Wales name squad for first-ever women's Test against England

Rafiuke Taylor captained Wales to victory over England Lions in only their second ever game in 2019

Wales Women's Rugby League have named a squad featuring 10 uncapped players for Friday's international against England.

The match will be Wales' first-ever Test, having previously played two non-Test games in 2019, including a 20-24 win against England Lions.

The squad has been reduced from an initial 36, selected after elite athlete ID days held by WRL in April.

"This team is just at the start of our journey," said head coach Thomas Brindle.

"We've come along so well in the last three months.

"The effort from all the players has been outstanding, as we are looking forward to being part of this historic Test match and see the progress we've made so far.

"The game will be a important milestone for women's rugby league in Wales, as it will inspire the next generation."

Nine players remain from Wales first-ever squad, which played against an England side selected from teams outside Super League.

Friday's Test at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington will be against a full England side who have recalled Wigan Warriors' loose forward Vicky Molyneux, who could earn her first cap for 14 years.

Wales' Ffion Lewis could become a dual-code international, having played rugby union for her country, while Brindle's squad also includes netball international Eleri Michael.

"I wasn't aware that so many players had played both codes for Wales," Lewis said. "It's really amazing that I'm going to be on that list with so many incredible names.

"Rowland Phillips was my first head coach for the Wales women's rugby union side and he presented me with my first cap, so to be on the same list as the likes of him, and to be the 100th player to play rugby union and rugby league for Wales, is something to be really proud of."

Eleven players have been named in a Wales wheelchair squad to face England at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport on Saturday, 26 June.

Head coach Stephen Jones has cut four players from the 15 who beat Ireland and Scotland in Edinburgh earlier this month to win the annual Celtic Cup for a fifth successive year.

Wales, ranked third in the world, will be without captain Stuart Williams for personal reasons against England - who are ranked world number two.

"This is going to be a tough game for us, but following on the back of a hugely successful Celtic Cup campaign, I feel we will give a strong England team a good game," said Jones.

"There is great potential for us to record our first win over England. More importantly it will give the players involved a chance to show why they should be in the final World Cup squad."

England is hosting the men's, women's and wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2021 in October and November.

Wales Women squad: Ffion Jones, Sara Jones, Eleri Michael (all Bridgend Blue Bulls/Cardiff Demons), Jess McAuley (British Army), Lauren Aitken, Leanne Burnell, Danyelle Dinapoli, Seren Gough-Walters, Charlie Mundy, Amberley Ruck, Rafiuke Taylor (all Cardiff Blue Dragons/Cardiff Demons), Emily Hughes, Kathryn Salter (both London Broncos), Shaunni Davies, Ffion Lewis, Lowri Norkett, Sara Prosser (all Rhondda Outlaws/Cardiff Demons), Keira McCosh (Warrington Wolves), Carys Marsh (Wigan Warriors).

Wales wheelchair squad: Richard Carver (Argonauts), Alan Caron, Andrew Higgins, Gary Preece (all Hereford Harriers), Jodie-Ann Boyd-Ward (Leeds Rhinos), Stephen Halsey, Harry Jones, Lucie Roberts, Scott Trigg-Turner, Gary Taylor*, Mark Williams (all North Wales Crusaders).

* denotes travelling reserve