England Women are just a few days away from their international fixture against Wales at The Lextan Gnoll in Neath this Saturday (9 August, KO 5.30pm) -?with the clash also broadcast live from 5.10pm on S4C’S YouTube, S4C Clic and the iPlayer.
Saturday’s meeting will be the fifth time in as many years that England have faced Wales, with the visitors reigning victorious in all previous meetings.
In 2022, the two sides met during the mid-season in South Wales with England claiming the spoils by a margin of 32-6. Fran Goldthorp scored a brace, meanwhile Hollie-Mae Dodd, Shona Hoyle, Amy Hardcastle and Tara Jones were all on the scoresheet.
Last Autumn the two nations clashed at AMT Headingley - England?led 34-0 at half-time and ran in 16 tries in total with Liv Wood, Anna Davies, Paige Travis, Eboni Partington, Amelia Brown, Erin Stott, Katie Mottershead and Hollie-Mae Dodd all on the scoresheet.
The home side come into the clash following a hard-fought victory over a Scottish side playing their first ever international match last Sunday (3 August).
The scores were level going into the last few seconds until Player of the Match Bethan Dainton used her force to score the winning try.
Scotland may have been the newcomers, but they were the strongest at the start, winning a repeat set and scored the opening try. Grace Field took advantage of a loose ball and pounced to score Scotland’s historic first ever Women’s Rugby League try.
The remaining 80 minutes was an arm wrestle between the two nations with Wales clinching a 18-12 win in the final seconds of the game.
There are just three changes to the Wales squad?from their win over Scotland last Sunday, with Cardiff Demons trio, Leanne Burnell, Rhi Parker and Sioned Young coming in, the latter being in line for her first cap. Hannah Jones, who was unused 18th player last week, is also included.
England Head Coach Stuart Barrow named his squad earlier this week with eight potential debutants included – Phoebe Hook, Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter, Molly Jones, Grace Banks, Ruby Bruce, Lucy Murray and Evie Cousins
The international will be part a double header for Women’s and Girls’ Rugby League on Saturday, with South Wales Jets U14s playing their first ever game as they take on Oulton Raidettes U14s in the curtain raiser match at 3.30pm.
Tickets for the fixture against Wales are on sale here, priced at:
Adults: £10
11 and under: Free
Concessions: £7
Ages 12-16: £5
Family (two adults and two ages 12-16): £25
England Women squad:
Savannah Andrade (York Valkyrie), Grace Banks (Wigan Warriors), Ruby Bruce, Evie Cousins (both Leeds Rhinos), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies, Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter (all Wigan Warriors), Phoebe Hook (St Helens), Molly Jones (Wigan Warriors), Katie Mottershead (St Helens), Lucy Murray, Izzy Northrop (both Leeds Rhinos), Eboni Partington (York Valkyrie), Emily Rudge (St Helens), Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors), Bella Sykes (Leeds Rhinos), Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors), Liv Wood (York Valkyrie), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens)
Wales Women’s Squad:?
Leanne Burnell, Lucia Davies, Jasmine Gibbons, Ffion Jenkins, Hannah Jones, Charlie Mundy, Rhi Parker, Amy Price, Amberley Ruck, Meg Whittaker, Olivia Williams, Sioned Young (all Cardiff Demons), Gracie Hobbs (Huddersfield Giants), Bethan Dainton (Leeds Rhinos, captain), Kathryn Salter (London Broncos), Georgia Taylor (Sheffield Eagles), Dani McGifford (St Helens), Carys Marsh (Wigan Warriors), Agnes Wood (York Valkyrie).
