In the third of our monthly “World Cup Watch” articles, we look at how our hopefuls in the women’s and wheelchair games are performing in their respective competitions. Picture – Bethan Dainton.
Our women’s side are preparing well, not only for the World Cup, but for the friendly match against Canada at The Gnoll on Sunday 19th July. You can buy tickets for this match at https://wrl.wales/tickets.
Hitting the headlines are our duo from Wigan Warriors. Our Wales women’s captain Bethan Dainton, along with Carys Marsh, both starred at Wembley Stadium in their side’s Women’s Challenge Cup Final win over Dani McGifford‘s St Helens.
Dainton and Marsh were also in action in Wigan’s three Super League wins recently, at Barrow Raiders, Huddersfield Giants, and York Valkyrie, with Dainton scoring a try against both Raiders and Giants.
McGifford, in rare non-try scoring action at Wembley, scored a try in Saints’ win over York, got two in their win at Huddersfield, plus one in the victory at Featherstone Rovers. That puts her on 14 tries for the season, second in the women’s game overall.
Georgia Cussens and Gracie Hobbs both played for Huddersfield in the defeat to St Helens, plus a win over Leigh Leopards, where Hobbs scored a try. Hobbs was also in action against Wigan, as well as Giants’ win at Featherstone. Agnes Wood played in York’s defeats at St Helens and Wigan, and also in a loss to Leeds Rhinos, but she did star in a victory at home to Leigh.
Cardiff Demons continued their good form in the RFL Championship with wins over Hull FC, Oulton Raidettes and Widnes Vikings.
Ffion Jenkins became the first Demons player to reach 50 appearances for the club, and scored a try against Hull FC. Amberley Ruck scored a hat-trick of tries for the first time and also kicked a goal in the win over Widnes.
Frances Layton was top try scorer for these three matches with seven, scoring twice against Hull and Widnes and a hat-trick of tries against Oulton, putting her on 13 tries for the season. Zoe Heeley kept up her try-scoring record, going over once against Hull, twice against Oulton, and three times against Widnes, putting her on 14 tries for the season, just four behind her 2025 total.
Leanne Burnell scored a try against Oulton, Seren Gough-Walters scored two, whilst Tara Finnegan made her comeback against Oulton after over a year out through injury. Other Welsh international squad members who also starred in these matches were Katie Carr, Lucia Davies, Jasmine Gibbons, Bridget Jones, Ffion Jones, Hannah Jones, Sara Jones, Charlie Mundy, Rhi Parker, Amy Price, Meg Whittaker and Olivia Williams.
Former Wales captain Ffion Lewis made a comeback to rugby league, signing for London Broncos and together with Jade Mullen, Emily Hughes and Kathryn Salter, helped them to wins over Hull FC and Bradford Bulls. Salter kicked five goals in each game, with Hughes scoring a try against Bradford.
In Wheelchair Super League, Matthew Turner scored six tries for Wigan Warriors in their win over Bradford Bulls. Brogan Evans and Mark Williams were both in action for Wigan’s A side, with Williams scoring a try and kicking nine goals, and Evans scoring four tries, against Castleford Tigers. Also in Super League, Sid Ramsey scored a try in Sheffield Eagles’ loss to Halifax Panthers; Stuart Williams was in action in Edinburgh Giants’ loss to Wigan; and Jodie Boyd-Ward played in Leeds Rhinos’ win over Hull FC and loss to Halifax Panthers.
North Wales Crusaders are top of the Wheelchair Championship after wins over Gravesend Dynamite and York RLFC. Harry Mitchell-Jones scored one try against Gravesend, plus scored two tries and hit over a drop goal against York, whilst Martin Turner scored two tries and six goals against Gravesend, plus three tries and 11 goals against York. In addition to those two, Jonathan Gill was player of the match against Gravesend, scoring a hat-trick of tries.
Wales head coach Alan Caron, also head coach of Midlands Hurricanes, was in action for his side this month, along with two of his Welsh international squad players, brother and sister Lee Sargent and Libbie Sargent, in their win over Wakefield Trinity and loss to Rochdale Hornets. The Sargents each scored a try against Wakefield.
