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England Women have three outstanding half-back options for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, with Jenna Foubister, Izzy Rowe and Georgia Roche all vying for a place in the side; their campaign gets under way against Wales on October 17 with Izzy Rowe and Georgia Roche starting
Wednesday 14 October 2026 06:51, UK
If there is one position that highlights the growth of the women's game in England, it is the competition for the half-back spot at the Rugby League World Cup.
Two Wigan stars provide one option, with Woman of Steel Jenna Foubister joined by her best friend and Warriors half-back partner Izzy Rowe. Then there's NRLW star and former Woman of Steel Georgia Roche, who has been tearing it up on the other side of the world.
It is a selection headache that England Women head coach Stuart Barrow welcomes as he prepares his side for three pool games, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
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They begin against Wales on October 17 before facing Australia and Samoa in what promises to be a tough pool-stage run.
In their opening contest, Barrow has opten to put the reigning Woman of Steel on the bench and start with Rowe and Roche in the halves.
He has decided that the "telepathic" partnership between Foubister and Rowe might be integral at some point in the tournament but that he cannot leave out one of the best players in the world.
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"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 told Sky Sports.
"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.
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"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: It is a dream to play with Jenna or watch her play with Georgia!
Rowe knows that, throughout the tournament, she will be in a battle for her shirt as she lives out a childhood dream alongside Foubister.
For Rowe, regardless of who her half-back partner is, she knows 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 told Sky Sports.
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"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."