Wales name 20-player squad for England clash

Tom Brindle has named a 20-player squad for Saturday’s international match against England at AMT Headingley Stadium, Leeds.

Leanne Burnell is the only addition to the squad from the players who travelled to France for the 14-4 defeat in Carcassonne last Sunday. Burnell’s inclusion takes the number of Cardiff Demons players included in the squad to fifteen.

Another Demon – Kim Boaler – is one of two uncapped players in the squad, with Salford’s Brogan Evans the other who could make a first appearance for Wales. The next debutant will be the 50th senior women’s player to have represented Wales Rugby League since the first game in 2019.

“England are one of the top teams in the world and we know the size of the challenge we’ve got,” said Brindle.

“They’re a largely unchanged squad from last year’s World Cup where they reached the semi-final.

“For us, it’s about trying to do the right things, putting structures in place to develop and learn.  We’re an ambitious side and we know it’s a challenge.

Brindle says the prospect of playing in front of a large crowd and live on terrestrial television is an exciting one, and one he hopes will prepare his side for challenges to come in the future.

“We’ve started from nothing to get where we are now, and playing in front of bigger crowds and live on the BBC is part putting ourselves in uncomfortable positions, and getting used to that pressure. Hopefully that means when we can get to a World Cup, we’re used to that sort of experience.”

Wales (from): Kim Boaler*, Leanne Burnell, Katie Carr, Shaunni Davies, Jasmine Gibbons, Ffion Jenkins, Hannah Jones, Sara Jones, Eleri Michael, Charlie Mundy, Lowri Norkett-Morgan, Rhi Parker, Ashlea Prescott, Amy Price, Molly Reardon (all Cardiff Demons), Bethan Dainton (Leeds Rhinos, captain), Kathryn Salter (London Broncos), Brogan Evans* (Salford Red Devils), Carys Marsh (Wigan Warriors), Georgia Taylor (York Valkyrie).