One England player on Women’s Golden Boot longlist

   08/11/2025

ISABEL ROWE is the only England player named on a 22-player longlist for the Women’s International Rugby League Golden Boot.

England have only played two internationals this year – a 90-4 Las Vegas humiliation at the hands of Australia in February, followed by a 62-0 victory over Wales in Neath in August.

Halfback Rowe, who has enjoyed an exceptional club season with Wigan Warriors and was nominated for the Woman of Steel, played no part in the first game but had a starring role in the second, scoring 22 points.

In a reflection of a difficult year for both senior England sides, not a single player was named on the men’s longlist.

Only Australia and New Zealand players have won the Women’s Golden Boot since its introduction in 2018 and with those nations contesting Sunday’s Pacific Cup final, that run will likely continue.

The Jillaroos have seven players nominated, including fullback Tamika Upton and inaugural winner Isabelle Kelly, while fellow former winners Raecene McGregor and Georgia Hale are among five Kiwi Ferns on the list.

Fiji star Cassie Staples, Samoan rookie sensation Shalom Sauaso and Pacific Bowl-winning Cook Islands playmaker Chantay Kiria-Ratu are other notable names in contention for the award.

There are also two Nigerians – Faustina Akeje and Rachel Iliya – following their historic win over Ireland before missing out on the final 2026 World Cup spot to Fiji.

Women’s Golden Boot longlist: Annessa Biddle (New Zealand), Apii Nichols (New Zealand), Ashleigh Quinlan (New Zealand), Cassie Staples (Fiji), Chantay Kiria-Ratu (Cook Islands), Elsie Albert (Papua New Guinea), Faustina Akeje (Nigeria), Georgia Hale (New Zealand), Isabelle Kelly (Australia), Isabel Rowe (England), Jesse Southwell (Australia), Julia Robinson (Australia), Kezie Apps (Australia), Martha Mataele (Tonga), Olivia Kernick (Australia), Paulina Morris-Ponga (Cook Islands), Rachel Iliya (Nigeria), Raecene McGregor (New Zealand), Sereana Naitokatoka (Fiji), Shalom Sauaso (Samoa), Tamika Upton (Australia), Yasmin Clydesdale (Australia)