England Women Head Coach, Stuart Barrow, has named his 19-player squad for Saturday’s international against Wales at The Lextan Gnoll in Neath (9 August, KO 5.30pm).
Barrow’s squad includes ten players who have come through the Diploma in Sporting Excellence pathway and a total of seven potential debutants, highlighting the exciting young talent that are starting to break into the top flight of the women’s game.
Wigan’s 19-year-old full-back Grace Banks is in line to make her international debut following a prolific season for her club including a Player of the Match performance in this year’s Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.
The Warriors have a total of seven inclusions with Eva Hunter also selected - the 20-year-old has established herself as one of the elite back-rowers in the Betfred Women’s Super League, having scored 28 tries in 38 appearances to date.
2024 Woman of Steel nominee Lucy Murray is also selected for the first time after her impressive start to the Super League season. The 22-year-old second-row is one of five Leeds players in the squad and has become a key player for the Rhinos since making her debut back in 2021 and was named their 2024 Player of the Year.
Rhinos Hooker Ruby Bruce has also been named after a strong performance for Yorkshire in last weekend’s Women’s Origin fixture. The 18-year-old was promoted to the Leeds first team ahead of the 2025 season and made six appearances in total in 2024, coming off the bench in five and starting once.
Saturday’s fixture against Wales will be broadcast live from 5.10pm on S4C’S YouTube, S4C Clic and the iPlayer.
England Women squad:
Savannah Andrade (York Valkyrie), Grace Banks (Wigan Warriors), Ruby Bruce, (Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies, Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter, Molly Jones (all Wigan Warriors), Katie Mottershead (St Helens), Lucy Murray, Izzy Northrop (both Leeds Rhinos), Eboni Partington (York Valkyrie), Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors), Bella Sykes (Leeds Rhinos), Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors), Liv Wood (York Valkyrie), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens)
Emily Rudge (18th)
Evie Cousins (19th)
