| Fran Goldthorp | |
| Fullname: | Francesca Goldthorp |
| Birth Date: | 11 January 2003 |
| Birth Place: | Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
| Height: | 1.66m (05.45feet) |
| Weight: | 65kg (143lb) |
| Retired: | no |
| Club1: | Leeds Rhinos |
| Year1start: | 2019 |
| Year1end: | 23 |
| Appearances1: | 44 |
| Tries1: | 45 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals1: | 0 |
| Points1: | 180 |
| Year2start: | 2023 |
| Year2end: | present |
| Appearances2: | 12 |
| Tries2: | 3 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals2: | 0 |
| Points2: | 12 |
| Teama: | England |
| Yearastart: | 2021 |
| Yearaend: | present |
| Appearancesa: | 8 |
| Triesa: | 7 |
| Goalsa: | 0 |
| Fieldgoalsa: | 0 |
| Pointsa: | 28 |
| First: | RL |
| Ru Position: | Fullback |
| Ru Year1start: | 2021 |
| Ru Year1end: | 23 |
| Ru Tries1: | 4 |
| Ru Points1: | 20 |
| Updated: | 18 August 2024 |
| Source: | Leeds Rhinos profile |
Francesca Goldthorp (born 11 January 2003) is an international dual-code rugby footballer who plays for North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Women's Premiership primarily as a . Previously she played for Leeds Rhinos in the RFL Women's Super League where she predominantly played at or .
Goldthorp was a student at Loughborough University where she also played rugby union for Loughborough Lightning in the Premier 15s, as well as for England under-20s.[1]
Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire,[2] Goldthorp played rugby union and cricket at junior level including captaining the Yorkshire Cricket Board under-15 team as they won the County Championship in 2018.[3] [4] Her brother Eliot is a footballer.[5]
Goldthorp's first rugby league experience came with Guiseley Rangers which brought her to the attention of the Leeds Rhinos, who signed her to the club's under-19 squad.[6]
Aged only 16, Goldthorp made her first team debut for the Rhinos against Castleford in a Women's Super League match on 28 April 2019.[3] In the 2019 Women's Challenge Cup final, also against Castleford, Goldthorp scored a try as Leeds retained the cup.[7] Goldthorp ended the debut season with two tries in the Grand Final, another meeting with Castleford.[8]
With the 2020 season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was 2021 before Goldthorp played again. Although the Rhinos did not win any trophies during the 2021 season, Goldthorp set a new club try-scoring record with 20 tries in 12 games.[3] Goldthorp was nominated for the Woman of Steel award, losing out to Jodie Cunningham.[9] [10]
In 2022, Goldthorp scored 13 tries in 15 appearances to help Leeds reach the final of the Challenge Cup and was in the team that beat York City Knights 12–4 in the Grand Final.[3] [11]
On 29 April 2023, Goldthorp signed a two-year contract with the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Women's Premiership.[12]
In Round 1 of the 2023 NRL Women's season, she made her NRLW debut, starting at in a 16–6 loss to the Gold Coast Titans.[13] In Round 7, she scored her first NRLW try in a 48–18 loss to the St George Illawarra Dragons.[14]
Goldthorp's abilities were recognised with a call-up to the England squad and she made her international debut against on 26 June 2021, celebrating the occasion with her first international try.[15] 2021 ended with a second England appearance, against in October.[16]
2022 saw two more England appearances in the mid-season games, against France and Wales, scoring a try against France and two against Wales.[17] [18]
In September 2022, Goldthorp was named in the England squad for the World Cup to be held in November 2022.[19]