England’s women’s rugby league side, under the guidance of head coach Stuart Barrow, has revealed its 23‑player roster for the upcoming 2026 Rugby League World Cup. The selection showcases a blend of seasoned internationals, emerging talent, and a handful of newcomers making their first appearance on the world stage. Among the fresh faces are four uncapped players who have earned a spot in the squad. Notably, NRLW Grand Final participant Jasmin Strange has been included.
The 23‑year‑old second‑row forward, born in Australia but eligible through her English‑born mother, will join the England camp in Perth after completing her club duties with the Sydney Roosters against the Brisbane Broncos on 4 October. The other three debutants are Connie Boyd from Leeds Rhinos, Hope Millard of the Canterbury Bulldogs, and Lucie Sams who turns out for the Wigan Warriors. Their inclusion reflects the depth of talent emerging across both the domestic Women’s Super League and the Australian NRLW competition. All three nominees for this year’s Woman of Steel award have secured places in the World Cup squad, as have six of their teammates from 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 national team. Returning to the World Cup stage after a four‑year hiatus is Fran Goldthorp, who last featured for England at the 2022 tournament, where she made four appearances and crossed the try‑line three times. She is joined by 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. York Valkyrie, the newly crowned Betfred Women’s Super League champions, are represented by forward Liv Wood.
The competition’s leading try‑scorer, Amelia Brown of the Huddersfield Giants, also earns a call‑up, highlighting her prolific scoring record throughout the season. St Helens loose forward Jodie Cunningham returns for what will be her fourth World Cup campaign, accompanied by teammate Vicky Whitfield.
Their experience adds a solid foundation to a side that is balancing youth and veteran presence. Leeds Rhinos have a strong representation with five players selected. Young Player of the Year nominees Connie Boyd and Ruby Bruce are both rewarded for their impressive performances this season with inclusion in the squad.
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 timeline, outlining the standards, milestones and opportunities that would contribute to today’s selection.
Throughout the season we’ve held a number of England camps, travelled to France, and I have attended all the Super Four games to assess the players in contention.” He continued, “Narrowing our squad from 40 players to a final 23 involved some tough 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 this squad, noting the inclusion of heritage players based in Australia for the first time. “It’s an exciting moment for the programme with the inclusion of Australian‑based heritage players. 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 eager to see these players unite under the England jersey.” Looking ahead, the coach emphasized 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 squad list also includes Keara Bennett (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), Lucy Murray (Leeds Rhinos), Georgia Roche (Newcastle Knights), Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors), Jasmin Strange (Sydney Roosters), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens), Megan Williams (Wigan Warriors), Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors) and Liv Wood (York Valkyrie).
Fans can look forward to the Super League Grand Final, which will be staged at Old Trafford on Saturday 3 October. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+, kicking off at 6 p.m. with pre‑match coverage beginning at 5 p.m. This high‑profile event will serve as a final showcase for many of the players before they head to the World Cup, providing a perfect platform to fine‑tune tactics and build momentum for the international tournament.