Wales have named a 23-player squad for the Rugby League World Cup in October, combining established cross-code internationals with a raft of fresh faces as head coach Tom Brindle plots a campaign that begins against three formidable opponents in Australia.
Mix of experience and newcomers
The squad is led by captain Bethan Dainton of Wigan Warriors and features six players who have not yet been capped at senior level. Several selections underline the fluid relationship between codes: former Wales rugby union internationals are present, while some players have backgrounds in football and basketball at junior level.
Wales will travel to Australia and are pooled alongside England, Samoa and the host nation. The inclusion of players with union pedigrees reflects the depth of talent the selectors have drawn upon, with Cardiff Demons particularly well represented.
- Squad size: 23 players
- Uncapped players: Six
- Captain: Bethan Dainton (Wigan Warriors)
- Head coach: Tom Brindle
- Pool opponents: England, Samoa, Australia
Notable selections and club representation
Hannah Bluck, who has previously won senior Wales honours in rugby union and represented Wales at junior level in football and basketball, earns selection for the Rugby League World Cup, adding a fourth sport to her international résumé. Ffion Lewis, another former Wales union cap, has also been called up.
Cardiff Demons supply a large contingent to Brindle’s squad, with nine players from that club involved, while a number of players come from English and Australian clubs, reflecting the increasingly international footprint of the women’s game. The selectors have also rewarded domestic and overseas performances, selecting players from Super League Grand Final winners and leading NRL clubs.
Among those named are:
- Hannah Bluck (Cardiff Demons)
- Hollie Brussels (Warrington Wolves)
- Bethan Dainton (captain, Wigan Warriors)
- Tayla Preston (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Sian Williams (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Agnes Wood (York Valkyrie)
Full squad list
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Hannah Bluck | Cardiff Demons |
| Hollie Brussels | Warrington Wolves |
| Leanne Burnell | Cardiff Demons |
| Katie Carr | Cardiff Demons |
| Georgia Cussions | Huddersfield Giants |
| Bethan Dainton (captain) | Wigan Warriors |
| Lucia Davies | Cardiff Demons |
| Jasmine Gibbons | Cardiff Demons |
| Zoe Heeley | Cardiff Demons |
| Gracie Hobbs | Huddersfield Giants |
| Emily Hughes | London Broncos |
| Frances Layton | Cardiff Demons |
| Ffion Lewis | London Broncos |
| Carys Marsh | Wigan Warriors |
| Dani McGifford | St. Helens |
| Jade Mullen | London Broncos |
| Tayla Preston | Canterbury Bulldogs |
| Amberley Ruck | Cardiff Demons |
| Kathryn Salter | London Broncos |
| Paige Travis | St. Helens |
| Erin Williams | Cardiff Demons |
| Sian Williams | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Agnes Wood | York Valkyrie |
The squad draws from a wide domestic spread while also including talent based in the NRL. York Valkyrie forward Agnes Wood is rewarded after contributing to her club’s Super League Grand Final success, and St Helens’ Paige Travis is in contention for a first Wales cap despite previously representing England at youth level.
What lies ahead
Wales face a demanding pool in Australia where they will meet strong opposition in quick succession. The selection balances experienced campaigners and cross-code converts with a clutch of uncapped players who may seize the moment on the global stage.
For a nation rebuilding its depth in the women’s game, the squad is an opportunity to test a mixture of proven performers and rising talent against the best in world rugby league. How Brindle’s blend of union converts and league specialists adapts to the double-challenge of travel and top-level opposition will shape Wales’s prospects in the tournament.
