Senior International Matches (Women)

Sun 19th July 2026   - KO  15:00 - The Gnoll, Neath , Wales
Official: James Jones (Wales)

Wales

0

FT

14

Half Time
0 - 10

Canada

Tries

Danielle FRANADA (20)
Megan PAKULIS (33,37)

Goals

Natasha NAISMITH (1/3)

Match Preview: Canada and Wales Women Name Squads For Opening Ravens Tour Game

Canada’s women begin their two-match tour of Europe on Sunday 19 July, when the Ravens take on Wales at The Gnoll in Neath for world ranking points, (kick off 3pm, local time), after which they head to Scotland.

It will be a first test of Matty Barron’s side since Canada beat Ireland to third place in the IRL Women’s Rugby League World Series in Ontario last Autumn, with Cassie Mann, Dani Cox, Erika Scott, Hanna Tonet, Payton McNeill, Tatiana Joseph and Larae Benoit all potential debutants.

York Valkyrie pair Megan Pakulis and Petra Woods are also included in their squad. “We’re excited for the opportunity to test ourselves against Wales and measuring ourselves against quality opposition,” said Barron. “We’ve brought together a strong mix of experienced veterans and talented debutants, creating a squad that combines composure, skill and plenty of attacking threat.

“The competition for positions has been outstanding, adding depth across the team and pushing everyone to elevate their game. The new players haven’t just joined the squad—they’ve challenged for jerseys and raised the standard. We’re looking forward to seeing how much we’ve grown since the World Series.”

For Wales it will be a first chance for head coach Tom Brindle to see how his charges are progressing as they build towards the IRL 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup which takes place in Australia in October. It is a first run out for the national team since losing 62-0 to England in Neath last August.

London Broncos’ Jade Mullen, along with Zoe Heeley, Frances Layton and Sioned Young of Cardiff Demons, are all in line to earn their first Wales rugby league caps after being named in Brindle’s 19-player squad.

There is also a return for Ffion Lewis, who is back in the Wales rugby league squad for the first time in five years. Since her last appearance, she has enjoyed a successful spell in rugby union, winning 33 caps for her country.

She previously earned two rugby league caps and captained the national side during her first stint in the sport. Emily Hughes and Katie Carr also return to the squad after missing last year’s international programme through injury.

“We’re really looking forward to getting back together and beginning our World Cup preparations,” Brindle noted. “Canada will provide us with a tough test, but that’s exactly what we need at this stage. The focus is on continuing to develop as a team, putting our systems into practice, and building confidence ahead of travelling to Australia later this year.”

The game will be played to NRLW rules, including being of 70 minutes duration, as part of Wales’s preparation for the World Cup which will be played under them.

Welsh referee James Jones will take charge of the fixture. 

Tickets are available at: https://events.liveit.io/wales-rugby-league/wales-vs-canada-womens-international/

Live Streaming will be on: https://lounges.tv/lounge/EuTxwuLdGi

Wales (squad): Leanne BURNELL, Katie CARR, Jasmine GIBBONS, Zoe HEELEY, Sara JONES, Frances LAYTON, Amberley RUCK, Olivia WILLIAMS, Sioned Catrin YOUNG (Cardiff Demons), Georgia TAYLOR, Gracie HOBBS (Huddersfield Giants), Emily HUGHES, Ffion LEWIS, Jade Mullen, Kathryn SALTER (London Broncos), Danielle MCGIFFORD (St Helens), Bethan DAINTON, Carys MARSH (Wigan Warriors), Agnes WOOD (York Valkyrie)

Canada (squad): Cassie MANN, Danielle COX, Danielle FRANADA, Alanna FITTES, Brittany JONES, Rebecca Kochuk LOWRY, Sarah MAGUIRE, Savannah BACCHUS, Larae Benoit, Maddy ABERG (Alberta Broncos), Gabrielle HINDLEY, Payton MCNEILL (BC Storm), Erika SCOTT, Tatiana JOSEPH, Natasha NAISMITH, Hannah TONET, Tamisha TOUSSAINT (Ontario Osprey), Megan PAKULIS, Petra WOODS (York Valkyrie)

17 July 2026
1 Leanne BURNELL
Full Back
Petra WOODS 1
2 Frances LAYTON
Right Wing
Brittany JONES 2
3 Zoe HEELEY
Right Centre
Maddy ABERG 3
4 Olivia WILLIAMS
Left Centre
Tatiana JOSEPH 4
5 Danielle MCGIFFORD
Left Wing
Erika SCOTT 5
6 Amberley RUCK
Stand Off
Danielle FRANADA 6
7 Jade Mullen
Scrum Half
Natasha NAISMITH 7
8 Agnes WOOD
Prop
Sarah MAGUIRE 8
9 Carys MARSH
Hooker
Alanna FITTES 9
10 Katie CARR
Prop
Hannah TONET 10
11 Georgia TAYLOR
Second Row
12 Sioned Catrin YOUNG
Second Row
Danielle COX 12
13 Bethan DAINTON
Loose Forward
Megan PAKULIS 13
14 Jade Mullen
Int 1
Savannah BACCHUS 14
15 Gracie HOBBS
Int 2
Rebecca Kochuk LOWRY 15
16 Emily HUGHES
Int 3
Tamisha TOUSSAINT 16
17 Ffion LEWIS
Int 4
Payton MCNEILL 17
18 Sara JONES
Reserve 1
Larae Benoit 18
Match Report: Canada Women Shut Out Wales 0-14 In Neath

Canada women began their two-game European tour with a highly merited win, shutting out Wales 14-0 at The Knoll, Neath, in a match for world ranking points.

Skipper Megan Pakulis led the way with tries either side of half time, but it was the Ravens’ unyielding defence that most impressed.

Canada women’s head coach, Matty Barron, commented: ”We’ve had a great week in camp and that was the real test we needed. We pride ourselves on defence, we want to be physical to be able to compete with the likes of Wales. We want to show we should be at the World Cup.

“We lost out to Fiji in the World Series and the only way we are going to compete with those sort of teams is to play in games like these. Tamisha Toussaint exemplified the way we want to be, she’s tough and uncompromising. A lot of these girls are self-funded, to come here and play like this, we should all be very proud of them.

“Tell England to pick the phone up, we’ll take anyone on and I’m sure these girls will do the Canada shirt proud.”

Canada took the lead with a length of the field set which Dani Franada finished off by slipping through to score, Natasha Naismith with her sole conversion.

Wales’s Leanne Burnell was twice stopped short of the line on the final tackle as the visitors showed their defensive resolve, before Pakulis bundled her way over to make it 10-0 at the break. At the start of the second period, she again took on the Wales defensive line to register the only other score, after which the Ravens’ defence dominated, continuing to snuff out home chances. 

That was Wales’s last competitive match before travelling to their first World Cup in October.

“We got a little bit panicked in the second half trying to chase the scoreboard,” said Wales women’s head coach, Tom Brindle. “We knew, when we started this journey, what the challenge was going to be and we need to set our own standards. There are probably about three or spots available for players to make that plane to the World Cup.

“We’ll do a review, Canada have been to two World Cups and were a very physical side which will benefit us. We need to put more international games in place.”

Canada now face Scotland next weekend.

The game was played to NRLW rules as part of Wales' RLWC26 preparation, with each half 35 minutes long.

20 July 2026