ALL three Woman of Steel candidates have earned selection in Stuart Barrow’s England squad to head to the World Cup next month.

Wigan trio Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams are among the nine Warriors stars selected, one of which – Lucie Sams – is a potential debutant after an impressive season that ultimately ended in defeat to York Valkyrie in the Grand Final.

NRLW Grand Finalist Jasmin Strange, a Sydney Roosters back-rower or threequarter who qualifies through her English-born mother, Widnes-born Canterbury Bulldogs prop Hope Millard and Leeds Rhinos centre and Young Player of the Year nominee Connie Boyd, are the other uncapped players in the 23-player squad selected by Barrow.

Also linking up with the squad when they arrive in Perth will be NRLW exports Fran Goldthorp, who will represent England for the first time since the World Cup in 2022, Georgia Roche and Hollie-Mae Dodd.

Elsewhere newly-crowned champions York have seen just one player selected in Liv Wood, with Huddersfield Giants also represented by leading try-scorer Amelia Brown.

Retiring captain Jodie Cunningham is one of two St Helens players selected alongside Vicky Whitfield, while Keara Bennett, Ruby Bruce, Evie Cousins, Lucy Murray and Boyd represent Leeds.

The squad fly out to Australia next Thursday (October 8) and Barrow is confident that his selected squad can perform at the highest level of the game.

“Firstly, congratulations to every player selected in the squad,” said Barrow.

“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 this 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.

“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.”

England squad: 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 Cunnigham (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) * uncapped players