2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup squads explained

This article lists the official squads for the 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup which, postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic is being held in November 2022.

Pool A

Brazil

Head coach: Paul Grundy^{[1] [2] [3]}
Captains: Maria Graf, Giovanna Moura.
Summary: 3 matches, 3 losses. 5 tries by 4 try-scorers, 2 goals. 24 points scored.

width=2%		width=40%	Player	width=2%	Games	width=2%	Tries	width=2%	Goals	width=2%	Points	width=46%	Club
18		3	1	0	4	Vitoria Rhinos
22		3	1	0	4	Vitoria Rhinos
3		3	0	0	0	Melina
12		3	0	0	0	Maringa Hawks
4		1	0	0	0	Maringa Hawks
6		3	0	0	0	Maringa Hawks
7		2	0	2	4	Urutau
8		3	1	0	4	Melina
9		3	1	0	4	Melina
10		3	0	0	0	Vitoria Rhinos
11		3	0	0	0	Melina
17		3	0	0	0	Vitoria Rhinos
16		3	0	0	0	Urutau
2		2	0	0	0	Vitoria Rhinos
13		2	0	0	0	Vitoria Rhinos
15		3	0	0	0	Melina
23		1	0	0	0	Melina
20		1	0	0	0	Melina
1		2	0	0	0	Vitoria Rhinos
5		1	0	0	0	Melina
14		2	0	0	0	Maringa Hawks
21		1	0	0	0	Melina
6		0	0	0	0	Vitoria Rhinos

Notes:

• The squad was announced on 10 October 2022.
• All players in the squad participated in the warm-up match against France on 27 October 2022, with Franciny Amaral scoring a try.^[4]

Canada

Head coach: Mike Castle
Captain: Gabrielle Hindley
Summary: 3 matches, 1 win, 2 losses. 7 tries by 5 try-scorers. 5 goals. 38 points scored.

width=2%		width=40%	Player	width=2%	Games	width=2%	Tries	width=2%	Goals	width=2%	Points	width=46%	Club
15		1	0	0	0
20		3	0	0	0
10		3	0	0	0
7		3	0	0	0
22		3	0	0	0
6		2	1	0	4
24		3	0	0	0
11		3	0	0	0
14		3	0	0	0
13		3	2	0	8
21		1	0	0	0
8		3	0	0	0
12		2	1	0	4
19		2	0	0	0
16		1	0	0	0
5		2	0	0	0
2		1	0	0	0
9		2	0	0	0
17		1	0	0	0
18		1	0	0	0
23		1	0	0	0

Notes:

• The Ravens' World Cup squad was announced in early September.^{[5] [6]}
• Support Staff for the tournament are
  • Assistant Coaches: Ben Hickey, Stevi Schnoor, Darryl Fisher.
  • Team Manager: Katie Grudzinski
• Laura Mariu played for New Zealand Kiwi Ferns from 2000 to 2018 including all five previous World Cups. Mariu qualifies to play for Canada through her mother.

England

Head coach: Craig Richards
Captain: Emily Rudge
Summary: 4 matches, 3 wins, 1 loss. 34 tries by 14 try-scorers. 19 goals. 174 points scored.

width=2%		width=40%	Player	width=2%	Games	width=2%	Tries	width=2%	Goals	width=2%	Points	width=46%	Club
3		4	3	0	2
2		3	2	0	8
1		4	6	9	2
4		3	5	0	0
5		4	6	0	4
6		4	1	0	4
7		4	3	0	2
17		4	0	0	0
9		3	1	0	4
18		3	1	0	4
14		3	0	0	0
12		4	0	0	0
13		3	0	0	0
21		3	0	0	0
11		4	2	0	8
8		3	1	0	4
15		4	1	0	4
19		2	0	0	0
22		1	0	0	0
23		1	1	0	4
20		1	1	0	4
10		1	0	0	0
16		1	0	0	0
24		1	0	0	0

