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 and fresh talent, highlighting the depth of the English game across both domestic and overseas competitions. Among the newcomers are four players who have yet to earn an England cap. Notably, 23‑year‑old Jasmin Strange, a second‑row forward who starred in the NRLW Grand Final for the Sydney Roosters, has earned a place in the squad.
Although born in Australia, Strange qualifies for England through her mother, who was born in the country. She will join her new teammates in Perth after the Roosters’ clash with the Brisbane Broncos on 4 October. The other three uncapped athletes are Connie Boyd of the Leeds Rhinos, Hope Millard from the Canterbury Bulldogs, and Lucie Sams, who plays for the Wigan Warriors. Each has impressed during the season and earned the opportunity to represent England for the first time on the world stage.
All three nominees for this year’s Woman of Steel award have secured spots in the World Cup squad, alongside six of their Wigan Warriors teammates. 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 camp. Fran Goldthorp returns to the England fold after a four‑year hiatus; she previously featured in the 2022 World Cup, scoring three tries in four matches.
Goldthorp joins two other NRLW‑based English players – Georgia Roche of the Newcastle Knights and Hollie‑Mae Dodd of the Canberra Raiders – underscoring the growing influence of overseas‑based talent on the national program. York Valkyrie, the freshly crowned Betfred Women’s Super League champions, are represented by forward Liv Wood. The league’s leading try‑scorer, Amelia Brown of the Huddersfield Giants, also makes the list, adding her prolific attacking prowess to the squad.
St Helens’ experienced loose forward Jodie Cunningham is paired with teammate Vicky Whitfield, marking Cunningham’s fourth World Cup appearance. Their inclusion provides a solid core of experience and leadership. Leeds Rhinos contribute five players, including Young Player of the Year contenders Connie Boyd and Ruby Bruce, both of whom have earned selection thanks to their standout performances throughout the season. Coach Barrow commented on the difficulty of narrowing down the talent pool: “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 full roster, 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) and Liv Wood (York Valkyrie). The Women’s Super League Grand Final, a key fixture in the lead‑up to the World Cup, will be staged at Old Trafford on Saturday 3 October.
The match will kick off at 6 pm and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+, with pre‑match coverage beginning at 5 pm. This high‑profile event provides a final showcase of the talent that will soon be wearing the England jersey on the global stage.