Australia-born Jasmin Strange is one of four potential debutants in England’s 23-strong squad for the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Sydney Roosters second-row forward Strange, who is set to play in Sunday’s NRLW Grand Final against Brisbane Broncos, has committed herself to England, for whom she qualifies through her mother Adele.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old is the daughter of Roosters women’s head coach John Strange, who played for Featherstone in the 1990s.<\/p>\n
Strange is joined by three uncapped players – Leeds Rhinos’ Connie Boyd, Hope Millard of Canterbury Bulldogs, and Wigan Warriors’ Lucie Sams.<\/p>\n
In addition to Strange and Millard, whose father Shane was a forward for Widnes, Leeds and Wigan, three other NRLW players have made the squad – including dual code international Fran Goldthorp, who last played rugby league for her country at the most recent World Cup in 2022.<\/p>\n
Newcastle Knights’ Georgia Roche and Hollie-Mae Dodd of Canberra Raiders have also been included.<\/p>\n
Strange’s inclusion as a heritage player – one who qualifies through parentage – comes after eligibility rules were relaxed this year.<\/p>\n
An International Rugby League ruling means that players can now represent more than one of the three tier one nations – Australia, New Zealand and England.<\/p>\n
That led to speculation that head coach Stu Barrow might call on more heritage players with NRLW experience – such as Roosters playmaker Jocelyn Kelleher, Bulldogs half-back Tayla Preston and Wests Tigers full-back Caitlin Turnbull.<\/p>\n
But Barrow has said he wants to give homegrown players an opportunity to develop.<\/p>\n
All three Woman of Steel nominees – Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams – have been selected, along with six of their Wigan team-mates. Grand Final winners York Valkyrie have one player in the squad in forward Liv Wood.<\/p>\n
Loose forward Jodie Cunningham, who will retire after the World Cup, is selected along with St Helens team-mate Vicky Whitfield, who will be competing at her fourth World Cup.<\/p>\n
Barrow said: “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.<\/p>\n
“It’s also an exciting moment for the programme with the inclusion of Australian-based heritage players for the first time.”<\/p>\n