# England women's national rugby league team

The England women's national Rugby League team represents England in Women's Rugby League. They are administered by the Rugby Football League.

## History
### Early years

Women's Rugby League was originally established in 1985 through the Women's Amateur Rugby League Association, with the Great Britain National Team playing for the first time in the year 1996.
From 2007 onwards, England has competed on the international stage, playing in the 2008, 2013, 2017 and 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cups.

### 2008 World Cup

The 2008 Women's Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the tournament and the first time England had competed as a nation. The tournament was held in Australia from 26 October and England were in a pool with Russia, France and Australia.
England beat France and Russia in the group stages, losing to Australia, to finish second in the group and qualify for the semi-finals. England were beaten by eventual winners New Zealand at the semi-final stage, as they beat Australia 34–0. England beat the Pacific Islands in the third-placed play-off match.

### 2013 World Cup

The 2013 Women's Rugby League World Cup was held in Great Britain from 26 October and featured Australia, England, France and New Zealand. England's 24-player squad featured players from Bradford, Coventry, Crosfields, Featherstone, Normanton and Thatto Heath.
In the Round Robin format, England suffered a 14–6 defeat to Australia at the Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury, on Friday, 5 July, before going down 34–16 to New Zealand on Monday, 8 July at Featherstone Rovers’ Post Office Road.
A 42–4 win over France followed in the final round on 11 July at the Fox's Biscuits Stadium, Batley, before a record 54–0 win over France in the third-place play-off at the South Leeds Stadium, Hunslet.

### 2017 World Cup

The 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup was the fifth staging of the competition, held in Australia between 16 November and 2 December. England took part alongside Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and all group matches were played at the Southern Cross Group Stadium, home of Cronulla Sharks.
England were placed in Group A alongside Australia and the Cook Islands and took on Papua New Guinea in an inter-group match. Their first 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup match resulted in a 38–0 defeat to Australia on 19 November, before a shock 22–16 defeat to the Cook Islands on 22 November. England were 16–0 down at half time, but Emma Slowe, Amy Hardcastle and Kayleigh Bulman scored for England in the second half, Claire Garner kicking two goals, to make it 16-all, before a late Cook Islands try. England secured their progress to the semi-finals on points difference from the Cooks thanks to a 36–8 win over Papua New Guinea on 16 November. Tries from Charlotte Booth (2), Shona Hoyle, Amy Hardcastle, Tara-Jane Stanley, who kicked four goals, Danielle Bound and Beth Sutcliffe were enough to secure the win.
The semi-final saw England beaten 52–4 by New Zealand on 26 November at Southern Cross Group Stadium, despite a first-half Tara-Jane Stanley try.
Australia would go on to win the final 23–16 on 2 December at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.

### 2026 World Cup

Games preparing for the 2026 World Cup saw a new selection process implemented. Regional training occurred in Lancashire and Yorkshire with head coach, Stuart Barlow, selecting Lancashire and Yorkshire squads before playing an Origin fixture. Performances in these training sessions and match would determine national squad selection.

## Coaches
### Head coach

Last updated: 2 March 2025.
| Name | Tests | Tests | Tests | Tests | Tests | Tests | Ref. |
| Name | Span | Matches | W | D | L | W% | Ref. |
| Joe Warburton | 2007 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| Brenda Dobek | 2008–10 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 63.64% | |
| Anthony Sullivan | 2011 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| Steve McCormack | 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| Chris Chapman | 2013–2017 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 57.69% | |
| Craig Richards | 2018–22 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 81.82% | |
| Stu Barrow | 2023–present | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 80.00% | |

#### Nines Matches

| Name | Nines | Nines | Nines | Nines | Nines | Nines | Ref. |
| Name | Span | Matches | W | D | L | W% | Ref. |
| Craig Richards | 2019 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67% | |

## Players

Squad for the Test Match against Australia in Las Vegas on 1 March 2025. The intended line-up was announced on 28 February.
Players' ages are as at the date that the table was last updated, 2 March 2025.
Tallies in the table include the 1 March 2025 match against Australia.

