The England women's national Rugby League team represents England in Women's Rugby League. They are administered by the Rugby Football League. As Great Britain, they toured Australia in 1996, New Zealand in 1998, and reached the first-ever Women's Rugby League World Cup final in 2000, where they lost 26–4 to New Zealand.
Team information | |
---|---|
Nickname | England Lionesses |
Governing body | Rugby Football League |
Region | Europe |
Head coach | Stuart Barrow |
Captain | Jodie Cunningham |
Most caps | Emily Rudge 31 |
Top try-scorer | Amy Hardcastle 29 |
Top point-scorer | Tara-Jane Stanley 218 |
IRL ranking | 3rd |
Team results | |
First international | |
England 16–2 France (7 July 2007) | |
Biggest win | |
England 72–0 Russia (6 November 2008) | |
Biggest defeat | |
England 4–52 New Zealand (26 November 2017) | |
World Cup | |
Appearances | 4 (first time in 2008) |
Best result | Semi-Final: 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021 |
Great Britain toured Australia in 2002 and took part in the 2003 World Cup. In 2006, the RFL announced that, after the men's 2007 All Golds Tour, the Great Britain team would no longer compete on a regular basis, and that players would be able to represent England, Wales and Scotland at Test level.
It is planned that the Great Britain team will come together in future only for occasional tours.
Table last updated 4 November 2023 (after 2023 Test Match against Wales)
Opponent | First | Most Recent |
M | W | D | L | Win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 2008 | 2017 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
Brazil | 2022 | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Canada | 2022 | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Cook Islands | 2017 | 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
France | 2007 | 2023 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 97% |
New Zealand | 2008 | 2022 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0% |
Pacific Islands | 2008 | 2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Papua New Guinea | 2017 | 2022 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75% |
Russia | 2008 | 2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Wales | 2021 | 2023 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Total | 2007 | 2023 | 41 | 29 | 1 | 11 | 71% |
Squad for the Test Match against Wales on 4 November 2023.[1] Tallies in the table include this November 2023 match. Davies (18th), Hetherington and Travis were excluded from the playing 17.
Player | Age | Position | Club | Profile | Debut | Caps | T | G | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tara-Jane Stanley | 30 | Fullback, Wing | York Valkyrie | Yes | 2012 | 21 | 17 | 75 | 218 |
Eboni Partington | 21 | Wing, Centre | St Helens | Yes | 2023 | 2 | 1 | – | 4 |
Tamzin Renouf | 22 | Centre, Loose forward | York Valkyrie | No | 2019 | 4 | 2 | – | 8 |
Amy Hardcastle | 34 | Centre | Leeds Rhinos | Yes | 2009 | 26 | 29 | – | 116 |
Caitlin Beevers | 22 | Wing, Fullback | Leeds Rhinos | Yes | 2018 | 9 | 8 | – | 32 |
Tara Jones | 27 | Stand-off, Hooker | St Helens | Yes | 2015 | 14 | 6 | – | 24 |
Georgia Roche | 24 | Scrum-half, Stand-off | Newcastle Knights | Yes | 2018 | 12 | 7 | – | 28 |
Shona Hoyle | 30 | Prop, Second-row | St Helens | Yes | 2016 | 18 | 5 | – | 20 |
Keara Bennett | 21 | Hooker | Leeds Rhinos | Yes | 2022 | 6 | 1 | – | 4 |
Olivia Wood | 22 | Prop, Second-row | York Valkyrie | Yes | 2022 | 7 | 1 | – | 4 |
Vicky Molyneux | 35 | Second-row | Wigan Warriors | Yes | 2007 | 8 | – | 0 | |
Emily Rudge | 31 | Second-row | St Helens | Yes | 2008 | 31 | 16 | – | 64 |
Jodie Cunningham | 31 | Loose forward, Five-eighth | St Helens | Yes | 2009 | 30 | 10 | – | 40 |
