England women's national rugby league team

The England women's national Rugby League team represents England in women's rugby league. They are administered by the Rugby Football League.

History

Early years Women's Rugby League was originally established in 1985 through the Women's Amateur Rugby League Association, with the Great Britain National Team playing for the first time in the year 1996.

From 2007 onwards, England has competed on the international stage, playing in the 2008, 2013, 2017 and 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cups.

2008 World Cup The 2008 Women's Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the tournament and the first time England had competed as a nation. The tournament was held in Australia from 26 October and England were in a pool with Russia, France and Australia.

England beat France and Russia in the group stages, losing to Australia, to finish second in the group and qualify for the semi-finals. England were beaten by eventual winners New Zealand at the semi-final stage, as they beat Australia 34–0. England beat the Pacific Islands in the third-placed play-off match.

2013 World Cup The 2013 Women's Rugby League World Cup was held in Great Britain from 26 October and featured Australia, England, France and New Zealand. England's 24-player squad featured players from Bradford, Coventry, Crosfields, Featherstone, Normanton and Thatto Heath.

In the Round Robin format, England suffered a 14–6 defeat to Australia at the Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury, on Friday, 5 July, before going down 34–16 to New Zealand on Monday, 8 July at Featherstone Rovers’ Post Office Road.

A 42–4 win over France followed in the final round on 11 July at the Fox's Biscuits Stadium, Batley, before a record 54–0 win over France in the third-place play-off at the South Leeds Stadium, Hunslet.

2017 World Cup The 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup was the fifth staging of the competition, held in Australia between 16 November and 2 December. England took part alongside Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and all group matches were played at the Southern Cross Group Stadium, home of Cronulla Sharks.

England were placed in Group A alongside Australia and the Cook Islands and took on Papua New Guinea in an inter-group match. Their first 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup match resulted in a 38–0 defeat to Australia on 19 November, before a shock 22–16 defeat to the Cook Islands on 22 November. England were 16–0 down at half time, but Emma Slowe, Amy Hardcastle and Kayleigh Bulman scored for England in the second half, Claire Garner kicking two goals, to make it 16-all, before a late Cook Islands try. England secured their progress to the semi-finals on points difference from the Cooks thanks to a 36–8 win over Papua New Guinea on 16 November. Tries from Charlotte Booth (2), Shona Hoyle, Amy Hardcastle, Tara-Jane Stanley, who kicked four goals, Danielle Bound and Beth Sutcliffe were enough to secure the win.

The semi-final saw England beaten 52–4 by New Zealand on 26 November at Southern Cross Group Stadium, despite a first-half Tara-Jane Stanley try.

Australia would go on to win the final 23–16 on 2 December at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.

2021 World Cup

2026 World Cup Games preparing for the 2026 World Cup saw a new selection process implemented. Regional training occurred in Lancashire and Yorkshire with head coach, Stuart Barlow, selecting Lancashire and Yorkshire squads before playing an Origin fixture. Performances in these training sessions and match would determine national squad selection.

Coaches Head coach Last updated: 30 July 2026. Name Tests Ref. Span Matches W D L W% Joe Warburton 2007 1 1 0 0 100.00% Brenda Dobek 2008–10 11 7 0 4 63.64% Anthony Sullivan 2011 2 2 0 0 100.00% Steve McCormack 2012 1 1 0 0 100.00% Chris Chapman 2013–2017 13 7 1 5 57.69% Craig Richards 2018–22 11 9 0 2 81.82% Stuart Barrow 2023–present 7 6 0 1 85.71%

Nines Matches Name Nines Ref. Span Matches W D L W% Craig Richards 2019 3 1 0 2 33.33%

Players

The squad for the 2026 Women's Rugby League World Cup was announced on 28 September 2026. Jodie Cunningham was named captain.

Players' ages are as at the date that the table was last updated, 29 September 2026.

J#PlayerAgeClub Profile Debut Caps T G Pts 23 Yes 2022 10 1 0 4 20 Yes 0 0 0 0 22 Yes 2024 1 3 0 12 19 Yes 2025 2 0 0 0 28 Yes 2026 1 0 0 0 21 Yes 2026 1 0 0 0 34 Yes 2009 35 10 0 40 31 Yes 2024 5 9 0 36 23 Yes 2021 11 8 0 32 19 Yes 2025 2 2 0 8 23 Yes 2021 8 7 0 28 21 Yes 2025 2 3 0 12 21 Yes 2025 1 1 0 4 21 Yes 0 0 0 0 23 Yes 2025 2 3 0 12 26 Yes 2018 13 8 0 32 19 Yes 2024 4 1 28 60 23 Yes 0 0 0 0 20 Yes 0 0 0 0 29 Yes 2018 14 1 0 4 21 Yes 2026 1 0 0 0 29 Yes 2019 6 3 0 12 25 Yes 2022 11 2 0 8

