England Women’s Rugby League selectors have named a 24-player squad ahead of the Downer World Cup Nines in Sydney and the historic trip to Papua New Guinea.
Subject to contract confirmation, England will play two Tests against the PNG Orchids – the first on Saturday 9 November and the second a week later in the capital, Port Moresby. The Post Moresby match will be part of a double-header also featuring Great Britain versus the PNG Kumuls – the final Test of the Rugby League Lions’ southern hemisphere tour.
St Helens are the best-represented club with eight players named in the squad, with league leaders Castleford having seven players selected. Challenge Cup winners Leeds have five players named in the squad.
Kevin Sinfield, the RFL’s Rugby Director who heads the England Performance Unit, said: “This is a really significant tour, for the EPU and the England Women, but also for Women’s Rugby League and International Rugby League.
“Just as we were delighted to expose our England Knights players to the unique experiences and challenges of a trip to Papua New Guinea last year as part of the preparation for the men’s World Cup in 2021, this tour presents our women with a completely new challenge that can only help in their lead-in to RLWC2021.
“The fact that it follows competing against PNG, Australia and New Zealand in the World Cup Nines means it’s a really busy and demanding schedule for the players. We’ll learn a lot about them, and I suspect they’ll learn a lot about themselves – just as our Knights players did last year.
“The double header at Port Moresby should be a fantastic occasion. It’s exciting for Great Britain to be playing a first Test in PNG since 1996, and great that England Women will also be making history.
“On behalf of the RFL I’d like to thank Reatau Rau and the authorities in Papua New Guinea, British High Commissioner to PNG Keith Scott, Jeremy Edwards from the Rugby League International Federation and Sport England for their hard work and support in helping us to make our ground-breaking vision a reality.”
England’s 24-player squad:
Dannielle Anderson (Leeds Rhinos) – 1
Caitlin Beevers (Leeds Rhinos/Dewsbury Moor and Birstall Victoria) – 1
Charlotte Booth (Leeds Rhinos/Guiseley Storm) – 8
Leah Burke (St Helens) – 0
Chantelle Crowl (St Helens) – 6
Jodie Cunningham (St Helens/Thatto Heath Crusaders) – 18
Grace Field (Castleford Tigers/Oulton Raiders) – 0
Faye Gaskin (St Helens/Thatto Heath) – 6
Kelsey Gentles (Castleford Tigers/East Leeds) – 0
Rebecca Greenfield (Wigan Warriors/Wigan St Patrick’s) – 1
Amy Hardcastle (Bradford Bulls/Siddal) – 16
Shona Hoyle (Castleford Tigers) – 6
Amy Johnson (Leeds Rhinos) – 1
Tara Jones (St Helens) – 3
Shannon Lacey (Leeds Rhinos/Stanningley) – 0
Sinead Peach (Castleford Tigers/Hunslet Warriors) – 2
Tamzin Renouf (Castleford Tigers/Featherstone Lionesses) – 0
Georgia Roche (Castleford Tigers/Dewsbury Moor) – 1
Emily Rudge (St Helens/Thatto Heath) – 19
Tara-Jane Stanley (Castleford Tigers) – 8
Rachel Thompson (Wigan Warriors/Thatto Heath) – 2
Vicky Whitfield (St Helens) – 1
Naomi Williams (St Helens) – 1
Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors) – 0
The 16 players selected for the Downer World Nines are:
Dannielle Anderson, Caitlin Beevers, Leah Burke, Chantelle Crowl, Jodie Cunningham, Faye Gaskin, Kelsey Gentles, Amy Hardcastle, Shona Hoyle, Shannon Lacey, Rhiannion Marshall, Sinead Peach, Georgia Roach, Emily Rudge, Tara-Jane Stanley, Naomi Williams