JASMIN STRANGE will make her England debut in the back row after Stuart Barrow named his squad for Saturday’s World Cup opener against Wales.
The Sydney Roosters player can also play in the backline but has been selected in her most regular position following her first call-up.
She is one of three debutants, with fellow heritage player Hope Millard, of Canterbury Bulldogs, on the bench and Leeds Rhinos centre Connie Boyd, Super League’s Young Player of the Year, in the starting line-up.
Wales have their own Canterbury NRLW star, meanwhile, as halfback Tayla Preston lines up for a debut, as does former England international back-rower Paige Travis.
At fullback, dual-code star Fran Goldthorp will make her first England appearance since the last World Cup four years ago.
Isabel Rowe has been chosen at halfback alongside Georgia Roche, with Wigan Warriors teammate Jenna Foubister pushed to the bench.
Skipper Jodie Cunningham is also among the interchanges because Megan Williams has been preferred as starting loose-forward after a strong season at Wigan.
Eva Hunter will play alongside Strange in the second row while Keara Bennett is hooker.
The starting props are Mary Coleman and Hollie-Mae Dodd, with Vicky Whitfield and Millard the front-row replacements.
Huddersfield Giants’ Amelia Brown, this year’s top Super League try-scorer with 26, will play out wide alongside Anna Davies and Georgia Wilson takes the other centre spot.
England have Liv Wood (18th woman), Ruby Bruce and Lucy Murray in reserve but Evie Cousins, Molly Jones and Lucie Sams miss out on selection altogether.
Along with Preston and Travis, Wales – who will be led by captain Bethan Dainton – also hand debuts to centre Hannah Bluck, a former rugby union international, and, from the bench, back-rower Erin Williams.
England: 1 Fran Goldthorp, 2 Anna Davies, 3 Georgia Wilson, 4 Connie Boyd, 5 Amelia Brown, 6 Isabel Rowe, 7 Georgia Roche, 8 Mary Coleman, 9 Keara Bennett, 10 Hollie-Mae Dodd, 11 Jasmin Strange, 12 Eva Hunter, 13 Megan Williams. Subs: 14 Jodie Cunningham, 15 Vicky Whitfield, 16 Jenna Foubister, 17 Hope Millard. 18th woman: 18 Liv Wood. Reserve: 19 Ruby Bruce, 20 Lucy Murray.
Wales: 1 Leanna Burnell, 2 Dani McGifford, 3 Hannah Bluck, 4 Zoe Heeley, 5 Frances Layton, 6 Ffion Lewis, 7 Tayla Preston, 8 Agnes Wood, 9 Jasmine Gibbons, 10 Emily Hughes, 11 Georgia Cussons, 12 Paige Travis, 13 Bethan Dainton. Subs: 14 Carys Marsh, 15 Kathryn Salter, 16 Katie Carr, 17 Erin Williams. 18th woman: 18 Jade Mullen. Reserve: 19 Gracie Hobbs, 20 Amberley Ruck, 21 Hollie Brussels.
Image: NRL Photos
