Wales to make Rugby League World Cup debut against England in Perth
Wales, captained by Bethan Dainton, will make their Rugby League World Cup debut against England in Perth on Saturday, 17 October, after head coach Tom Brindle named a 21-player squad.
The appearance opens Wales' Group A programme, which also includes matches against Samoa and co-hosts Australia, and comes after the side played their first full international in June 2021.
Brindle's 21-player selection contains three new caps in the starting line-up and two others who could make their debut from the bench. The starting XIII named to face England is Leanne Burnell, Dani McGifford, Hannah Bluck, Zoe Heeley, Frances Layton, Ffion Lewis, Tayla Preston, Agnes Wood, Jasmine Gibbons, Emily Hughes, Georgia Cussons, Paige Travis and Bethan Dainton, with Carys Marsh, Kathryn Salter, Katie Carr and Erin Williams named as interchange.
Several squad members bring multi-sport backgrounds: Hannah Bluck will represent Wales in her fourth sport, having earned 15 senior caps in rugby union as well as representing the country at basketball and U19s level football. Canterbury Bulldogs captain Tayla Preston, who is Sydney-born, will make her Wales debut at scrum-half alongside Ffion Lewis at stand-off, with Lewis becoming the first Welsh woman to play in a World Cup in both codes. St Helens second row Paige Travis is also a starting debutant and previously represented England at the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
Captain Bethan Dainton said the newcomers had fitted into the squad immediately: "They jumped in like they've been part of this team the whole time, you can't tell that they're new to the squad at all," and added: "We've got strengths all across the park, we've got some other leaders in the squad which will help the team. "They're amazing athletes as well so I'm excited to see how we go as a team on Saturday." On the bench is Erin Williams, who played for Gwalia Lightning in rugby union before joining league side Cardiff Demons midway through the season and could make her international debut in just her sixth match in the sport.
Erin Williams said: "Following in my brother's footsteps is a massive honour for me, he's a massive inspiration in my life. "Without him I wouldn't be here today. "I know I put the work in myself but he's the one who pushed me to play the sport, it's a huge honour. "It's something I've always dreamed of I just didn't think it would come this early."
Brindle framed qualification and participation as part of a broader aim to grow the game, saying the team want to play their part in growing rugby league as a "small nation punching above their weight". He added: "Not only is it a big opportunity for us as Wales and the people of Wales, I think it's a big opportunity for rugby league across Europe," and said: "We have to pinch ourselves that we set off on a journey and we got here and we're not too far away from competing at our first World Cup game." He also said: "I'm a big believer that anything takes a decade," and: "We're six years into this journey and we're not too far off. "Another ten years from now, we'll see the impact of this team, Bethan leading the team out on Saturday, but we have to sustain it. "We know we're in a tough group, we know there's going to be challenges but if we live up to our values, I think we'll grow and be in a better place both in Wales and internationally in ten years time." He added: "I firmly believe in the international game, if women's rugby league needs to continue to grow to be successful, we need more internationals, more regularly. "Over the years that was often driven in the northern hemisphere between France and England. "I believe our introduction and getting to this point has put more teams on the map and that's helped inspire more teams around like Ireland and Scotland." and said: "We have girls that now want to be Bethan when they grow up, they're playing more, they're sending us videos, it's inspiring."
Wales qualified for the tournament after beating Netherlands 48-6 in June 2024 to seal their place and had earlier beaten Ireland 28-10 in Cardiff in their opening qualifier. Their campaign form included an 82-0 defeat by England in Leeds in November 2024, an 18-12 win against Scotland and a 62-0 loss to the Lionesses at Neath's Gnoll ground, and a 14-0 build-up defeat to Canada at the same venue in July. Wales enter the England match with an aggregate deficit of 144-0 from two matches against their neighbours and the England game will be just the 14th full international for Brindle's side.
"It's always an honour to represent Wales in any sport," said Dainton. "But I think to captain your country at a World Cup is going to be special and it's something that nobody can take away from you. "As soon as we walk out, I think that's when it'll start hitting myself and the girls how big this is and how far we've come from the first game." Wales will face England in Perth on Saturday, 17 October, meet Samoa in Sydney on Friday, 23 October, and complete their Pool A programme against Australia in Sydney on Sunday, 1 November.