3 Feb 2018

Lois Forsell announced as first-ever Women's Player Ambassador

England international on board to aid growth of the sport ahead of the 2021 World Cup.

On the back of a groundbreaking 2017 for Women's Rugby League, the Rugby Football League is proud to announce England star Lois Forsell as the sport's first-ever National Women's Player Ambassador.

Forsell began her Rugby League journey with East Leeds amateur Rugby League club aged seven, and succeeded in becoming a mainstay of the England team, featuring at the last two World Cups.

The Leeds-born hooker made her England debut in 2009 and has gone on to win 18 international caps.

She featured in every game for England at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup as an outstanding vice-captain of the national side, and played a starring role as Bradford Bulls finished 2017 with a remarkable 100 per cent record - a year which also saw them collect the Women's Challenge Cup and be crowned champions of the inaugural Women's Super League.

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And, in December, she was announced as Leeds Rhinos Women's first-ever signing.

Commenting on her new role, she said: "I am proud and excited to become the first ever National Player Ambassador for Women's Rugby League.

"As someone who has been involved in Rugby League for most of my life, I'm looking forward to helping inspire the next generation of female Rugby League players.

"On the back of a successful launch of the Women's Super League, we enjoyed the highest-profile Women's Rugby League World Cup ever in 2017.

"Girls' and women's Rugby League has been supported by committed community clubs and pioneering professional clubs like Featherstone and Bradford for some time. We've now got a massive opportunity to take the sport to the next level together. It's an incredibly exciting time to be involved."

PLAYER OF THE MATCH ðŸ‘

Lois Forsell led the way as @OfficialBullsRL made history in Manchester yesterday ðŸ† pic.twitter.com/aZQ8bOqXo0
— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) October 8, 2017

2017 saw a major boost to the profile of the women's game in the UK as the Women's Super League kicked off.

The Grand Final, which saw Bradford Bulls overcome Featherstone Rovers 36-6, reached over 1.6 million people on social media, as well as extensive national and regional news coverage.

The Challenge Cup final, where Bradford recorded a 50-16 win against Featherstone, was also backed by a four-figure crowd, with a total reach of over 800,000 across social media.

"I want to help spread the word about our game in any way I can, and help drive up standards of the women’s game and the England team ahead of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup," Forsell added.

"Rugby League is the greatest sport in the world and has given me opportunities I could never have imagined when I first started.

"I'm passionate about giving young women and girls across the country the chance to get involved."