Team information | |
---|---|
Nickname | England Lionesses |
Governing body | Rugby Football League |
Region | Europe |
Head coach | Stuart Barrow |
Captain | Jodie Cunningham |
Most caps | Jodie Cunningham 33 |
Top try-scorer | Amy Hardcastle 30 |
Top point-scorer | Tara-Jane Stanley 218 |
IRL ranking | 3rd |
Team results | |
First international | |
![]() ![]() (7 July 2007) | |
Biggest win | |
![]() ![]() (2 November 2024) | |
Biggest defeat | |
![]() ![]() (1 March 2025) | |
World Cup | |
Appearances | 4 (first time in 2008 ) |
Best result | Semi-Final: 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021 |
The England women's national Rugby League team represents England in Women's Rugby League. They are administered by the Rugby Football League.
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.
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.
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2024) |
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. [1]
Last updated: 2 March 2025.
Name | Tests | Ref. | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Span | Matches | W | D | L | W% | ||
Joe Warburton | 2007 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | [2] |
Brenda Dobek | 2008–10 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 63.64% | [3] |
Anthony Sullivan | 2011 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | [4] |
Steve McCormack | 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | [5] |
Chris Chapman | 2013–2017 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 57.69% | [6] |
Craig Richards | 2018–22 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 81.82% | [7] |
Stu Barrow | 2023–present | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 80.00% | [8] |
Name | Nines | Ref. | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Span | Matches | W | D | L | W% | ||
Craig Richards | 2019 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67% |
Squad for the Test Match against Australia in Las Vegas on 1 March 2025. [9] The intended line-up was announced on 28 February. [10] [11]
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.
Player | Age | Position | Club | Profile | Debut | Caps | T | G | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Georgie Dagger | 27 | Fullback | ![]() | Yes | 2024 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Eboni Partington | 22 | Wing | ![]() | Yes | 2023 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 16 |
Tamzin Renouf | 23 | Centre | ![]() | Yes | 2019 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
Amy Hardcastle | 35 | Centre | ![]() | Yes | 2009 | 29 | 30 | 0 | 120 |
Anna Davies | 29 | Wing | ![]() | Yes | 2024 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
Zoe Harris | 28 | Stand-off | ![]() | Yes | 2022 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Georgia Roche | 25 | Scrum-half | ![]() | Yes | 2018 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 32 |
Olivia Wood | 23 | Prop | ![]() | Yes | 2022 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
Keara Bennett | 22 | Hooker | ![]() | Yes | 2022 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Shona Hoyle | 31 | Prop | ![]() | Yes | 2016 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
Hollie-Mae Dodd | 21 | Second-row | ![]() | Yes | 2021 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 32 |
Paige Travis | 25 | Second-row | ![]() | Yes | 2021 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 16 |
Jodie Cunningham | 33 | Loose forward | ![]() | Yes | 2009 | 33 | 10 | 0 | 40 |
Katie Mottershead | 21 | Hooker | ![]() | Yes | 2024 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Vicky Whitfield | 28 | Prop | ![]() | Yes | 2018 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Bella Sykes | 20 | Hooker | ![]() | Yes | 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Izzy Northrop | 24 | Prop | ![]() | Yes | 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Erin Stott | — | Centre , Wing | ![]() | Yes | 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Jenna Foubister | — | Scrum-half | ![]() | Yes | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jas Bell | 26 | Prop | ![]() | Yes | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
# | 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 [α] | Loose forward , Prop |
Emma Slowe | 2007—2017 | 24 | 3 [α] | Prop | |
6 | Tara-Jane Stanley | 2012—present | 21 | 17 | Fullback , Wing , Centre |
Shona Hoyle | 2016—present | 21 | 5 | Prop , Second-row | |
8 | Beth Sutcliffe | 2007—2017 | 20 | 4 [α] | Second-row , Loose forward , Prop |
9 | Kirsty Moroney | 2008—2017 | 19 | 6 [β] | Scrum-half , Stand-off |
World Cup Record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | Win | Draw | Loss | ||
![]() | Competed as Great Britain and Ireland | |||||||
![]() | Competed as Great Britain | |||||||
![]() | Third Place | 3rd out of 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | ||
![]() | Third Place | 3rd out of 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
![]() | Semi Final | 3rd out of 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | ||
![]() | 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
