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 players making their debut for England, reflecting the depth and growing competitiveness of the women's game in the country. Among the newcomers are four uncapped athletes who have impressed throughout the domestic season. One of the most notable is 23‑year‑old Jasmin Strange, a second‑row forward who earned a spot in the NRLW Grand Final with the Sydney Roosters.
Although born in Australia, Strange qualifies for England through her mother, who was born in the UK. She will travel to Perth to join the England camp after the Roosters’ match against the Brisbane Broncos on 4 October.
The other three first‑time internationals are Leeds Rhinos forward Connie Boyd, Canterbury Bulldogs forward Hope Millard, and Wigan Warriors back Lucie Sams. Each has displayed consistent performances in their respective leagues, earning them a place in the squad and the chance to make their England debut on the world stage.
All three nominees for this year’s Woman of Steel award have been selected, alongside 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, after which they will depart for Australia the following Thursday to join the World Cup preparations.
Former World Cup star Fran Goldthorp returns to the England set‑up for the first time since the 2022 tournament, where she featured in four matches and crossed the try‑line three times. She joins two other NRLW‑based English players in the squad: Georgia Roche of the Newcastle Knights and Hollie‑Mae Dodd, who plays for the Canberra Raiders.
Their inclusion marks a historic moment, as it is the first time heritage players based in Australia have been selected for the England women’s side. 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 secures a place, highlighting the emphasis on attacking prowess within the squad. St Helens loose forward Jodie Cunningham, a veteran heading into her fourth World Cup, is joined by club‑mate Vicky Whitfield.
Their experience will be invaluable as England seeks to blend seasoned campaigners with fresh faces. Leeds Rhinos contribute five players to the roster. In addition to Connie Boyd, the club’s Young Player of the Year nominees Ruby Bruce and Boyd herself have earned selections, underscoring the club’s strong development pathway. Coach Barrow commented on the difficulty of the selection process, noting the high standard across the broader training group.
“At the start of the year we set out a clear timeline for selection, outlining the standards, milestones and opportunities that would lead to today’s squad. We held several England camps, traveled to France, and I attended every Super Four game to assess players in contention,” he explained. “Reducing the pool from 40 to 23 required tough choices, but we believe we have struck the right balance between experience and youth to compete at the highest level.” Barrow also highlighted the significance of integrating 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 unite under the England jersey,” he said. Looking ahead, the focus shifts to preparation. Barrow emphasized the squad’s belief in themselves and their commitment to representing England with pride. “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,” he added.
The 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+. The match kicks off at 6 p.m., with pre‑game coverage beginning at 5 p.m.
This high‑profile fixture serves as a final showcase before the World Cup, allowing many of the selected players to perform on a major stage and fine‑tune their preparations for the international tournament.