England and Wales women have announced 19-player squads for their senior international for world ranking points at AMT Headingley Stadium, Leeds tomorrow, Saturday (kick off noon). England have five potential debutants in their squad, with Huddersfield’s Amelia Brown along with Leeds prop Izzy Northrup and St Helens’ Erin Stott expected to play.
Wigan pair Jenna Foubister and Mary Coleman are also included. England women’s head coach, Stuart Barrow – who has Hollie Mae-Dodd available for the first time since she moved to Canberra Raiders in 2023 - noted: “Selection for Saturday’s game has been really challenging but that’s because we have a talented group that’s full of potential. We have several new names coming into the team and I’m confident that with the guidance of some of our senior internationals that they will be able to take on the challenge that lies ahead against Wales.”
Since the previous meeting between the sides at the same venue a year ago, Wales have qualified for the Women’s World Cup for the first time, to be held in Australia and Papua New Guinea in 2026 having seen off Netherlands and Ireland in qualifying.
Bethan Dainton is set to captain the team at the home of her club side after missing last year, while Emily Hughes - who played in the inaugural WRL Women's game - returns for the first time since 2022 due to injury. Olivia Williams – one of eleven Cardiff Demons - and Dani McGifford are in line to make potential debuts.
Wales women’s head coach, Tom Brindle, said: “Facing England is always a big game for us. We’re an ambitious team and testing ourselves against one of the world’s best is key to our long-term goals. We’re still early in our journey as an international team, and we’ve progressed each year from our modest base
“Qualifying for the World Cup at our first attempt was a milestone but our aim is to compete at the level of the established, professionally run teams. We showed glimpses of that last year, and Saturday gives us another great opportunity to see how far we’ve come and how close we are to closing the gap.”
The match is part of a double-header, with England men playing Samoa afterwards.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Hollie-Mae Dodd (Canberra Raiders), Amelia Brown (Huddersfield Giants), Amy Hardcastle, Bella Sykes, Izzy Northrop, Keara Bennett, Shona Hoyle (Leeds Rhinos), Erin Stott, Jodie Cunningham, Katie Mottershead, Paige Travis, Vicky Whitfield, Zoe Harris (St Helens), Anna Davies, Isabel Rowe, Jenna Foubister, Mary Coleman (Wigan Warriors), Eboni Partington, Olivia Wood (York Valkyrie)
WALES SQUAD
Leanne Burnell, Katie Carr, Lucia Davies, Jasmine Gibbons, Ffion Jenkins, Hannah Jones, Sara Jones, Rhi Parker, Amy Price, Meg Whittaker, Olivia Williams (Cardiff Demons), Bethan Dainton (c) (Leeds Rhinos), Gracie Hobbs (Huddersfield Giants), Emily Hughes (London Broncos), Carys Marsh (Wigan Warriors), Dani McGifford (St. Helens), Ashlea Prescott (Featherstone Rovers), Georgia Taylor (York Valkyrie), Agnes Wood (Sheffield Eagles)