This year's Women's Rugby League World Cup is the biggest ever, and for the first time, teams from four different continents will play in the competition.
Across the eight squads, there have been plenty of established and emerging talents selected who are set to step up of the challenge of performing on the world stage.
Breakout stars to watch
Group A: England, Brazil, Canada, Papua New Guinea
The expanded Super League competition has seen the game grow in England and unearth new talent, with some of those players pushing their way to national selection. The host nation's squad also boasts four winners of the Woman of Steel award with Australia-born former Big Bash player Courtney Winfield-Hill and Tara Jane‑Stanley from York, Jodie Cunningham from St Helens and Georgia Roche from Leeds selected. Zoe Hornby is the only debutant and earned her place with her performances for the Rhinos, including a player of the match performance in this year’s Betfred Women's Challenge Cup final.
Brazil are the newcomers in the competition and will be hoping their inclusion will help open more doors for girls in their region who want to play. One of the more experienced in the game is Ana Loschi de Quadros, who is known as 'Boi' (ox in Portuguese), and she is the only player in the squad to have played rugby league before the game came to Brazil. She studied at Loughborough University in the UK and played for Nottingham Outlaws a handful of times. The squad also features a number of now full-time players for Brazil's Melina Club including Leticia Medeiros and prop Franciny Amaral. Amaral has previously played for the Brazilian national union team. The youngest in the squad is Giovanna Barth who is the first player to come from Brazil’s youth development system. She has been described as a “baby-faced assassin” who is fearless despite her small stature and youth.
One name in the Canada Ravens squad that will be familiar to those who have followed the Women’s Rugby League World Cups is former Kiwi Fern Laura Mariu. Having played in every World Cup since 2000 for New Zealand, Mariu is eligible for the Ravens through her Canadian-born mother. In a quirky twist, she captained the Ferns the last World Cup against Canada in their tournament debut. From one of the most experienced to a fresh face, Dani Franada may be new to the game, but earned her place in the squad after impressing coaching staff in her trial games. Described as skilful and quick, Franada has had a successful four years playing rugby for St Francis Xavier University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, winning last year's MVP for their league. Meg Pakulis is returning for her second tournament, having made history in 2017 after scoring her nation’s first World Cup try. She recently won the Ontario Rugby Senior player of the year, in part due to her a big work rate and strong running game.
Match Highlights: Australian PM's XIII v PNG PM's XIII
Although the result was a strong win to Australia during the recent Prime Minister's XIII match-up at Suncorp Stadium, the Papua New Guinea Orchids showed plenty of fight, including some strong runs from this year's BMD Premiership prop of the year winner Essay Banu. In a young team lacking much experience, St George Illawarra Dragons NRLW star Elsie Albert will again be leading from the front and will be supported by the hard-working Therese Aiton who although small in stature displays a huge heart.
Group B: Australia, Cook Islands, France, New Zealand
Jillaroos coach Brad Donald has named 13 debutants to feature in this year’s Rugby League World Cup campaign as Australia look to defend their title. The fresh faces will be joined by five players who featured in the 2017 campaign, including the leadership team of Ali Brigginshaw, Kezie Apps and Sam Bremner. While new to the rugby league representative scene, Evania Pelite is no stranger to the international stage and will be one to watch in her Jillaroos debut, while it has been a meteoric rise for Sydney Roosters forward Keilee Joseph who this time last year was preparing to play for Papua New Guinea in the annual Queensland Pacific Island Cultural Carnival.
There is plenty of talent and familiar faces sprinkled throughout the Cook Islands team who will be planning to spring a few upsets in their pool. Headlined by five-eighth Kimiora Breayley-Nati who has a swathe of big-game experience, some powerful forwards like young gun April Ngatupuna and veteran Eliana Walton will be looking to fire. Jazmon Witchman-Tupou has not had an opportunity in the NRLW yet, but was recently crowned the Wynnum Manly Seagulls BMD Premiership team's player of the year and will be aiming to put her best foot forward on the biggest stage. Youngster Chantay Kiria-Ratu is another to keep an eye on, having impressed in the halves for Tweed Seagulls and in the Under 19 national championships.
If not for COVID, more NRLW fans may have been more familiar with France outside back Laureane Biville who is sure to take this opportunity to feature on the biggest stage with two hands. With an admirable dedication to rugby league, a young Biville travelled to Australia to pursue her dream, playing with Easts Tigers, the Gold Coast Titans invitational team and with the Warriors Nines squad.
Other players to watch for France are Maïlys Bourak who can play lock or prop and is the youngest in the team. She made her international debut against England last October in Perpignan. Second rower Perrine Monsarrat is a noted defender, while hooker Fanny Ramos has been described as a game changer by her team-mates, as she is energetic and always keeps the defence guessing.
With the most recent Dally M medal winner in Raecene McGregor in their squad, it will be hard for the Kiwi Ferns to go under the radar this tournament, but they will need to be on-song from the first whistle to ensure they get the results they are aiming for. McGregor has had an amazing season, and will be hoping to lift to another level if she is to lead her team to the top. Some strong forwards and experienced personnel including Georgia Hale and Api Nicholls who can guide the likes of talented rookies Otesa Pule in their ranks, they side should have plenty of confidence heading into this years campaign.
