Thirty young female Rugby League players from twelve clubs have been chosen to take part in England Rugby League’s Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) for 2024-2026.
DiSE is the first step on the England Performance Pathway, a national programme for Year 12 and 13 girls who have the potential to play at the highest level of the game – representing England Rugby League with the Knights or the Women’s senior team.
So far, a total of five DiSE graduates have showcased the national pathway by going on to represent the England Women’s Senior team; Keara Bennett (Leeds Rhinos), Eboni Partington (York Valkyrie), Katie Mottershead (St Helens) Bella Sykes (Leeds Rhinos) and Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors).
The Rugby Football League’s DiSE Manager, Conor Meese, said: “I’m delighted to welcome 30 new players into our National Talent Pathway. The exceptional growth that girls’ Rugby League has experienced in recent years has resulted in a substantial overall increase in the playing standard. Consequently, this has made selection for the DiSE programme much more competitive than in recent years.
With three more DiSE debuts in the 2024 Senior Mid-Season International, there are an increasing amount of role models in the game for young girls to aspire to be. In addition to DiSE, the new formalised talent pathway for girls aged 14 and upwards at Women Super League clubs, means it’s an exciting time to be an up-and-coming player in the game, with lots of developmental opportunities.”
2024-26 DiSE cohort:
Chloe Ashley (Ashton Bears), Rachel Atkinson (Hull FC), Hannah Black (Hull FC), Madison Clegg (Greetland All Rounders), Mia Drescher (Halton Farnworth Hornets), Leila D’Symonds (Warrington Girls RLFC), Lyla Finch (Halton Farnworth Hornets), Trinity Gallagher (Oulton Raidettes), Ellie Garside (Bronte Barbarians), Daisy Ginger (Hull KR), Eva Green (Bronte Barbarians), Imogen Hallas (Greetland All Rounders), Martha Hodgson (Greetland All Rounders), Keira Holling (Bronte Barbarians), Ella Howe (Hull KR), Leah Jackson (Shaw Cross Sharks), Zoe King (Halton Farnworth Hornets), Abi Liu (Queensbury), Charlotte Meredith (Leigh Miners Rangers), Neve Mulcrow (Leigh Miners Rangers), Erin Obsorne (Warrington Girls CRLFC), Diamond Osobu (Bronte Barbarians), Tegan Sant (Greetland All Rounders), Lill Seal (Greetland All Rounders), Charlotte Shaw (Greetland All Rounders), Lily Sheron (Halton Farnworth Hornets), Harriet Silk (Orrell St James), Olivia Turner (Hull FC), Phoebe Wilson (Shaw Cross Sharks), Ava Wilson (Orrell St James).