Notes:

• The England squad was announced on 26 September.^[7]
• Squad numbers for the tournament were announced on 18 October 2022.^[8]

Papua New Guinea

Head coach: Ben Jeffries^{[9] [10]}
Captain: Elsie Albert
Summary: 4 matches, 2 wins, 2 losses. 22 tries by 13 try-scorers. 10 goals by 2 goal-kickers. 108 points scored.

width=2%		width=40%	Player	width=2%	Games	width=2%	Tries	width=2%	Goals	width=2%	Points	width=46%	Club
5		3	0	0	0
2		4	2	0	8
4		3	1	0	4
3		4	5	0	0	Highlands Confederate
17		4	4	0	6	Southern Confederate
6		4	1	0	4
7		4	1	8	0	Southern Confederate
8		4	1	0	4
9		3	1	0	4
10		4	0	0	0	Highlands Confederate
15		3	0	0	0	Southern Confederate
12		4	1	0	4
13		4	1	0	4
19		2	0	0	0	Highlands Confederate
11		3	0	2	4
16		3	0	0	0	Northern Confederate
21		3	0	0	0	Southern Confederate
22		2	1	0	4	Highlands Confederate
1		1	2	0	8
23		2	0	0	0	Highlands Confederate
14		3	1	0	4	Riverina
18		1	0	0	0	Southern Confederate
20		0	0	0	0	Southern Confederate
24		0	0	0	0	Southern Confederate

Notes:

• A squad of 24 players participated in the World Cup.^{[11] [12] [13]}
• Squad numbers were announced in late October.
• Support staff includes Meg Ward as an assistant coach.
• Elizabeth Kapa (PNG Southern Confederate) was selected in the squad but was ruled out due to an injury. Ua Ravu was brought into the squad.
• The Orchids announced via social media on 26 October that Tara Moxon had been added to the squad.

Pool B

Australia

Head coach: Brad Donald
Captains: Kezie Apps, Sam Bremner, Ali Brigginshaw. Tallisha Harden.
Summary: 5 matches, 5 wins. 58 tries by 16 try-scorers. 40 goals by 4 goal-kickers. 312 points scored.
Table last updated 20 November 2022. Players' ages are as at that date. Players in the table ordered for their playing positions for the Final match against New Zealand on 19 November.

width=2%		width=40%	Player	width=2%	Games	width=2%	Tries	width=2%	Goals	width=2%	Points	width=46%	Club
2		4	4	0	6
10		4	7	0	8
11		4	7	0	8
5		4	5	0	0
24		4	7	0	8
12		4	5	1	2
3		4	0	5	0
8		3	1	0	4
23		3	0	0	0
16		4	2	0	8
18		5	0	0	0
1		3	0	0	0
4		3	0	0	0
14		5	0	0	0
6		4	5	0	0
13		4	1	0	4
20		3	1	0	4
9		3	0	4	8
15		3	4	0	6
17		3	4	0	6
19		3	1	0	4
7		2	2	0	8
22		4	2	0	8
21		2	0	0	0

Notes:

• The squad was announced on 3 October 2022 (after the Grand Final of the 2022 NRLW season) and updated on 4 October following the withdrawal and replacement of two players.^[14]
• Original selections Millie Boyle (work commitments) and Tamika Upton (calf injury) withdrew on 4 October and were replaced by Shaylee Bent and Emma Tonegato.^{[15] [16]}
• Squad numbers were announced in late October.
• Taliah Fuimaono played her one international match for Samoa in 2019.
• Assistant coaches are Neil Henry, Jess Skinner and Kate Mullaly.^[17]

Cook Islands

Head coach: Rusty Matua^[18]
Captains: Kimiora Breayley-Nati, Elianna Walton.
Summary: 3 matches, 1 win, 2 losses. 12 tries by 9 try-scorers. 3 goals. 54 points scored.

