England and France have named their squads for this weekend's National Lottery Mid-Season International which takes place on Saturday 18th June in Warrington.
England have named 20 players including, which include three changes from the squad that beat Wales 6-32 last weekend, with Caitlin Beevers, Keara Bennett and Courtney Winfield-Hill coming into the squad.
Bennett and Winfield-Hill will be hoping to earn their first England caps this weekend, having been ruled out of the Wales game through illness - while Beevers made her debut as a 17-year-old against France in Carcassonne in 2018.
Meanwhile France Head Coach Vincent Baloup has named 18 players to travel to England for the test.
“During our training camp in Toulouse we had a strong feeling that the group have come together and bonded well and have refreshed themselves following the end of season finals with the help of our medical staff especially Sophie Savvides and Paul Lasseur" commented Baloup.
“We focussed on our preparation for the World Cup and we will show a strong intent in this game and our confidence is growing and we will show this to England on Saturday. This French team has character and it will not make the trip to simply offer friendly opposition and this meeting will serve us well in our desire to progress.”
England Head Coach Richards added; “It’s great to have been able to bring in additional players to the squad for this weekend’s game against France.
“I’m really pleased that Keara and Courtney have both recovered, have come back into the squad and are now in contention to debut on Saturday. This weekend’s game is massive in terms of seeing where we are as a squad and building towards the Rugby League World Cup later this year."
England Women versus France is part of a double-header which also sees England Men taking on the Combined Nations All Stars (545pm).
England 20 Player Squad
Dannielle Anderson, Caitlin Beevers, Keara Bennett, Francesca Goldthorp, Georgia Roche, Courtney Winfield-Hill (Leeds Rhinos), Leah Burke, Jodie Cunningham, Amy Hardcastle, Shona Hoyle, Tara Jones, Emily Rudge, Paige Travis, Bethany Stott, Victoria Whitfield (St Helens), Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors), Hollie Dodd, Grace Field, Tara Stanley, Olivia Wood (York City Knights).
France 18 Player Squad
Élisa Akpa, Leïla Bessahli, Maïlys Borak, Margot Canal, Anaïs Fourcroy, Sarah Meenaa, Élodie Pacull, Fanny Ramos, Cristina Song Puche (Déesses Catalanes), Gaelle Alvernhe, Jeanne Bernard, Lauréane Biville, Élisa Ciria, Perrine Monsarrat, Dorine Samarra, Manon Samarra (RC Lescure Arthès XIII), Cyndia Mansard, Alice Varela (Toulouse Ovalie)
Referee: James Jones (Wales)