36 female Rugby League players took part in a trial on Sunday at Stanningley ARLFC in Leeds for a place in the England Student Rugby League Women’s squad for 2011.

The day saw a great standard of Rugby League with some hard decisions to be made over selection.

Head Coach Mark Brennan, of Riverside College and Widnes Academy, commented: “The standard of the player’s performances exceeded any expectations I had.

“It was a really tough choice between some of the girls and I am both confident and excited about the three tests we have over the coming months.”

The girls have been identified through a domestic Universities and Colleges programme run in all of the six Rugby League regions, and through club nominations.

The selection demonstrates the growth of the women’s game into new regions and the opportunity available for the development of a truly national competition in the Female Student sector. There are players in the squad from the South East, South West and North East as well as Yorkshire, The North West and Cumbria.

Heather Smith, Student Rugby League Development Officer said: “This is a really exciting time for the growth of Student Rugby League; it is fantastic to see the squad representing the whole country like this.

“I think we have some great talent this year and I’m really looking forwards to seeing the girls in action.”

The team will play Bordeaux University on the 25th of June at Castleford Panthers, the German national Team in Mannheim on the 23rd of July ahead of the men’s European Shield Fixture against Malta.

They will then compete for the Pankhurst Cup against the Combined Services as part of the Rugby League Conference Women’s Finals day on the 21st of August.

The Selected squad is:
Katie    Hepworth    St Wilfrids School
Louisa    Gallimore    Loughborough University
Alex    Faimalo    Riverside College
Charlotte Benjamin    Exeter University
Poppy    Davis        Exeter University
Sarah    Hothersall    Cumbria University
Jade     Aspinall    Deanery 6th Form
Beth     Pollard        Leeds Met University
Sophie    Gaskell    Sutton Academy
Naomi    Williams    
Aimee    Staveley    Leeds College
Sade     Hacking    Northumbria University
Emily    Rushworth    Northumbria University
Kelsey    Armistead    Leeds city college
Naomi    Westwood    BPP Professional
Faye    Gaskin        Liverpool Hope University
Kelly-Anne Ferguson    Oxford University
Fiona    Jones        Loughborough University
Jessica Potter        Liverpool John Moores University
Beth    Newton    Loughborough University
Holly    Myers        Portsmouth University
Tara-Jane Stanley    Cronton College
Joanna Kirkby        Loughborough University