The England Women’s Squad to play France on 13 July has been announced.
Following a robust selection process, involving the RFL Performance Team, the 19 strong squad coached by Brenda Dobek includes seven players from Wakefield Panthers who won the women’s league last year.
It also features a 16 year old schoolgirl in Warrington’s Emily Rudge, and the first ever dual code rugby international. Joanne Watmore of Halton Hawks has already played for England Rugby Union and, should she make her league debut against France, she will be the first woman to have represented her country at both codes of the sport.
Later this year England will play in the World Cup in Australia in a tournament that runs concurrently to the men’s competition.
England’s fixture with France is on Sunday 13 July at Widnes RUFC, kick off 2.00pm
The 19 player squad in alphabetical order is as follows:
Lyndsey Anfield (Wakefield Panthers)
Susan Cochrane (Wakefield Panthers)
Andrea Dobson (Hillside Hawks - Rochdale) Amanda Donaldson (Copeland Wildcats) Natalie Gilmour (Wakefield Panthers) Michelle Greenwood (Wakefield Panthers) Claire Hall (Copeland Wildcats) Deborah Hodgkinson (Wakefield Panthers) Sophie Lazenby (West Hull) Katie O’Toole (Wakefield Panthers) Laura Rowell (Copeland Wildcats) Emily Rudge (Warrington Girls) Emma Slowe (Wakefield Panthers) Beth Sutcliffe (Hillside Hawks - Rochdale) Lisa Taylor (Middleton Ladies, Leeds) Danielle Titherington (Bradford Thunderbirds) Rachel Twibell (Bradford Thunderbirds) Joanne Watmore (Halton Women & Girls) Jenny Welsby (Hillside Hawks - Rochdale)
Team Manager: Kathy McMullin
Head Coach: Brenda Dobk
Assistant Coach: Neil Gregg
The International will take place at Widnes Rugby Union Club on Sunday 13 July. Kick off is at 2pm.
Entry is free for U16s and £2.00 for Adults
Good luck to everyone in the England set-up and congratulations to those players and staff selected to represent their country!