## Records
### Team

* Biggest win: England 82–0 Wales , 2 November 2024 – Women's Rugby League international, Headingley, Leeds.
* Biggest defeat: Australia 90–4 England , 1 March 2025 – Las Vegas

### Individual

Most appearances :
| # | Name | Career | Caps | Tries | Position |
| 1 | Jodie Cunningham | 2009—present | 33 | 10 | Centre, Wing, Fullback, Five-eighth, Loose forward |
| 2 | Emily Rudge | 2008—present | 32 | 17 | Scrum-half, Loose forward, Second-row |
| 3 | Amy Hardcastle | 2009—present | 29 | 30 | Fullback, Wing, Centre |
| 4 | Andrea Dobson | 2007—2017 | 24 | 0 | Loose forward, Prop |
| 4 | Emma Slowe | 2007—2017 | 24 | 3 | Prop |
| 6 | Tara-Jane Stanley | 2012—present | 21 | 17 | Fullback, Wing, Centre |
| 6 | Shona Hoyle | 2016—present | 21 | 5 | Prop, Second-row |
| 8 | Beth Sutcliffe | 2007—2017 | 20 | 4 | Second-row, Loose forward, Prop |
| 9 | Kirsty Moroney | 2008—2017 | 19 | 6 | Scrum-half, Stand-off |
* Most tries: Amy Hardcastle - 30, Tara-Jane Stanley - 17, Emily Rudge - 17, Joanne Watmore - 13, Natalie Gilmour MBE - 13, Jodie Cunningham - 10, Leah Burke - 10.
* Most tries in a match: Anna Davies - 5 vs Wales , at Headingley, 2 November 2024.
* Most points: Tara-Jane Stanley 218, Natalie Gilmour - (at least) 114, Amy Hardcastle 120.

#### Notes

* 1 2 3 4 5
* 1 2

### World Cup

World Cup Record :
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | Win | Draw | Loss |
| 2000 | Competed as Great Britain and Ireland | Competed as Great Britain and Ireland | Competed as Great Britain and Ireland | Competed as Great Britain and Ireland | Competed as Great Britain and Ireland | Competed as Great Britain and Ireland |
| 2003 | Competed as Great Britain | Competed as Great Britain | Competed as Great Britain | Competed as Great Britain | Competed as Great Britain | Competed as Great Britain |
| 2008 | Third Place | 3rd out of 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2013 | Third Place | 3rd out of 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 | Semi Final | 3rd out of 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 | Semi Final | 3rd out of 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |

### World Cup appearances

| # | Name | World Cups | Matches | Tries | Position |
| 1 | Emma Slowe | 2008, 2013, 2017 | 13 | 2 | Prop |
| 1 | Emily Rudge | 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021 | 13 | 0 | Scrum-half, Loose forward, Second-row |
| 3 | Andrea Dobson | 2008, 2013, 2017 | 12 | 0 | Prop, Loose forward |
| 4 | Kirsty Moroney | 2008, 2013, 2017 | 11 | 2 | Scrum-half, Stand-off |
| 4 | Beth Sutcliffe | 2008, 2013, 2017 | 11 | 3 | Second-row, Loose forward, Prop |
| 4 | Amy Hardcastle | 2013, 2017, 2021 | 11 | 11 | Centre |
| 7 | Jodie Cunningham | 2013, 2017, 2021 | 10 | 2 | Wing, Fullback, Loose forward |
Source: England Women (World Cup) at Rugby League Record Keepers Club

