The England Students Women’s side  take on Great Britain Teachers this weekend in the first clash of what is hoped will become an annual fixture. 

Following the conclusion of the Women's Rugby League season with the successful Finals day on Sunday there are now a number of representative fixtures. For match reports from the finals visit: http://www.womensrugbyleague.co.uk/

England Women v Great Britain Teachers takes place at 2pm, Saturday 20th October on the Leeds Rugby Academy’s 3G Pitch on Kirkstall Road, Leeds and is being kindly hosted by Milford Marlins RLFC and the Leeds Rugby Foundation.      

“The game was originally scheduled for June, but we were unable to get the fixture on at the time” explains Jim Shuttleworth, England Students team manager.      

“The opportunity arose to utilise this weekend and I’d like to thank Frankie Hartwell and her colleagues at GB Teachers Rugby League for being able to fulfil the fixture on this weekend. It is certainly a Rugby League first, not just in the women’s game, as no students side has yet faced a teachers team, so we are delighted to be breaking new ground in sport.”      

England Students, who completed a two match tour of France in the summer, will be in action the following weekend as they do battle for the Pankhurst Cup against the Combined Services, 1.30pm, Saturday 27th October at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire.      

The Combined Services team, drawn from the best players in the RAF, Army and Royal Navy, has had the upper hand in the fixture since it was first played for in 2008, however each year the gap has closed and with the experience of this year’s students squad, there is no reason why the Students cannot bring the trophy home.      

“It will certainly be a tough encounter” continued Shuttleworth. “However, the girls have gained massive experience this year, including playing the French National side in France, which has given them a flavour of a hard game.”       England Students Women’s Head Coach Mark Brennan said: “Final preparations are now in place for the game against the Combined Services.      

“The Combined Services will be a tough game we know what to expect and we will be prepared for that. The squad is looking good with a few additions to the squad to cover late withdrawals through injuries, they are in good spirits to try and win the Pankhurst Cup for the first time.      

“The game against the GB Female Teachers this weekend will be a good run out for the team in what will be a tough game.”      

England Students Women’s squad      

Sofia Luxton Ashlee Prescott Meghan Enright Victoria Pinks Katie Hepworth Victoria Britland Faye Gaskin Sarah Hothersall Charlotte Foley Antoinette Morgan Vicky Whitfield Paige Costello Jade Aspinall Jessica Potter Sofina Clay Tara Jones Beth Pickernell Chloe Atkinson      

England Students v GB Teachers Saturday 20th October, 2pm Leeds Rugby Academy, Kirkstall Road, Leeds      

Combined Services v England Students Saturday 27th October, 1.30pm RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire