England Women have three outstanding half-back options for the Rugby League World Cup, and head coach Stuart Barrow has chosen to start with Izzy Rowe and Georgia Roche when they open against Wales on October 17. Jenna Foubister, the reigning Woman of Steel, will begin on the bench.
Foubister and Rowe are Wigan team-mates and best friends, while Roche has been starring in the NRLW, Australia’s elite women’s rugby league competition. The selection puzzle highlights how far the women’s game in England has come.
Barrow describes the decision as a major test. England face Wales, then Australia and Samoa in a demanding pool, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
Barrow praises depth of talent
Barrow believes the partnership between Foubister and Rowe could prove vital at some point in the tournament. However, he felt he could not leave one of the best players in the world out of the starting side.
“It is a massive moment for my career. It is the greatest honour to coach your country and to do it in a World Cup, I am really excited,” Barrow said.
“One of the toughest things I have ever experienced is picking this squad. We put a squad of 40 in on September 2, so to pick 23 from that was really tough. There was not a lot in it.
“Sleepless nights, difficult phone calls, but we are where we are now, and I’m sure we’ll move forward and represent the whole group.
“It was about balance and the way we want to play and the opposition we will play out there.
“It is exciting as a coach. It is challenging, but it is exciting.
“I think if you go back four years ago, the squad almost picked itself. The growth of the women’s game now shows that we have such an amazing talent pool coming through and a wider and deeper talent pool.
“We will deal with that, we have some ideas of what we will do and some different scenarios.”
Rowe relishes chance to play alongside Foubister
Rowe knows she will battle for her shirt throughout the tournament, but she is living out a childhood dream alongside Foubister. Whoever partners her in the halves, she will be part of a monumental milestone in her career.
“It is a massive dream come true. It is something I have wanted for a long time,” Rowe said.
“Going with eight of my team-mates is going to make the tournament a lot easier for me.
“I feel very comfortable around the girls, we know how each other works and plays. But even the girls who don’t play at Wigan, we are really close.
“We have spoken about it together and being able to perform for your country together is a massive dream.
“We can’t wait and hopefully we get that opportunity.
“Obviously Georgia [Roche] has played in the NRLW, Australia’s elite women’s rugby league competition, and she is a massive player in the team. You cannot argue that she is one of the best half-backs that England has got.
“I have watched Georgia since being a young kid and Jenna is my best mate so whoever plays, I am going to be so proud.”