YORK Valkyrie winger Georgia Taylor has been named in Wales’ squad for tomorrow’s 2026 Rugby League World Cup qualifier against Ireland.

Tom Brindle’s side will welcome Ireland to Cardiff University Sports Park (2:45pm) in the first of two matches in their three-team group, the other being between Italy and the Netherlands.

Ireland will host the winners of that fixture in May, with Wales facing them in June.

The winners of the three-team group will go straight into the World Cup finals, whilst the runner-up will have a second chance against the runner-up of the competition’s other European group containing France, Greece and Serbia.

Five players are in line to make their international debuts, including Agnes Wood, among the scorers as the Valkyrie opened their 2024 campaign at dual registration partners Sheffield Eagles.

Charlie Mundy and Kathyrn Salter are set to make their tenth appearances – having been ever-presents since the Welsh side’s formation in 2019 – whilst Leeds Rhinos’ Bethan Dainton will again take the captain’s armband.

READ NEXT:

Brindle said: “I’m very much looking forward to our first World Cup qualifier.

“Ireland and ourselves started playing at the same time with the same goal in mind, qualifying for the World Cup. We’ve had two tough battles so far, we’ve each won a game and we expect it to be tough again on Saturday.

“We’ve been building to this point for the last three years and we tested ourselves last year by playing France and England to better prepare the team for this important game.

“Cardiff Demons, along with their coach Ian Newbury, have again done a fantastic job in producing players and competing at the highest levels in the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup, providing 14 players and four potential debutants. We believe the experience all of our squad gained by playing in the Cup will benefit the team.”

Admission to the fixture is priced at £5 for Adults and £3 for Concessions, with family tickets priced at £10.

WALES SQUAD TO FACE IRELAND: Kim Boaler, Katie Carr, Lucia Davies, Shaunni Davies, Tara Finnegan, Jasmine Gibbons, Chelcey Greasley, Ffion Jenkins, Hannah Jones, Sara Jones, Charlie Mundy, Rhi Parker, Amy Price, Brittony Price (all Cardiff Demons), Ashlea Prescott (Featherstone Rovers), Bethan Dainton (Leeds Rhinos, captain), Kathryn Salter (London Broncos), Agnes Wood (Sheffield Eagles), Georgia Taylor (York Valkyrie).