Leeds Rhinos players included as England squads named for World Cup round 2
Two Leeds Rhinos players will be on England World Cup duty this weekend.
England men’s and women’s squads have been named for the second round of World Cup matches.
The men take on France in Perth on Saturday in the opening game of a double-header which also features England women against reigning world champions Australia. Men’s coach Brian McDermott will stick with the players chosen for last weekend’s opener when England were beaten 30-12 by Tonga.
Men’s World Cup rules allow four substitutes to be used from a six-player bench. Leeds Rhinos’ Kallum Watkins, who flew to Australia last week as a replacement for the injured Morgan Knowles, is not included, but does feature in the wider 22-man squad alongside Mikey Lewis and Ben Talty.
Rhinos’ Keara Bennett and Connie Boyd retain their place in the women’s matchday 17 after featuring in last Saturday’s 70-6 thrashing of Wales. Wigan Warriors prop Lucie Sams and centre Molly Jones have been drafted into the team, alongside forward Liv Wood of York Valkyrie. Mary Coleman, Georgia Wilson and Hope Millard make way.
England men’s 19 is: AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans), Dom Young (Newcastle Knights), Hugo Savala (Sydney Roosters), Herbie Farnworth Dolphins), Zach Eckersley (Wigan Warriors), George Williams (Warrington Wolves), Harry Smith (Wigan), Max King (Canterbury Bulldogs), Brad O’Neill (Wigan), Luke Thompson (Wigan), Junior Nsemba (Wigan), Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers), Victor Radley (Roosters), Jez Litten (Hull KR), Ben Currie (Warrington), Ethan Havard (Wigan), Sam Walters (Wigan), Jack Welsby (St Helens), Matty Ashton (Warrington).
England women’s 17 is: Keara Bennett (Leeds Rhinos), Connie Boyd (Leeds), Amelia Brown (Huddersfield Giants), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies (Wigan Warriors), Hollie-Mae Dodd (Canberra Raiders), Jenna Foubister (Wigan), Fran Goldthorp (North Queensland Cowboys), Eva Hunter (Wigan), Molly Jones (Wigan), Georgia Roche (Newcastle Knights), Isabel Rowe (Wigan), Lucie Sams (Wigan), Jasmin Strange (Sydney Roosters), Liv Wood (York Valkyrie), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens), Megan Williams (Wigan).