width=2%		width=40%	Player	width=2%	Games	width=2%	Tries	width=2%	Goals	width=2%	Points	width=46%	Club
16		3	1	0	4
1		3	2	0	8
14		3	0	0	0
18		3	0	0	0	Tupapa Panthers
4		3	0	0	0	Arorangi Bears
3		3	0	3	6
21		3	0	0	0
8		3	0	0	0
9		2	1	0	4	Campbelltown Collegians
10		3	1	0	4
11		2	0	0	0
17		3	0	0	0
13		2	0	0	0
12		2	0	0	0
20		1	0	0	0	Oakey Bears
24		1	0	0	0	Oakey Bears
23		2	1	0	4
2		1	0	0	0
19		2	0	0	0	Titikaveka Bulldogs
6		2	0	0	0
22		1	0	0	0
5		1	0	0	0
7		1	0	0	0
15		1	0	0	0	NZ Rugby 7's

Notes:

• The Cook Islands team was announced on 6 October 2022.^[19]
• Squad numbers were announced in late October.
• Kimiora Breayley-Nati has played 6 Internationals for New Zealand from 2017 to 2018. She played Nines for New Zealand in 2017 and for the Cook Islands in 2018.
• Kiana Takairangi played 3 matches for the Cook Islands in the 2017 World Cup, and 2 matches for New Zealand in 2019. She played Nines for New Zealand in 2019.
• Elianna Walton played for Australia debuting in 2009, and participating in the 2013 and 2017 World Cups. In 2019, Walton played for Samoa.
• Mackenzie Wiki is the daughter of New Zealand Rugby League international Ruben Wiki.^[20]

France

Head coach: Vincent Baloup
Captain: Alice Varela
Summary: 3 matches, 3 losses. 4 tries by 3 try-scorers. 1 goal. 18 points scored.

width=2%		width=40%	Player	width=2%	Games	width=2%	Tries	width=2%	Goals	width=2%	Points	width=46%	Club
15		2	0	0	0
2		2	1	0	4	Déesses Catalanes
3		1	1	0	4	Déesses Catalanes
4		3	0	0	0
18		1	0	0	0	Bègles Bordeaux WRL
6		3	2	1	0
7		3	0	0	0	Toulouse Ovalie
10		2	0	0	0
14		3	0	0	0	Déesses Catalanes
9		3	0	0	0	Toulouse Ovalie
1		3	0	0	0	Déesses Catalanes
12		3	0	0	0
21		3	0	0	0
8		2	0	0	0
17		3	0	0	0	Déesses Catalanes
19		2	0	0	0	Déesses Catalanes
5		3	0	0	0
20		1	0	0	0	Déesses Catalanes
23		2	0	0	0	Déesses Catalanes
11		2	0	0	0	Bègles Bordeaux WRL
16		2	0	0	0	Déesses Catalanes
24		1	0	0	0
13		1	0	0	0	Déesses Catalanes
22		0	0	0	0

Notes:

• The squad was announced in September 2022.^[21]
• Squad numbers were announced in late October.
• Sarah Menaa was included in the initial squad but was replaced by Anaëlle Meunier.

New Zealand

Head coach: Ricky Henry^[22]
Captain: Krystal Rota
Summary: 5 matches, 3 wins, 2 losses. 23 tries by 14 try-scorers. 10 goals by 2 goal-kickers. 112 points scored.

width=2%		width=40%	Player	width=2%	Games	width=2%	Tries	width=2%	Goals	width=2%	Points	width=46%	Club
1		4	2	3	4
3		3	1	0	4
24		4	3	0	2
4		5	1	0	4
5		4	2	0	8
15		3	0	0	0
7		5	3	0	2
23		5	1	7	8
9		5	1	0	4
10		5	1	0	4
11		4	2	0	8
12		5	2	0	8
13		4	0	0	0
14		5	0	0	0
8		5	0	0	0
18		5	1	0	4
17		3	0	0	0
16		3	0	0	0
2		3	2	0	8
22		0	0	0	0
21		2	1	0	4
19		1	0	0	0
6		1	0	0	0
20		1	0	0	0