Competitive record Head-to-head records Opponent Win% Share 4 0 0 4 0.00% 14 164 7.87% 1 1 0 0 100.00% 72 4 94.74% 1 1 0 0 100.00% 54 4 93.10% 1 0 0 1 0.00% 16 22 42.11% 22 21 1 0 97.72% 844 122 88.28% 6 0 0 6 0.00% 42 204 17.07% 1 1 0 0 100.00% 24 0 100.00% 4 3 0 1 75.00% 118 42 73.75% 1 1 0 0 100.00% 72 0 100.00% 5 5 0 0 100.00% 296 6 98.01% Total 46 33 1 12 72.83% 1552 558 73.55% Notes: Table last updated 30 July 2026 (after the Test Match against France in Toulouse) Share is the portion of "For" points compared to the sum of "For" and "Against" points.

Results

Full internationals Date Opponent Score Tournament Venue Video Report(s) 7 Jul 2007 Test Match Stade Municipal de Lescure d'Albigeois, Albi 13 Jul 2008 Test Match Widnes RUFC 6 Nov 2008 2008 Women's Rugby League World Cup Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast 8 Nov 2008 10 Nov 2008 12 Nov 2008 14 Nov 2008 18 Jul 2009 2 Test Series Stade Ernest Argeles, Toulouse 25 Jul 2009 Stade Ernest Argeles, Toulouse 10 Jul 2010 Test Match National Sports Centre, Lilleshall 10 Nov 2010 Test Match Toll Stadium, Whangārei 16 Nov 2010 Test Match Waitakere Stadium, Auckland 2 Jul 2011 2 Test Series Parc Des Sports, Avignon 6 Jul 2011 Parc Des Sports, Avignon 15 Jun 2012 Test Match Grattan Stadium, Bradford 5 Jul 2013 2013 Women's Rugby League World Cup The Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury 8 Jul 2013 Post Office Road, Featherstone 11 Jul 2013 Fox's Biscuits Stadium, Batley 13 Jul 2013 South Leeds Stadium, Hunslet 17 Jun 2015 2 Test Series Stade Jean Benege, Tonneins 20 Jun 2015 Stade Roger Garnung, Biganos 22 Oct 2016 Test Match Parc des Sports, Avignon 21 Jun 2017 2 Test Series Stade de la Mer, Perpignan 24 Jun 2017 Stade de la Mer, Perpignan 16 Nov 2017 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney 19 Nov 2017 22 Nov 2017 26 Nov 2017 27 Oct 2018 Test Match Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne 9 Nov 2019 2 Test Series Goroka 16 Nov 2019 Port Moresby 25 Jun 2021 Test Match Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington 23 Oct 2021 Test Match Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan 12 Jun 2022 Test Match Pandy Park, Crosskeys 18 Jun 2022 Test Match Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington 1 Nov 2022 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup Headingley Stadium, Leeds 5 Nov 2022 DW Stadium, Wigan 9 Nov 2022 Headingley Stadium, Leeds 14 Nov 2022 York Community Stadium, York 29 Apr 2023 Test Match Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington 4 Nov 2023 Test Match Headingley Stadium, Leeds 29 Jun 2024 Test Match Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse 2 Nov 2024 Test Match Headingley Stadium, Leeds 1 Mar 2025 Test Match (Rugby League Las Vegas) Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas 9 Aug 2025 Test Match The Gnoll, Neath 25 Jul 2026 Test Match Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse

Upcoming fixtures England has qualified for the 2026 World Cup to be held in October-November 2026. All three of England's pool games have been scheduled in a double-header with the England men's team, albeit with different opponents.

