HEAD coach Craig Richards has named his 19-strong England squad to take on Brazil at Headingley on Tuesday in the opening game of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup (KO 2.30pm).

Emily Rudge, the most experienced player in the squad, will captain the side on her 27th international appearance in this her fourth Rugby League World Cup.

The 31-year-old St Helens forward made her England debut against Australia in the 2008 tournament and was handed the captaincy in 2019 for the Papua New Guinea tour, during which she memorably scored four tries in a single game against the Orchids.

She is joined in the squad by fellow Saints stars Jodie Cunningham, Tara Jones, England’s all-time leading try-scorer Amy Hardcastle, Leah Burke, Vicky Whitfield, Shona Hoyle and Zoe Harris.

Richards has named all four winners of the Woman of Steel Award introduced in 2018 – Leeds Rhinos’ half-backs Georgia Roche and Courtney Winfield-Hill (award winners in 2018 and 2019 respectively), the previously mentioned Cunningham (2020) and this year’s winner Tara-Jane Stanley of York City Knights.

Wigan Warriors' Vicky Molyneux – the sole present-squad survivor from England Women’s very first international outing against France in 2007 - is also selected.

England Women 19-player squad:

12 Emily Rudge (captain)

1 Tara Stanley

2 Caitlin Beevers

3 Fran Goldthorp

4 Amy Hardcastle

5 Leah Burke

6 Georgia Roche

7 Courtney Winfield-Hill

8 Grace Field

9 Tara Jones

11 Hollie Dodd

13 Jodie Cunningham

14 Vicky Molyneux

15 Vicky Whitfield

17 Shona Hoyle

18 Olivia Wood

21 Keara Bennett

22 Zoe Harris

24 Zoe Hornby

England’s women’s tournament opener against Brazil is set to be watched by a record attendance for a Women’s Rugby League fixture in this country. The side will then face Canada at Wigan’s DW Stadium on Saturday 5 November, before a final group stage fixture back in Leeds against Papua New Guinea on Wednesday 9 November. Tickets are available via the Rugby League World Cup website.