Notes

• The squad was announced on 3 October 2022.^{[23] [24]}
• Squad numbers were announced in late October.
• In last October, the New Zealand Rugby League announced that original selection Kararaina Wira-Kohu was withdrawn due to injury and had been replaced by Abigail Roache.^[25]
• Mele Hufanga played one match for Tonga in 2020.
• Crystal Tamarua played two matches for the Cook Islands in the 2017 World Cup.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Brazil Women. 20 Sep 2022. RLWC2021. 21 Sep 2022.
2. Web site: All The Squads Are In For The Women'S Rugby League World Cup. Daly. Phil. 26 Oct 2022. Leeds Rhinos. 27 Oct 2022.
3. Web site: Women Build Up To World Cup. 27 Oct 2022. European Rugby League. 27 Oct 2022.
4. Web site: Brazil 4 v 16 France – Match report. 28 Oct 2022. European Rugby League. 29 Oct 2022.
5. Web site: Rugby League World Cup 2021: Official women's squads. 19 Sep 2022. NRL. 19 Sep 2022.
6. Web site: Canadian women prepare for second appearance at Rugby League World Cup. Davidson. Neil. 9 Sep 2022. RMO Today.com. 19 Sep 2022.
7. Web site: England Women World Cup squad revealed. 26 Sep 2022. Rugby-League.com. 27 Sep 2022.
8. Web site: England reveal squad numbers for Women's World Cup. 18 Oct 2022. Love Rugby League. 21 Oct 2022.
9. Web site: Jeffries named PNG Orchids coach for World Cup. 21 Feb 2022. Cowboys.com.au. 21 Sep 2022.
10. Web site: Albert welcomes Ward's appointment to PNG coaching staff. Walter. Brad. 10 Sep 2022. NRL. 18 Oct 2022.
11. Web site: Albert, Aiton in PNG Orchids squad. Walter. Brad. 19 Jul 2022. NRL. 20 Jul 2022.
12. Web site: 23 spots available for World Cup . 31 May 2022 .
13. Web site: Santos PNG Orchids World Cup Squad Announced . 23 August 2022 .
14. Web site: NRLW stars headline Jillaroos World Cup squad. 3 Oct 2022. NRL. 3 Oct 2022.
15. Web site: Boyle, Upton withdraw from Jillaroos World Cup squad. 4 Oct 2022. NRL. 4 Oct 2022.
16. Web site: Bent, Tonegato join Jillaroos World Cup squad. 4 Oct 2022. NRL. 4 Oct 2022.
17. Web site: Jillaroos driving progress off the field with coaching staff. 9 Nov 2022. NRL. 16 Nov 2022.
18. Web site: Cook Islands Women. 20 Sep 2022. RLWC2021. 21 Sep 2022.
19. Web site: 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad lists. 6 Oct 2022. League Unlimited. 6 Oct 2022.
20. Web site: Mackenzie Wiki out to make a special name for herself in league. 9 May 2022. Te Ao Māori News. 6 Oct 2022.
21. Web site: York, Wigan Stars In French Women'S Squad For World Cup. 13 Sep 2022. International Rugby League. 20 Sep 2022.
22. Web site: Broughton blow for Kiwi Ferns ahead of World Cup. Rosser. Corey. 20 Sep 2022. NRL. 20 Sep 2022.
23. Web site: Kiwi Ferns Name 24-Strong World Cup Squad. 3 Oct 2022. New Zealand Rugby League. 3 Oct 2022.
24. Web site: McGregor headlines Kiwi Ferns' World Cup squad. 3 Oct 2022. NRL. 3 Oct 2022.
25. Web site: Wira-Kohu Ruled Out of World Cup. 28 Oct 2022. New Zealand Rugby League. 28 Oct 2022.