Leeds Rhinos ace set for England women debut at Headingley: Wigan Warriors & St Helens also represented
Five Leeds Rhinos players - including a potential debutant - have been named in a 20-player England women’s squad to face Wales next week.
Rhinos prop Izzy Northrop is poised to make her first Test appearance in the game at AMT Headingley on Saturday, November 2. The fixture is a curtain-raiser to England men’s second Test against Samoa.
Northrop has previously played for her country at student level and was 18th player for England’s win against France at Toulouse in June. Other Leeds stars in the squad are number nine Keara Bennett, centre Amy Hardcastle, second-row Shona Hoyle and forward Bella Sykes, who is the reigning Betfred Women’s Super League young player of the year.
Northrop is one of six uncapped players in the 20, alongside Huddersfield Giants full-back Amelia Brown, the Wigan Warriors trio of prop Mary Coleman, second-row Eva Hunter and half-back Jenna Foubister and St Helens centre Erin Stott.
England coach Stuart Barrow said: “With the squad currently carrying a number of long-term injuries and some players unavailable, today’s squad is very much a transitional one, but we have a great mix of youth and experience heading into camp next Wednesday.
“I’m confident some of the younger girls coming in will be able to learn a lot from the likes of Jodie Cunningham, Amy Hardcastle and Shona Hoyle. We have a big couple of years ahead of us as a group, which includes a historic Ashes series against Australia in 2025, so I think it’s very exciting we have so many new names breaking into the squad who will hopefully be with us for many more years to come.”
England Women: Amelia Brown (Huddersfield Giants), Keara Bennett (Leeds Rhinos), Mary Coleman (Wigan Warriors), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies (Wigan), Hollie-Mae Dodd (Canberra Raiders), Jenna Foubister (Wigan), Amy Hardcastle (Leeds), Eva Hunter (Wigan), Zoe Harris (St Helens), Shona Hoyle (Leeds), Katie Mottershead (St Helens), Izzy Northrop (Leeds), Eboni Partington (York Valkyrie), Isabel Rowe (Wigan), Bella Sykes (Leeds), Erin Stott (St Helens), Paige Travis (St Helens), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens), Liv Wood (York).