## Competitive record
### Head-to-head records

| Opponent | FM | MR | M | W | D | L | Win% | PF | PA | Share |
| Australia | 2008 | 2025 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.00% | 14 | 164 | 7.87% |
| Brazil | 2022 | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 72 | 4 | 94.74% |
| Canada | 2022 | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 54 | 4 | 93.10% |
| Cook Islands | 2017 | 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 16 | 22 | 42.11% |
| France | 2007 | 2024 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 97.62% | 806 | 108 | 88.18% |
| New Zealand | 2008 | 2022 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.00% | 42 | 204 | 17.07% |
| Pacific Islands | 2008 | 2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 24 | 0 | 100.00% |
| Papua New Guinea | 2017 | 2022 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75.00% | 118 | 42 | 73.75% |
| Russia | 2008 | 2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 72 | 0 | 100.00% |
| Wales | 2021 | 2024 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 234 | 6 | 97.50% |
| Total | 2007 | 2025 | 44 | 31 | 1 | 12 | 71.59% | 1452 | 554 | 72.38% |
Notes:
* Table last updated 2 March 2025 (after the Test Match against Australia in Las Vegas)
* Share is the portion of "For" points compared to the sum of "For" and "Against" points.

### Results
#### Full internationals

| Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue | Video |
| 7 Jul 2007 | France | 16–2 | Test Match | Stade Municipal de Lescure d'Albigeois, Albi | — |
| 13 Jul 2008 | France | 42–4 | Test Match | Widnes RUFC | — |
| 6 Nov 2008 | Russia | 72–0 | 2008 WRLWC | Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast | — |
| 8 Nov 2008 | France | 54–4 | 2008 WRLWC | Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast | — |
| 10 Nov 2008 | Australia | 4–22 | 2008 WRLWC | Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast | — |
| 12 Nov 2008 | New Zealand | 4–16 | 2008 WRLWC | Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast | |
| 14 Nov 2008 | Pacific Islands | 24–0 | 2008 WRLWC | Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast | — |
| 18 Jul 2009 | France | 28–8 | 2 Test Series | Stade Ernest Argeles, Toulouse | — |
| 25 Jul 2009 | France | 36–0 | 2 Test Series | Stade Ernest Argeles, Toulouse | — |
| 10 Jul 2010 | France | 40–8 | Test Match | National Sports Centre, Lilleshall | — |
| 10 Nov 2010 | New Zealand | 6–44 | Test Match | Toll Stadium, Whangārei | — |
| 16 Nov 2010 | New Zealand | 6–38 | Test Match | Waitakere Stadium, Auckland | — |
| 2 Jul 2011 | France | 40–6 | 2 Test Series | Parc Des Sports, Avignon | — |
| 6 Jul 2011 | France | 56–6 | 2 Test Series | Parc Des Sports, Avignon | — |
| 15 Jun 2012 | France | 48–0 | Test Match | Grattan Stadium, Bradford | — |
| 5 Jul 2013 | Australia | 6–14 | 2013 WRLWC | The Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury | |
| 8 Jul 2013 | New Zealand | 16–34 | 2013 WRLWC | Post Office Road, Featherstone | |
| 11 Jul 2013 | France | 42–4 | 2013 WRLWC | Fox's Biscuits Stadium, Batley | |
| 13 Jul 2013 | France | 54–0 | 2013 WRLWC | South Leeds Stadium, Hunslet | |
| 17 Jun 2015 | France | 24–4 | 2 Test Series | Stade Jean Benege, Tonneins | — |
| 20 Jun 2015 | France | 14–14 | 2 Test Series | Stade Roger Garnung, Biganos | — |
| 22 Oct 2016 | France | 36–6 | Test Match | Parc des Sports, Avignon | — |
| 21 Jun 2017 | France | 26–16 | 2 Test Series | Stade de la Mer, Perpignan | — |
| 24 Jun 2017 | France | 14–8 | 2 Test Series | Stade de la Mer, Perpignan | — |
| 16 Nov 2017 | Papua New Guinea | 36–8 | 2017 WRLWC | Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney | |
| 19 Nov 2017 | Australia | 0–38 | 2017 WRLWC | Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney | |
| 22 Nov 2017 | Cook Islands | 16–22 | 2017 WRLWC | Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney | |
| 26 Nov 2017 | New Zealand | 4–52 | 2017 WRLWC | Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney | |
| 27 Oct 2018 | France | 54–4 | Test Match | Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne | — |
| 9 Nov 2019 | Papua New Guinea | 24–10 | 2 Test Series | Goroka | |
| 16 Nov 2019 | Papua New Guinea | 16–20 | 2 Test Series | Port Moresby | |
| 25 Jun 2021 | Wales | 60–0 | Test Match | Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington | |
| 23 Oct 2021 | France | 40–4 | Test Match | Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan | |
| 12 Jun 2022 | Wales | 32–6 | Test Match | Pandy Park, Crosskeys | |
| 18 Jun 2022 | France | 36–10 | Test Match | Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington | |
| 1 Nov 2022 | Brazil | 72–4 | 2021 WRLWC | Headingley Stadium, Leeds | |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Canada | 54–4 | 2021 WRLWC | DW Stadium, Wigan | |
| 9 Nov 2022 | Papua New Guinea | 42–4 | 2021 WRLWC | Headingley Stadium, Leeds | |
| 14 Nov 2022 | New Zealand | 6–20 | 2021 WRLWC | York Community Stadium, York | — |
| 29 Apr 2023 | France | 64–0 | Test Match | Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington | |
| 4 Nov 2023 | Wales | 60–0 | Test Match | Headingley Stadium, Leeds | |
| 29 Jun 2024 | France | 42–0 | Test Match | Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse | |
| 2 Nov 2024 | Wales | 82–0 | Test Match | Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds | — |
| 1 Mar 2025 | Australia | 4–90 | RL Las Vegas | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas | |

