England name women's performance squad for France Test
Young backs Eboni Partington and Chloe Billington are on course to make their England debuts in April's Test against France after being named in a 25-strong National Performance Squad.
Partington, who plays for St Helens, and Featherstone's Billington are joined by York Valkyrie duo Sinead Peach and Tamzin Renouf as new faces in the England squad after last November's World Cup campaign.
The 19-year-old Partington scored two tries for St Helens in last year's Challenge Cup final, while 21-year-old Billington had an impressive season for the Rovers.
Head of England Women Pathways, Stu Barrow said: “With us having a game so early in 2023 it was important that we selected a National Performance squad as soon as possible.
“It’s brilliant that we’ve been able to add Eboni and Chloe to the squad who both impressed in 2022 as well as re-introducing Sinead and Tamzin to the programme following terrific seasons with York."
Photo: England players perform the anthem before the opening World Cup match against Brazil (Getty Images)
Peach and Renouf return to the international set-up after last representing England on the 2019 tour of Papua New Guinea.
“The squad will continue to grow and develop throughout the season based on performances of players in the Betfred Women’s Super League and Challenge Cup," Barrow said.
“This is the first step in preparations for the mid-season international but also in the wider journey towards the next Rugby League World Cup in France in 2025.”
The fixture at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday 29 April will be England's first outing since their semi-final appearance at last year’s World Cup.
Australian-born halfback Courtney Winfield-Hill has retired, while second-rower Vicky Molyneux, hooker Beth Stott and centre Carrie Roberts are the other absentees from the World Cup squad.
Photo: Fans turned out to support the England women at the World Cup (Getty Images)
St Helens boast nine representatives in the squad, while Leeds and York have seven apiece, with the Rhinos contingent including recent signing Amy Hardcastle.
Georgia Wilson and Billington are the sole inclusions from Wigan Warrior and Featherstone Rovers respectively.
England’s Women's and Men's teams take on France in the mid-season international double-header, with tickets available online now.
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 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)
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)
Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors)
Olivia Wood (York Valkyrie)
