Jodie Cunningham to lead England to next Women’s World Cup

Jodie Cunningham has been named captain of the England women’s team ahead of their international against France later this month.

Cunningham, 31, succeeds long-time team-mate Emily Rudge, who announced her decision to step back from the role following last year’s World Cup.

An obvious candidate, Cunningham is arguably the most high profile women’s rugby league player in the UK, having been an ambassador for the World Cup.

The 2021 Woman of Steel, Cunningham has won every trophy in the women’s game having started out at Thatto Heath and then progressing to St Helens at the advent of the Women’s Super League. She has earned 28 international caps since her England debut in 2009.

Cunningham said: “It is a huge honour to have been named as England Women’s captain.

“It feels like the pinnacle for me as a player – from first picking up a ball at high school to going on to be named as captain of my country. What a journey!

“There are some fantastic leaders in the squad, including Emily Rudge who has been a terrific captain over the past five years and will no doubt continue to support me in my new role.

“We have a squad that is getting stronger by the year and as we now enter the next cycle of international Rugby League our focus has quickly shifted to the next World Cup in France in 2025. I cannot wait to lead England out for the first time later this month against France at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.”

Rudge remains part of the England squad and coach Stuart Barrow has hinted that the senior players will form a leadership group to help nurture the younger players in the squad ahead of the 2025 World Cup in France.

They will take part in a double-header international with France alongside the men at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on April 29.

England Women’s Head Coach Stuart Barrow added: “For several years now Jodie has shown what a strong leader she is, captaining St Helens to multiple trophies as well as being one of the most experienced players within the international set-up. 

“She consistently displays all the attributes of a great captain both on and off the field and I feel she is the right person to lead us forward to the next World Cup. 

“We have several senior players included in the squad that I think form a great leadership group, and will help nurture and guide some of the younger players coming into the side.

“Our attention is now solely on the France game at the end of this month and hopefully we see a strong crowd come out in support at Warrington.”

England Women National Performance Squad 

Dannielle Anderson (Leeds Rhinos) 

Savannah Andrade (York Valkyrie) 

Caitlin Beevers (Leeds Rhinos) 

Keara Bennett (Leeds Rhinos) 

Chloe Billington (Featherstone Rovers) 

Leah Burke (St Helens) 

Jodie Cunningham (St Helens) 

Hollie-Mae Dodd (York Valkyrie) 

Grace Field (York Valkyrie) 

Fran Goldthorp (Leeds Rhinos) 

Amy Hardcastle (Leeds Rhinos) 

Zoe Harris (St Helens) 

Zoe Hornby (Leeds Rhinos) 

Shona Hoyle (St Helens) 

Tara Jones (St Helens) 

Vicky Molyneux (Wigan Warriors)

Eboni Partington (St Helens) 

Sinead Peach (York Valkyrie) 

Emily Rudge (St Helens) 

Tamzin Renouf (York Valkyrie) 

Georgia Roche (Leeds Rhinos) 

Tara Stanley (York Valkyrie) 

Paige Travis (St Helens) 

Vicky Whitfield (St Helens) 

Olivia Wood (York Valkyrie)