#### Upcoming fixtures

* Australia in October and or November 2025, to complete the 2025 Ashes Test Series that began with the match in Las Vegas.

#### Nines

| Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue |
| 18 Oct 2019 | Papua New Guinea | 25–4 | 2019 International Nines | Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta |
| 19 Oct 2019 | Australia | 4–42 | 2019 International Nines | Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta |
| 19 Oct 2019 | New Zealand | 4–33 | 2019 International Nines | Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta |

## IRL Rankings

IRL Women's World Rankingsvte :
| Official rankings as of December 2024 ||||
| Rank | Change | Team | Pts % |
| 1 | | Australia | 100 |
| 2 | | New Zealand | 83 |
| 3 | | England | 55 |
| 4 | | France | 36 |
| 5 | | Papua New Guinea | 29 |
| 6 | 1 | Wales | 24 |
| 7 | 3 | Ireland | 19 |
| 8 | 1 | Greece | 18 |
| 9 | 1 | Canada | 17 |
| 10 | 4 | Cook Islands | 17 |
| 11 | 13 | Samoa | 14 |
| 12 | 1 | Serbia | 11 |
| 13 | | Netherlands | 11 |
| 14 | 2 | United States | 10 |
| 15 | 1 | Tonga | 10 |
| 16 | 10 | Fiji | 8 |
| 17 | 1 | Nigeria | 8 |
| 18 | 2 | Kenya | 7 |
| 19 | 4 | Philippines | 7 |
| 20 | 8 | Brazil | 6 |
| 21 | 2 | Italy | 5 |
| 22 | | Uganda | 3 |
| 23 | | Jamaica | 3 |
| 24 | 1 | Ghana | 2 |
| 25 | 4 | Malta | 2 |
| 26 | 9 | Turkey | 2 |
| 27 | | Lebanon | 0 |
| Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT ||||

## Knights

On 26 July 2022, a women's knights (England reserve team) team was officially launched. The team is managed by Leeds Rhinos head coach Lois Forsell. The team called up a performance squad to training camps in 2023 and 2024.
In 2019, an England reserve side called "England Lions" played Wales, losing 20–24, while the senior side was on tour against Papua New Guinea.
| Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue | Video | Report(s) |
| 16 Nov 2019 (as England Reserves) | Wales | 20–24 | Friendly | Pilkington Recs, St Helens | | |
| 27 October 2022 | Cook Islands | 14–26 | Friendly | Weetwood Sports Park, Leeds | | |