England and Wales Women have announced their squads for both sides’ second international rugby league fixture of the year, as they are set to face off in Neath on Saturday.

The game will be played at The Lextan Gnoll, in Neath, Wales on Saturday 9th August. It will be the first time since 2022 that England will face Wales away from home, after blowout wins at AMT Headingley in 2023 and 2024. 

The game will be streamed live on the S4C YouTube channel, and will kick off at 5:30pm. 

It will be England’s first match since their 90-4 defeat to Australia in Las Vegas in March. There will be no players from the NRLW available for selection, meaning that head coach Stuart Barrow has called up seven new faces to the international side.

Wales’ first game of the international break was against Scotland, in what was their first ever international fixture. 

The Scots performed admirably in their maiden matchup, losing out 18-12 thanks to Leeds Rhinos loose forward Bethan Dainton’s late try.

Wigan Warriors dominate England Women’s rugby league squad selection

All 20 players come from the four sides that sit in the top four of the Women’s Super League table. Table toppers Wigan lead the way with seven of their stars included. The Warriors, led by Denis Betts, are enjoying an unbeaten start to the season and are the reigning Challenge Cup holders. 

Player of the Match in the Cup Final, Grace Banks, is selected for the first time. The 19-year-old full back was also named the best player on the field in the Origin match between Yorkshire and Lancashire last week. 

Leeds Rhinos have five players named in the squad. 17-year-old Ruby Bruce, 2024 Woman of Steel nominee Lucy Murray and 19-year-old Evie Cousins are called up for the first time, alongside Bella Sykes and Izzy Northrop who both played in England’s 90-4 defeat to Australia Jillaroos in Las Vegas. 

St Helens also have five players included. Captain Jodie Cunningham and Emily Rudge add experience whilst Phoebe Hook is selected for the first time. 

York Valkyrie players take up the final three spots. Savannah Andrade is called up for the first time since 2021 alongside teammates Eboni Partington and Liv Wood. 

For Wales, the majority of their squad is made up of current Cardiff Demons players, who play in the Super League South competition. Women’s Super League stars Bethan Dainton (Leeds Rhinos), Carys Marsh (Wigan Warriors), Dani McGifford (St Helens) and Georgia Taylor (York Valkyrie) are all included in Tom Brindle’s squad selection.

England Women squad to face Wales: Savannah Andrade (York Valkyrie), Grace Banks (Wigan Warriors), Ruby Bruce, Evie Cousins (both Leeds Rhinos), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies, Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter (all Wigan Warriors), Phoebe Hook (St Helens), Molly Jones (Wigan Warriors), Katie Mottershead (St Helens), Lucy Murray, Izzy Northrop (both Leeds Rhinos), Eboni Partington (York Valkyrie), Emily Rudge (St Helens), Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors), Bella Sykes (Leeds Rhinos), Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors), Liv Wood (York Valkyrie), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens)  

Wales Women rugby league squad to face England: Leanne Burnell, Bethan Dainton, Lucia Davies, Jasmine Gibbons, Gracie Hobbs, Ffion Jenkins, Ffion Jones, Hannah Jones, Sara Jones, Carys Marsh, Dani McGifford Charlie Mundy, Rhi Parker, Ashlea Prescott, Amy Price, Brittony Price, Amberley Ruck, Kathryn Salter, Georgia Taylor, Meg Whittaker, Olivia Williams, Agnes Wood, Sioned Young.