Strange, Millard to play for England at World Cup

Sydney Roosters secondrower Jasmin Strange and Bulldogs prop Hope Millard are among five NRLW players selected in the England squad for Rugby League World Cup 2026.

England head coach Stuart Barrow named Strange and Millard, along with Knights playmaker Georgia Roche, Cowboys fullback Fran Goldthorp and Raiders forward Hollie-Mae Dodd in his 23-player squad for the World Cup.

Goldthorp will represent England for the first time since the 2022 World Cup, where she made four appearances and scored three tries, while Strange's selection caps a long-held ambition to represent her English heritage.

The 23 year-old, who is preparing for her fourth consecutive NRLW grand final on Sunday against the Broncos, is in a unique position of being eligible to represent Australia, England and New Zealand.

However, with her parents having met in England and a strong English family connection she advised Barrow of her desire to play for England.

Strange’s mother Adele is from Yorkshire and only moved to Australia after marrying her father John in England, where the Sydney Roosters and NSW Blues mentor began his coaching career after playing stints with Featherstone, York and Sheffield.

Millard was born in Widnes while her father Shane was playing in England, where he also had stints with London Broncos, Leeds and Wigan, as well as the Vikings.

The 21-year-old played every match for the Bulldogs this season and is set to be one of four debutants for England at the World Cup, along with Strange, Connie Boyd (Leeds Rhinos) and Lucie Sams (Wigan Warriors).

It is the first time England have chosen heritage players in their women's team and Barrow met with up to 30 NRLW stars during a mid-year visit for Magic Round and to inspect World Cup facilities in Perth and Wollongong, where the team will play.

England face Wales in their opening match at HBF Park on October 17 ahead of a clash with the Jillaroos on October 24 and a trip to WIN Stadium to play Fetu Samoa on October 30.

“Firstly, congratulations to every player selected in our World Cup squad. The standard across the wider group has been outstanding throughout the season, which made the selection process incredibly challenging," Barrow said.

“At the start of the year, we set out a clear selection timeline with the players, outlining the standards, milestones and opportunities that would contribute to today’s selection.

"Throughout the season, we’ve had a number of England camps, travelled to France and I’ve been present at all the Super Four games to assess the players in contention for selection.

“Narrowing our squad from 40 players to a final 23 has involved some difficult decisions, but we believe we have the right balance of experience and youth to compete on the world stage.

“It’s also an exciting moment for the programme with the inclusion of Australian-based heritage players for the first time.

"Bringing together talent from both the NRLW and the Women’s Super League gives us a unique blend of quality and experience, and we’re excited to see these players come together in an England shirt.

“Now our focus turns to preparation. We know the challenges that await at a World Cup, but we are travelling with a squad that believes in itself, embraces the responsibility of representing England, and is determined to make the nation proud.”

The England squad includes all three nominees for this year’s Woman of Steel Award - Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams.

The trio will discover who has been crowned this season’s outstanding player on Tuesday night before flying to Australia next Thursday along with another six of their Wigan team-mates in the squad.

The newly crowned Betfred Women’s Super League champions York Valkyrie, who beat Wigan in the grand final, are represented by Liv Wood, while the competition’s leading try-scorer, Amelia Brown (Huddersfield Giants), is also selected.

St Helens loose forward Jodie Cunningham is joined in the squad by teammate Vicky Whitfield, with the 34-year-old set to pull on an England jersey at her fourth World Cup.

Leeds Rhinos have five players included, including Young Player of the Year nominees Boyd and Ruby Bruce.

England squad 

Keara Bennett (Leeds Rhinos), Connie Boyd (Leeds Rhinos), Amelia Brown (Huddersfield Giants), Ruby Bruce (Leeds Rhinos), Mary Coleman (Wigan Warriors), Evie Cousins (Leeds Rhinos), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies (Wigan Warriors), Hollie-Mae Dodd (Canberra Raiders), Jenna Foubister (Wigan Warriors), Fran Goldthorp (North Queensland), Eva Hunter (Wigan Warriors), Molly Jones (Wigan Warriors), Hope Millard (Canterbury Bulldogs), Lucy Murray (Leeds Rhinos), Georgia Roche (Newcastle Knights), Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors), Lucie Sams (Wigan Warriors), Jasmine Strange (Sydney Roosters), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens), Megan Williams (Wigan Warriors), Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors), Liv Wood (York Valkyrie).