Sinead Peach | 25 | Hooker | York Valkyrie | No | 2016 | 6 | 1 | – | 4 |
Vicky Whitfield | 29 | Prop | St Helens | Yes | 2018 | 9 | 1 | – | 4 |
Zoe Hornby | 24 | Second-row | Leeds Rhinos | Yes | 2022 | 2 | – | 0 | |
Lacey Owen | — | Stand-off, Loose forward | York Valkyrie | No | 2023 | 1 | 1 | – | 4 |
Anna Davies | 28 | Wing | Wigan Warriors | Yes | — | – | – | 0 | |
Georgie Hetherington | 26 | Stand-off, Scrum-half | York Valkyrie | No | — | – | – | 0 | |
Paige Travis | 24 | Loose forward | St Helens | Yes | 2021 | 6 | 1 | – | 4 |
Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue | Video | Report(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 Jul 2007 | France | 16–2 |
Test Match | Stade Municipal de Lescure d'Albigeois, Albi[2] | — | [3] |
13 Jul 2008 | France | 42–4 |
Test Match | Widnes RUFC | — | [4] |
6 Nov 2008 | Russia | 72–0 |
2008 WRLWC | Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast | — | [5][6] |
8 Nov 2008 | France | 54–4 |
— | [7] | ||
10 Nov 2008 | Australia | 4–22 |
— | [8] | ||
12 Nov 2008 | New Zealand | 4–16 |
[9] | [10] | ||
14 Nov 2008 | Pacific Islands | 24–0 |
— | [11] | ||
18 Jul 2009 | France | 28–8 |
2 Test Series | Stade Ernest Argeles, Toulouse[12] | — | [13] |
25 Jul 2009 | France | 36–0 |
Stade Ernest Argeles, Toulouse | — | [14] | |
10 Jul 2010 | France | 40–8 |
Test Match | National Sports Centre, Lilleshall | — | [15] |
10 Nov 2010 | New Zealand | 6–44 |
Test Match | Toll Stadium, Whangārei | — | [16] |
16 Nov 2010 | New Zealand | 6–38 |
Test Match | Waitakere Stadium, Auckland | — | [17] |
2 Jul 2011 | France | 40–6 |
2 Test Series | Parc Des Sports, Avignon | — | [18] |
6 Jul 2011 | France | 56–6 |
Parc Des Sports, Avignon | — | [19] | |
15 Jun 2012 | France | 48–0 |
Test Match | Grattan Stadium, Bradford | — | [20] |
5 Jul 2013 | Australia | 6–14 |
2013 WRLWC | The Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury | [21] | [22] |
8 Jul 2013 | New Zealand | 16–34 |
Post Office Road, Featherstone | [23] | [24] | |
11 Jul 2013 | France | 42–4 |
Fox's Biscuits Stadium, Batley | [25] | [26] | |
13 Jul 2013 | France | 54–0 |
South Leeds Stadium, Hunslet | [27] | [28] | |
17 Jun 2015 | France | 24–4 |
2 Test Series | Stade Jean Benege, Tonneins | — | [29][30] |
20 Jun 2015 | France | 14–14 |
Stade Roger Garnung, Biganos | — | [31][32] | |
22 Oct 2016 | France | 36–6 |
Test Match | Parc des Sports, Avignon | — | [33] |
21 Jun 2017 | France | 26–16 |
2 Test Series | Stade de la Mer, Perpignan | — | [34] |
24 Jun 2017 | France | 14–8 |
Stade de la Mer, Perpignan | — | [35] | |
16 Nov 2017 | Papua New Guinea | 36–8 |
2017 WRLWC | Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney | [36] | [37] |
19 Nov 2017 | Australia | 0–38 |
[38] | [39] | ||
22 Nov 2017 | Cook Islands | 16–22 |
[40] | [41][42] | ||
26 Nov 2017 | New Zealand | 4–52 |
[43] | [44] | ||
27 Oct 2018 | France | 54–4 |
Test Match | Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne | — | [45] |
9 Nov 2019 | Papua New Guinea | 24–10 |
2 Test Series | Goroka | [46] | [47][48] |
16 Nov 2019 | Papua New Guinea | 16–20 |
Port Moresby | [49] | [50][51] | |
25 Jun 2021 | Wales | 60–0 |
Test Match | Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington | [52] | [53][54][55] |
23 Oct 2021 | France | 40–4 |
Test Match | Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan | [56] | [57][58] |
12 Jun 2022 | Wales | 32–6 |
Test Match | Pandy Park, Crosskeys | [59] | [60][61][62][63] |
18 Jun 2022 | France | 36–10 |
Test Match | Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington | [64] | [65][66][67] |
1 Nov 2022 | Brazil | 72–4 |
2021 WRLWC | Headingley Stadium, Leeds | [68] | [69][70][71] |
5 Nov 2022 | Canada | 54–4 |
