blood into the side and reward strong performances at club level. All three nominees for this year’s Woman of Steel award have been selected for the World Cup squad, as have six of their teammates from the Wigan Warriors.
Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams will learn the outcome of the award on 29 September before departing for Australia the following Thursday to join the training group. Fran Goldthorp returns to the England set‑up for the first time since the 2022 World Cup, where she featured in four matches and crossed the try line three times. She joins two other England‑qualified players who ply their trade in the NRLW: Georgia Roche of the Newcastle Knights and Hollie‑Mae Dodd from the Canberra Raiders. The newly crowned Betfred Women’s Super League champions, York Valkyrie, are represented by forward Liv Wood.
Additionally, the league’s leading try‑scorer, Amelia Brown of the Huddersfield Giants, secures a place in the squad, highlighting the emphasis on attacking prowess. St Helens’ experienced loose forward Jodie Cunningham is accompanied by teammate Vicky Whitfield, giving the 34‑year‑old a chance to compete in her fourth World Cup. Their partnership adds both leadership and continuity to the group. Leeds Rhinos have a strong presence with five players named, including Young Player of the Year nominees Connie Boyd and Ruby Bruce, both of whom earned selection thanks to their impressive performances throughout the domestic season.
Head coach Barrow commented on the difficulty of the selection process: "The standard across the wider group has been outstanding throughout the season, which made the selection process incredibly challenging. At the start of the year, we set out a clear selection timeline with the players, outlining the standards, milestones and opportunities that would contribute to today's selection. Throughout the season, we've had a number of England camps, we have travelled to France, and I've been present at all the Super Four games to assess the players in contention for selection. Narrowing our squad from 40 players to a final 23 has involved some difficult decisions, but we believe we have the right balance of experience and youth to compete on the world stage." Barrow also highlighted the historic nature of the squad composition: "It's also an exciting moment for the programme with the inclusion of Australian‑based heritage players for the first time.
Bringing together talent from both the NRLW and the Women's Super League gives us a unique blend of quality and experience, and we're excited to see these players come together in an England shirt." Looking ahead, Barrow stressed the importance of preparation: "Now our focus turns to preparation. We know the challenges that await at a World Cup, but we are travelling with a squad that believes in itself, embraces the responsibility of representing England, and is determined to make the nation proud." The full squad list includes: - Keara Bennett (Leeds Rhinos) - Connie Boyd (Leeds Rhinos) - Amelia Brown (Huddersfield Giants) - Ruby Bruce (Leeds Rhinos) - Mary Coleman (Wigan Warriors) - Evie Cousins (Leeds Rhinos) - Jodie Cunningham (St Helens) - Anna Davies (Wigan Warriors) - Hollie‑Mae Dodd (Canberra Raiders) - Jenna Foubister (Wigan Warriors) - Fran Goldthorp (North Queensland) - Eva Hunter (Wigan Warriors) - Molly Jones (Wigan Warriors) - Hope Millard (Canterbury Bulldogs) - Lucy Murray (Leeds Rhinos) - Georgia Roche (Newcastle Knights) - Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors) - Lucie Sams (Wigan Warriors) - Jasmin Strange (Sydney Roosters) - Vicky Whitfield (St Helens) - Megan Williams (Wigan Warriors) - Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors) - Liv Wood (York Valkyrie) The Women's Super League Grand Final will be staged at Old Trafford on Saturday, 3 October, with live coverage on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+.
Kick‑off is scheduled for 6 pm, with pre‑match analysis beginning at 5 pm. This high‑profile event serves as a final showcase of domestic talent before the England squad departs for the World Cup, where they will aim to build on the progress made in previous tournaments and challenge for the title.