Wales skipper Jodie Boyd-Ward will win her historic 50th international cap when Wales take on New Zealand in Monday’s Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup fifth-place play-off semi-final at WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
Boyd-Ward, who is also the Leeds Rhinos captain, is set to become the first player in the world to reach 50 international Wheelchair Rugby League appearances. She has represented Wales 20 times, alongside seven appearances for Ireland and 22 for England. She will also become the first female to win 50 international rugby league caps in any version of the sport.
Andrew Higgins and Stuart Williams are each set to win their 40th Wales caps. Higgins, Wales top goal scorer, is now on 158 for his country, and is the nation’s third top try scorer on 56, just three behind second place. Williams scored Welsh record-extending 76th and 77th tries against the USA.
It’s also a historic occasion for two other players, as Wales not only field a father-and-son combination at the World Cup for the first time, but it’s the first time that Martin and Matthew will be on court together for Wales. Martin has been promoted from the reserves to the eight-player squad for his first World Cup appearance, with Matthew retaining his place after scoring his 50th try of the season on Friday.
There are two further changes to the side following Wales’ convincing 92-18 victory over USA, with Sid Ramsey and Mark Williams both returning.
Monday’s match will be the first-ever Wheelchair Rugby League meeting between Wales and New Zealand, adding another chapter to a sporting rivalry which dates back to the first international rugby league match between two nations in 1908.
Wales head coach Alan Caron said: “Five games in the space of two weeks is a huge physical commitment, so squad rotation is essential. We have to manage players carefully, make sure everyone gets the recovery time they need and keep as many people as possible fresh for each game.
“Jodie reaching 50 international caps is an absolutely incredible achievement. To be the first player in the world to reach that milestone in Wheelchair Rugby League, and the first female to do so, is something very special, and she deserves enormous credit for everything she has contributed to the sport.
“It’s also particularly pleasing to have Martin and Matthew together in the side, it’s great that they’ll finally get the chance to play alongside each other for Wales for the first time.
“New Zealand are a new country for us in Wheelchair Rugby League, and we’ve never played them before, so we’re really looking forward to that challenge and relishing the occasion. We’re also looking forward to facing the haka, which will be a special experience for the players.
“There’s a long history between Wales and New Zealand in rugby league in the running game, through the men’s, students’ and Masters teams, as well as PDRL. Now we’re looking forward to adding Wheelchair Rugby League to that history.
“We’ve got two matches left in the tournament and our aim is to finish fifth. We want to build on the performance against USA, carry that confidence forward and finish the competition as strongly as we can.”
The game kicks off at 11am local time in Wollongong, which is midnight Sunday into Monday in Wales. The winners will progress to the fifth-place play-off, while the defeated side will contest the seventh-place match.
WALES SQUAD TO FACE NEW ZEALAND
1. Sid Ramsey (Sheffield Eagles, 4 Wales caps)
2. Fionn McCabe (North Wales Crusaders, 2 Wales caps)
4. Andrew Higgins (Birmingham Hurricanes, 39 Wales caps)
5. Jodie Boyd-Ward (Leeds Rhinos, 20 Wales caps)
7. Stuart Williams (Edinburgh Giants / North Wales Crusaders, 39 Wales caps)
9. Matthew Turner (Wigan Warriors / North Wales Crusaders, 5 Wales caps)
10. Mark Williams (Wigan Warriors / South Wales Jets, 44 Wales caps)
12. Martin Turner (North Wales Crusaders, 2 Wales caps)
Reserves
6. Jonathan Gill (North Wales Crusaders, 4 Wales caps)
11. John Berriman (York RLFC, 2 Wales caps)