DW Stadium, Wigan | [72] | [73][74] | |
9 Nov 2022 | Papua New Guinea | 42–4 |
Headingley Stadium, Leeds | [75] | [76][77] | |
14 Nov 2022 | New Zealand | 6–20 |
York Community Stadium, York | — | [78][79] | |
29 Apr 2023 | France | 64–0 |
Test Match | Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington | [80] | [81][82] |
4 Nov 2023 | Wales | 60–0 |
Test Match[a] | Headingley Stadium, Leeds | [84] |
Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue | Video | Report(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 Nov 2019 | Wales | 20–24 |
Other Match | Pilkington Recs, St Helens | [85] | [86] |
Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue | Video | Report(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 Oct 2019 | Papua New Guinea | 25–4 |
2019 International Nines | Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta | [87] | [88] |
19 Oct 2019 | Australia | 4–42 |
[89] | |||
19 Oct 2019 | New Zealand | 4–33 |
[90] | [91] |
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 2000.
From 2008 onwards, England has competed on the international stage, playing in the 2008, 2013, 2017 and 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cups to date.
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.
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.
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.
Joe Warburton (2007)
Brenda Dobek (2008–2010)
Anthony Sullivan (2011)
Steve McCormack (2012)
Chris Chapman (2013–2017)
Craig Richards (2018–22)
Stu Barrow (2023-present)
Neil Gregg & Brenda Dobek (2007)
Neil Gregg & Anita Naughton (2007–2009)
Nigel Johnson (2009–2012)
Nigel Johnson & Thomas Brindle (2011)
Thomas Brindle (2012–2017)
Lindsay Anfield (2018–present)
This section last updated 10 November 2022.
Biggest win: England 72-0 Russia , 6/11/2008 – Women's Rugby League World Cup, Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast.
Biggest defeat: New Zealand 52-4 England , 26/11/2017 – Women's Rugby League World Cup semi-final, Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney
Most caps
# | Name | Career | Caps | Tries | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Emily Rudge | 2008—present | 31 | 16 | Scrum-half, Loose forward, Second-row |
2 | Jodie Cunningham | 2009—present | 30 | 10 | Centre, Wing, Fullback, Five-eighth, Loose forward |
3 | Amy Hardcastle | 2009—present | 26 | 29 | Fullback, Wing, Centre |
4 | Andrea Dobson | 2007—2017 | 24 | 0[α] | Loose forward, Prop |
Emma Slowe | 2007—2017 | 24 | 3[α] | Prop | |
6 | Tara-Jane Stanley | 2012—present | 21 | 17 | Fullback, Wing, Centre |
7 | Beth Sutcliffe | 2007—2017 | 20 | 4[α] | Second-row, Loose forward, Prop |
8 | Kirsty Moroney | 2008—2017 | 19 | 6[β] | Scrum-half, Stand-off |
Most tries: Amy Hardcastle - 29, Tara-Jane Stanley - 17, Emily Rudge - 16, Joanne Watmore - 13[β], Natalie Gilmour MBE - 13[α], Jodie Cunningham - 10, Leah Burke - 10.
Most tries in a match: Emily Rudge - 4 vs Papua New Guinea , 1st Test at Goroka, Sat 9/11/2019, Leah Burke - 4 vs France , Only Test at Warrington, Sat 23/04/2023
Most points: Tara-Jane Stanley 218, Natalie Gilmour MBE - (at least) 114[α], Amy Hardcastle 116.
Notes:
World Cup Record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | Win | Draw | Loss | ||
2000 | Competed as Great Britain and Ireland | |||||||
2003 | 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 |
# | Name | World Cups | Matches | Tries | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Emma Slowe | 2008, 2013, 2017 | 13 | 2 | Prop |
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 |
Beth Sutcliffe | 2008, 2013, 2017 | 11 | 3 | Second-row, Loose forward, Prop | |
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