England’s women’s rugby league side, under the guidance of head coach Stuart Barrow, has unveiled a 23‑player roster for the upcoming 2026 Rugby League World Cup. The selection reflects 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 players who have yet to earn a senior cap.
Notably, 23‑year‑old Jasmin Strange, who starred in the NRLW Grand Final with the Sydney Roosters, has earned a place. Although born in Australia, Strange qualifies for England through her mother, who was born in the country. She will join the squad in Perth after the Roosters complete their match against the Brisbane Broncos on 4 October. The other three uncapped athletes are: - Connie Boyd, a promising forward from the Leeds Rhinos; - Hope Millard, a dynamic backline player currently with the Canterbury Bulldogs in Australia; and - Lucie Sams, a versatile back from the Wigan Warriors.
All three nominees for this year’s prestigious Woman of Steel award have secured spots in 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 heading to Australia the following Thursday to join the national team. Returning to the international scene after a four‑year hiatus is Fran Goldthorp, who last represented England at the 2022 World Cup, where she featured in four games 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 of 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 makes the cut, underscoring her prolific scoring record.
St Helens’ experienced loose forward Jodie Cunningham returns for what will be her fourth World Cup campaign, and she is accompanied by teammate Vicky Whitfield, adding further depth to the forward pack. Leeds Rhinos have a strong presence with five players selected.
Young Player of the Year nominees Connie Boyd and Ruby Bruce have both earned their places, reflecting their standout performances throughout the domestic season. 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 inclusion of heritage players based in Australia: “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. “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, as announced, 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 announcement also reminded fans that the Super League Grand Final will be staged at Old Trafford on Saturday 3 October, broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+.
The final kicks off at 6 p.m., with pre‑match coverage beginning at 5 p.m., offering a perfect build‑up to the World Cup festivities that follow. Overall, the 2026 England women’s squad blends proven internationals with promising newcomers, creating a balanced roster capable of competing against the world’s best. The mixture of NRLW experience, Super League pedigree, and fresh talent promises an exciting tournament for England supporters, who will be eager to see how this diverse group performs on the global stage.