Australian-born Jasmin Strange Named to England’s Women’s World Cup Squad

Australian-born Jasmin Strange is among four potential debutantes selected for England’s 23‑player Women’s World Cup squad.

Sydney Roosters second‑row forward Strange, who is slated to appear in Sunday’s NRLW Grand Final against the Brisbane Broncos, has pledged her allegiance to England, qualifying via her mother, Adele.

The 23‑year‑old is the daughter of Roosters women’s head coach John Strange, a former Featherstone player in the 1990s.

She is joined by three uncapped players—Leeds Rhinos’ Connie Boyd, Canterbury Bulldogs’ Hope Millard, and Wigan Warriors’ Lucie Sams.

Alongside Strange and Millard—whose father Shane played forward for Widnes, Leeds and Wigan—three additional NRLW players have been named, among them dual‑code international Fran Goldthorp, who represented her country at the 2022 World Cup.

Newcastle Knights’ Georgia Roche and Canberra Raiders’ Hollie‑Mae Dodd have also been included.

Strange’s selection as a heritage player—qualified through parentage—follows this year’s relaxation of eligibility rules.

A recent International Rugby League ruling now permits players to represent more than one of the three Tier One nations—Australia, New Zealand, or England.

This sparked speculation that head coach Stu Barrow could select additional heritage players with NRLW experience, such as Roosters playmaker Jocelyn Kelleher, Bulldogs half‑back Tayla Preston, and Wests Tigers full‑back Caitlin Turnbull.

However, Barrow emphasized his desire to provide homegrown players with development opportunities.

All three Woman of Steel nominees—Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams—have been selected, together with six of their Wigan teammates.

York Valkyrie, the Grand Final winners, contribute forward Liv Wood to the squad.

Loose forward Jodie Cunningham, who will retire after the World Cup, and St Helens teammate Vicky Whitfield, competing in her fourth World Cup, have both been selected.

Barrow said: “Reducing the squad from 40 players to a final 23 involved difficult decisions, yet we are confident we have the right blend of experience and youth to compete on the world stage.”

It is also an exciting milestone for the programme with the inclusion of Australian‑based heritage players for the first time.

This year’s men’s, women’s and wheelchair World Cups will run concurrently, with England competing in each. The wheelchair squad was announced last week, and the men’s squad will be confirmed on 5 October.

The tournaments are primarily staged in Australia, with Papua New Guinea’s men and women each playing two pool matches in their own country, while their New Zealand counterparts play one.

England will play three group matches—starting in Perth against Wales on 17 October, then Australia on 24 October, and finally Samoa in Wollongong on 30 October.

The top two teams in England’s four‑team group will advance to the semi-finals on 7 and 8 November, with the final scheduled for 15 November.

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