Five Valkyrie in England squad to face Jillaroos in Las Vegas
FIVE York Valkyrie have been included in the England squad to face world champions Australia in Las Vegas next month - with one in line to make her international debut.
Jas Bell, Georgie Dagger, Eboni Partington, Tamzin Renouf and Liv Wood have all been included in Stu Barrow's 20-player squad for the fixture on March 1.
Forward Bell could make her international bow, whilst Woman of Steel Dagger returns to contention after missing the Autumn international due to her wedding to York Knights full-back, and Valkyrie assistant, Will. Centre Renouf is back fit after a knee injury.
The squad also includes seven players from St Helens, three of whom - Jodie Cunningham, Amy Hardcastle and Shona Hoyle - turned out for England in their last meeting with the Jillaroos in 2017.
Former Valkyrie second-row Hollie-Mae Dodd, now at Canberra Raiders, is included after making a try-scoring return against Wales, whilst Paige Travis also makes the cut ahead of her move Down Under to Parramatta Eels.
2023 NRLW Grand Final winner Georgia Roche will link up with England for the first time in over 12 months following another fine season with Newcastle Knights.
Like Bell, 18-year-old Jenna Foubister is in line for her international debut, and is joined in the squad by Wigan Warriors teammate Anna Davies.
“Every player in this travelling squad has an important role to play when we face the Australia Jillaroos in three weeks’ time," Barrow explained.
“It’s been a really difficult selection process because there is a lot of talent within the group, which means there are some very good players who will unfortunately miss out.
“Now we have to focus on the challenge that lies ahead which is a historic fixture against the world champions for the first time since 2017 and I’m very much looking forward to getting the group together for our final camp next weekend.”
The test match against the Jillaroos is the penultimate of a quadruple header featuring the Super League clash between Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves and two NRL matches - Raiders vs Warriors and Panthers vs Sharks.
The squad will link up next Friday (February 14 ) at Westwood for their final camp before heading to Nevada on February 25.
England Women to face Australia Jillaroos: Jas Bell (York Valkyrie), Keara Bennett (Leeds Rhinos), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Georgie Dagger (York Valkyrie), Anna Davies (Wigan Warriors), Hollie-Mae Dodd (Canberra Raiders), Jenna Foubister (Wigan Warriors), Amy Hardcastle (St Helens), Zoe Harris (St Helens), Shona Hoyle (St Helens), Katie Mottershead (St Helens), Izzy Northrop (Leeds Rhinos), Eboni Partington (York Valkyrie), Tamzin Renouf (York Valkyrie), Georgia Roche (Newcastle Knights), Erin Stott (St Helens), Bella Sykes (Leeds Rhinos), Paige Travis (Parramatta Eels), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens), Liv Wood (York Valkyrie).