Opponent Game Day Time Venue Weekday Date Format Local AEDT GMT Sponsored Name Actual Name Saturday 17 Oct 2026 2:35 PM 5:35 PM 6:35 AM HBF Park Perth Rectangular Stadium Saturday 24 Oct 2026 5:05 PM 8:05 PM 9:00 AM HBF Park Perth Rectangular Stadium Saturday 30 Oct 2026 5:50 PM 5:50 PM 6:50 AM WIN Stadium Wollongong Showground Potential Semi-Final Saturday 7 Nov 2026 5:55 PM 5:55 PM 6:55 AM McDonald Jones Stadium Newcastle International Sports Centre Sunday 8 Nov 2026 5:55 PM 5:55 PM 6:55 AM Allianz Stadium Sydney Football Stadium Potential Final Sunday 15 Nov 2026 3:15 PM 4:15 PM 5:15 AM Suncorp Stadium Lang Park, Brisbane

Nines matches

Date Opponent Score Tournament Venue Video Report(s) 18 Oct 2019 2019 World Cup Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta 19 Oct 2019 19 Oct 2019

IRL Rankings

Records World Cup World Cup RecordYearRoundPositionWinDrawLoss 2000Competed as Great Britain and Ireland 2003Competed as Great Britain 2008Third Place3rd out of 85302 2013Third Place3rd out of 44202 2017Semi Final3rd out of 64103 2021Semi Final3rd out of 84301

World Cup appearances #NameWorld CupsMatchesTriesPosition1Emma Slowe2008, 2013, 2017132Emily Rudge2008, 2013, 2017, 2021130 3Andrea Dobson2008, 2013, 20171204Kirsty Moroney2008, 2013, 2017112Beth Sutcliffe2008, 2013, 2017113 Amy Hardcastle 2013, 2017, 202111 117Jodie Cunningham 2013, 2017, 2021102 Source: England Women (World Cup) at Rugby League Record Keepers Club

Individual + Most appearances#NameCareerCapsTriesPosition 1 Jodie Cunningham2009present 35 10 2Emily Rudge2008present32173Amy Hardcastle2009present 29304Andrea Dobson20072017240Emma Slowe200720172436Shona Hoyle2016present2257Tara-Jane Stanley2012present21178Beth Sutcliffe200720172049Kirsty Moroney20082017196

Most tries: Amy Hardcastle - 30, Tara-Jane Stanley - 17, Emily Rudge - 17, Joanne Watmore - 13, Natalie Gilmour MBE - 13, Jodie Cunningham - 10, Leah Burke - 10. Most tries in a match: Anna Davies - 5 vs , at Headingley, 2 November 2024. Most points: Tara-Jane Stanley 218, Natalie Gilmour - (at least) 114, Amy Hardcastle 120.

Notes

Team Margins and streaks Biggest winning margins

Margin Score Opponent Venue Date 82 820 Headingley Stadium 2 Nov 2024 72 720 Sunshine Coast Stadium 8 Nov 2008 68 724 Headingley Stadium 1 Nov 2022 64 640 Halliwell Jones Stadium 29 Apr 2023 62 620 The Gnoll 9 Aug 2025 60 600 Halliwell Jones Stadium 25 Jun 2021 54 540 Hunslet 13 July 2013 50 544 Sunshine Coast Stadium 8 Nov 2008 50 544 Carcassonne 27 Oct 2018 50 544 DW Stadium 5 Nov 2022 50 566 Parc des Sports 6 July 2011 48 480 Odsal 15 June 2012 Biggest losing margins

Margin Score Opponent Venue Date 86 490 Allegiant Stadium 1 Mar 2025 48 452 Southern Cross Group Stadium 26 Nov 2017 38 038 Southern Cross Group Stadium 19 Nov 2017 38 644 Toll Stadium 10 Oct 2010 32 638 Mount Smart Stadium 10 Oct 2010

Most consecutive wins

Matches First win Last win Days Ended Days 7 25 Jun 2021 9 Nov 2022 14 Nov 2022 4 14 Nov 2008 10 Jul 2010 10 Nov 2010 4 29 Apr 2023 2 Nov 2024 1 Mar 2025 4 7 Jul 2007 8 Nov 2008 10 Nov 2008 4 22 Oct 2016 16 Nov 2017 19 Nov 2017 Note: England were undefeated for 8 matches from 11 July 2013 to 16 Nov 2017 (), with the winning sequence split by a draw in the fourth of the eight matches, on 20 June 2015.

Most consecutive losses

Matches First loss Last loss Days Ended Days 3 19 Nov 2017 26 Nov 2017 27 Oct 2018

Knights

On 26 July 2022, a women's knights (England reserve team) team was officially launched. The team is managed by Leeds Rhinos head coach Lois Forsell. The team called up a performance squad to training camps in 2023 and 2024.

In 2019, an England reserve side called "England Lions" played Wales, losing 20–24, while the senior side was on tour against Papua New Guinea.

Date Opponent Score Tournament Venue Video Report(s) 16 Nov 2019 (as England Reserves) Friendly Pilkington Recs, St Helens 27 October 2022Friendly Weetwood Sports Park, Leeds

England women's national rugby league team

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