England Women face Wales at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium next Saturday (2 November, KO 12pm) - the first game of an international double header also featuring England Men against Samoa (KO 2.30pm).
The home nations faced one another for the first time back in June 2021 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium with a dazzling Shona Hoyle performance earning her Player of the Match during the 60-0 rout.
This time round, the Leeds Rhinos forward is now an established senior international and with six potential debutants in Stuart Barrow’s squad, she’s looking forward to guiding a new set of players as they look to represent England for the first time…
What’s the role of the senior internationals with so many new faces coming into camp?
“I think our job is to maintain a good energy in the squad, because they will be nervous. I remember my first experience going into camp and I was really hesitant. Especially as a senior player, we’ve just got to ease them into it and make them feel welcome.
“They've been selected because of the quality they possess so they deserve to be there no matter what age they are.”
You play with Bella Sykes and Izzy Northrop at Leeds Rhinos, what do they bring to the team?
“Izzy Northrop is one of the most hard-working forwards I have ever seen. She travels from Newcastle every Tuesday and Thursday to come training. She's always in the gym and is always wanting to better herself. She's always wanting to learn, you know she's not shy of asking questions which I think is really, really nice.
“It’s a breath of fresh air as well. These new forwards that are coming through, they're really athletic and they work very hard - they have so much speed and agility!
“But Izzy is just one of the most grounded people I know, and I think she's going to thrive in years and years to come in an England badge.”
Is the new crop of players keeping you hungry to stay at the top?
“Most of the senior girls now in their thirties and even though we've got experience, we still want to compete at the highest level. So yeah, it absolutely is. You've always got to make sure you're going to the gym and eating well just so you can continue to compete.
“My aim is to get to the World Cup Australia in a couple of years. I just need to make sure that I’m competing and always be ready to adapt and never stop learning.”
What challenges will you face playing Wales next Saturday?
“They have some decent forwards, and they've got Bethan Dainton as their Captain, who is a really, really good leader - she's a very not a vocalised person, but she's very similar to me. She'll show what she wants her players to do. She leads by example and lays it out on the pitch.”
“They also have Faye Gaskin in their coaching staff now and she's amazing. I feel like she's going to be a breath of fresh for them and she can definitely help the half backs going into the game.”
How have Wales changed as an opposition since you first played them?
“We’ve seen a massive change over the years and the score line gets lower and lower each time we meet, which is great to see. Tom's a brilliant coach, I was coached by him when I first started my career in the early England days years ago!
“I think next Saturday they’re going to have more about themselves which is really good for the international game.”
Saturday’s game will be the final one before Las Vegas…
“It’s been at the front of my mind ever since it got announced. Every time I'm training, every time I can't get up in the morning. I'm thinking…I want to be on that plane and playing against Australia. We don't get to play them often so it’s a massive opportunity.
“But we’ve got this battle against Wales first and we have to focus on that.”
Tickets for the double-header at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, and for the first England Men versus Samoa fixture in Wigan are available to buy now through Wigan Warriors' website up until game day. There will also be tickets available from The Brick Community Stadium ticket office on the day of the game (11am opening time).
The new England RL shirt can also be purchased now from Oxen’s Elite Pro Sports online store.
