Barrow Names England Women’s Squad for France Test: Toulouse 2026

Key Points

• 19-Player Squad Selected: England Women Rugby League head coach Stuart Barrow has named a 19-player squad to face France in a Test match in Toulouse.
• Six Uncapped Stars: The selected national lineup introduces six potential debutants ahead of the international trip, highlighting a transitional push for squad depth.
• Wigan Warriors Dominate: League leaders Wigan Warriors dominate the squad sheets with nine named players, including four of the uncapped selections.
• World Cup Warm-Up: The upcoming international fixture acts as a critical warm-up stage ahead of the Rugby League World Cup starting in October.
• Reconvening Date Set: The national squad is scheduled to assemble in Leeds on Saturday, July 18, to commence match-week training camp.

Leeds (The Leeds Times) July 14, 2026 – England Women’s Rugby League head coach Stuart Barrow has finalized a 19-player national squad ahead of the upcoming international Test match against France, scheduled for Saturday, July 25, at the Stade Ernest Wallon in Toulouse. The fixture marks a crucial milestone in England’s preparations for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. Barrow has opted for a bold selection process, introducing six uncapped players into the senior ranks to offset a series of injury troubles. With the Betfred Women’s Super League in full swing, domestic performances have dictated selection, resulting in Wigan Warriors dominating the team sheets with nine player call-ups.

Who Are the Six Potential Debutants in Stuart Barrow’s Lineup?

Stuart Barrow has selected six potential international debutants to travel to France, with four coming from the high-flying Wigan Warriors and two representing Leeds Rhinos.

Among the standout inclusions is 28-year-old Wigan middle Mary Coleman. Coleman, a former rugby union player with the Preston Grasshoppers, transitioned to rugby league and made her Wigan debut against Featherstone Rovers in the 2022 Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup. After progressing through the England Knights Performance Squad, she has secured her first senior call-up.

Joining Mary Coleman from the Warriors’ roster are fellow uncapped prospects Mia-Jayne Atherton, Ellise Derbyshire, and Megan Williams.

Leeds Rhinos also contribute to the list of potential debutants with Ella Donnelly and 20-year-old Evie Cousins. Cousins earns her spot following a try-scoring return from injury against Huddersfield Giants.

A graduate of England’s Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) programme, Cousins made her senior debut in 2024 and has scored ten tries across 11 league and cup matches.

Why Is the Wigan Warriors Club Dominating England Selection Sheets?

The domestic dominance of Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Women’s Super League is mirrored in Stuart Barrow’s squad selection. Nine of the 19 players chosen belong to the Wigan club.

In addition to the four potential debutants, Wigan is represented by early Woman of Steel contenders Jenna Foubister, Anna Davies, and Eva Hunter.

The inclusion of these in-form players reflects the club’s exceptional run of form in the domestic competition, making Wigan the primary developmental engine for the national team’s current cycle.

Which Other Super League Clubs Are Represented in the National Team?

The remaining positions in the 19-player squad are distributed among the rest of the Betfred Women’s Super League’s top four clubs.

Leeds Rhinos have five players named, including the two uncapped players, Cousins and Donnelly. St Helens contribute four key players to the national traveling party, led by national captain Jodie Cunningham.

Meanwhile, York Valkyrie is represented by a single player, Tamzin Renouf, who is the sole call-up from her team.

How Are Injury Woes Shaping England’s Tactical Approach?

The squad selection was heavily influenced by a rash of injuries across the Super League, presenting tactical challenges for Stuart Barrow.

“Selection has been very difficult, with so much quality on show during the opening rounds of the Betfred Women’s Super League,”

Stuart Barrow explained during his squad announcement press conference.

“We have unfortunately lost a few players to injury, which is never ideal given their contribution this season and has created some positional headaches.”

Barrow emphasized that these injuries, while disruptive, open doors for emerging talents.

“However, that creates opportunities for others, and several players come into the squad for the first time after consistently impressing with their performances and attitude. They have earned this chance,”

he added.

What Role Does the Toulouse Test Play in October World Cup Prep?

The clash at the Stade Ernest Wallon is more than a simple international friendly; it is a critical stepping stone toward the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. England is scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against Wales in October.

“Every international fixture is an opportunity to represent your country with pride, but this match is especially important as we build towards our opening game against Wales at the Rugby League World Cup in October,”

Stuart Barrow remarked.

Barrow noted the difficulty of playing France in Toulouse:

“France away is always a tough challenge, and that is exactly the type of test we need at this stage of our preparations. While our immediate focus is on delivering a strong performance in France, every training session and camp over the coming months will help shape where we need to be when the World Cup begins.”

The England squad is scheduled to assemble in Leeds on Saturday, July 18, to begin intensive preparations before flying out to Toulouse for the July 25 kick-off.

Background of This Particular Development

To understand the context of Stuart Barrow’s latest squad selection, it is necessary to look at the structural evolution of women’s rugby league in the United Kingdom. Over the past five years, the Rugby Football League (RFL) has heavily invested in the Betfred Women’s Super League (WSL), transitioning it toward a highly competitive semi-professional model.

This investment has fostered the growth of youth development systems, such as England’s Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) programme, which produced debutant Evie Cousins.

Historically, England’s squad selections were heavily dominated by St Helens and Leeds Rhinos. The sudden surge of Wigan Warriors as a dominant force—supplying nine players to the national squad—demonstrates a shifting landscape in domestic rugby league.

This rising parity among the “Big Four” clubs (Wigan, Leeds, St Helens, and York) has created a deeper pool of domestic talent, forcing international selectors to make tough decisions and providing the national side with greater resilience against injury crises.

Furthermore, international fixtures against France have historically served as the benchmark for northern hemisphere dominance.

As France continues to develop its domestic structure, traveling to Toulouse has become a hostile and physically demanding test for English squads.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, this match represents the final high-stakes environment for coaching staff to stress-test their tactical structures and evaluate whether uncapped prospects can handle international pressure.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect the Rugby League Audience

This squad announcement and the upcoming Test match will have direct implications for rugby league supporters, particularly fans of the domestic Women’s Super League.

For Wigan Warriors supporters, the selection of nine players is a massive validation of their club’s developmental pathway.

It will likely drive up local match attendance and boost commercial interest in the club’s women’s team. Conversely, St Helens and Leeds fans will be watching closely to see how their core players perform, with the added anxiety of potential mid-season international injuries that could derail their domestic title charges.

For the broader international audience, the integration of six uncapped players into a major Test match serves as a preview of England’s next generation. If these debutants excel in Toulouse, it will signal to rivals like Australia and New Zealand that England is building genuine squad depth, raising expectations and ticket demands for the World Cup in October.

If the squad struggles due to inexperience or injury disruptions, it may lead to a more cautious, defensive tactical approach as the tournament nears, shifting public expectations of England’s tournament viability.