Opponent | FM | MR | M | W | D | L | Win% | PF | PA | Share |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 2008 | 2025 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.00% | 14 | 164 | 7.87% |
![]() | 2022 | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 72 | 4 | 94.74% |
![]() | 2022 | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 54 | 4 | 93.10% |
![]() | 2017 | 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 16 | 22 | 42.11% |
![]() | 2007 | 2024 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 97.62% | 806 | 108 | 88.18% |
![]() | 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% |
![]() | 2017 | 2022 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75.00% | 118 | 42 | 73.75% |
![]() | 2008 | 2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 72 | 0 | 100.00% |
![]() | 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:
Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue | Video | Report(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 Jul 2007 | ![]() | 16–2 | Test Match | ![]() | — | [12] |
13 Jul 2008 | ![]() | 42–4 | Test Match | ![]() | — | [13] |
6 Nov 2008 | ![]() | 72–0 | 2008 WRLWC | ![]() | — | [14] [15] |
8 Nov 2008 | ![]() | 54–4 | — | [16] | ||
10 Nov 2008 | ![]() | 4–22 | — | [17] | ||
12 Nov 2008 | ![]() | 4–16 | [18] | [19] | ||
14 Nov 2008 | Pacific Islands | 24–0 | — | [20] | ||
18 Jul 2009 | ![]() | 28–8 | 2 Test Series | ![]() | — | [22] |
25 Jul 2009 | ![]() | 36–0 | ![]() | — | [23] | |
10 Jul 2010 | ![]() | 40–8 | Test Match | ![]() | — | [24] |
10 Nov 2010 | ![]() | 6–44 | Test Match | ![]() | — | [25] |
16 Nov 2010 | ![]() | 6–38 | Test Match | ![]() | — | [26] |
2 Jul 2011 | ![]() | 40–6 | 2 Test Series | ![]() | — | [27] |
6 Jul 2011 | ![]() | 56–6 | ![]() | — | [28] | |
15 Jun 2012 | ![]() | 48–0 | Test Match | ![]() | — | [5] |
5 Jul 2013 | ![]() | 6–14 | 2013 WRLWC | ![]() | [29] | [30] |
8 Jul 2013 | ![]() | 16–34 | ![]() | [31] | [32] | |
11 Jul 2013 | ![]() | 42–4 | ![]() | [33] | [34] | |
13 Jul 2013 | ![]() | 54–0 | ![]() | [35] | [36] | |
17 Jun 2015 | ![]() | 24–4 | 2 Test Series | ![]() | — | [37] [38] |
20 Jun 2015 | ![]() | 14–14 | ![]() | — | [39] [40] | |
22 Oct 2016 | ![]() | 36–6 | Test Match | ![]() | — | [41] |
21 Jun 2017 | ![]() | 26–16 | 2 Test Series | ![]() | — | [42] |
24 Jun 2017 | ![]() | 14–8 | ![]() | — | [43] | |
16 Nov 2017 | ![]() | 36–8 | 2017 WRLWC | ![]() | [44] | [45] |
19 Nov 2017 | ![]() | 0–38 | [46] | [47] | ||
22 Nov 2017 | ![]() | 16–22 | [48] | [49] [50] | ||
26 Nov 2017 | ![]() | 4–52 | [51] | [52] | ||
27 Oct 2018 | ![]() | 54–4 | Test Match | ![]() | — | [53] |
9 Nov 2019 | ![]() | 24–10 | 2 Test Series | ![]() | [54] | [55] [56] |
16 Nov 2019 | ![]() | 16–20 | ![]() | [57] | [58] [59] | |
25 Jun 2021 | ![]() | 60–0 | Test Match | ![]() | [60] | [61] [62] [63] |
23 Oct 2021 | ![]() | 40–4 | Test Match | ![]() | [64] | [65] [66] |
12 Jun 2022 | ![]() | 32–6 | Test Match | ![]() | [67] | [68] [69] [70] [71] |
18 Jun 2022 | ![]() | 36–10 | Test Match | ![]() | [72] | [73] [74] [75] |
1 Nov 2022 | ![]() | 72–4 | 2021 WRLWC | ![]() | [76] | [77] [78] [79] |
5 Nov 2022 | ![]() | 54–4 | ![]() | [80] | [81] [82] | |
9 Nov 2022 | ![]() | 42–4 | ![]() | [83] | [84] [85] | |
14 Nov 2022 | ![]() | 6–20 | ![]() | — | [86] [87] | |
29 Apr 2023 | ![]() | 64–0 | Test Match | ![]() | [88] | [89] [90] |
4 Nov 2023 | ![]() | 60–0 | Test Match | ![]() | [91] | [92] |
29 Jun 2024 | ![]() | 42–0 | Test Match | ![]() | [93] | [94] [95] |
2 Nov 2024 | ![]() | 82–0 | Test Match | ![]() | — | [96] |
1 Mar 2025 | ![]() | 4–90 | RL Las Vegas | ![]() | [97] | [98] |
Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue | Video | Report(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 Oct 2019 | ![]() | 25–4 | 2019 International Nines | ![]() | [100] | [101] |
19 Oct 2019 | ![]() | 4–42 | [102] | |||
19 Oct 2019 | ![]() | 4–33 | [103] | [104] |
Official rankings as of December 2024 | |||
Rank | Change | Team | Pts % |
1 | ![]() | ![]() | 100 |
2 | ![]() | ![]() | 83 |
3 | ![]() | ![]() | 55 |
4 | ![]() | ![]() | 36 |
5 | ![]() | ![]() | 29 |
6 | ![]() | ![]() | 24 |
7 | ![]() | ![]() | 19 |
8 | ![]() | ![]() | 18 |
9 | ![]() | ![]() | 17 |
10 | ![]() | ![]() | 17 |
11 | ![]() | ![]() | 14 |
12 | ![]() | ![]() | 11 |
13 | ![]() | ![]() | 11 |
14 | ![]() | ![]() | 10 |
15 | ![]() | ![]() | 10 |
16 | ![]() | ![]() | 8 |
17 | ![]() | ![]() | 8 |
18 | ![]() | ![]() | 7 |
19 | ![]() | ![]() | 7 |
20 | ![]() | ![]() | 6 |
21 | ![]() | ![]() | 5 |
22 | ![]() | ![]() | 3 |
23 | ![]() | ![]() | 3 |
24 | ![]() | ![]() | 2 |
25 | ![]() | ![]() | 2 |
26 | ![]() | ![]() | 2 |
27 | ![]() | ![]() | 0 |
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT |
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. [105] The team called up a performance squad to training camps in 2023 [106] and 2024. [107]
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. [108]
Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue | Video | Report(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 Nov 2019 (as England Reserves) | ![]() | 20–24 | Friendly | ![]() | [109] | [108] |
27 October 2022 | ![]() | 14–26 | Friendly | ![]() | [110] |
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