Eight York Valkyrie selected for England 'War of the Roses'

Jas Bell, Liv Gale, Georgie Hetherington, Emma Kershaw, Jess Sharp and Liv Wood will represent Yorkshire, whilst full-back Tara Jane Stanley and winger Eboni Partington will turn out for Lancashire.

Former Valkyrie forward Grace Field and outside back Liv Whitehead, who joined Leeds Rhinos over the off-season, have also been named in the Yorkshire squad.

The counties will face off at Dewsbury’s FLAIR Stadium on June 22, ahead of England’s clash with France in Toulouse on June 29.

Winger Eboni Partington is the Valkyrie's top-scorer, with 12 tries in nine appearances this season. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography)

Training sessions will take place on Wednesday (June 19), with both 'Roses' teams consisting of senior England players alongside those currently involved in the Knights.

The fixtures fall during a five-week break for Lindsay Anfield’s side, which will see them return to Betfred Women’s Super League action at the LNER Community Stadium against Barrow Raiders on July 7, in what will be another double header with York Knights.

It has been a disrupted season for the Valkyrie so far in 2024, with captain Sinead Peach announcing her pregnancy, a bout of norovirus sweeping their camp ahead of crucial fixtures against title rivals Leeds Rhinos and St Helens, and a number of injuries to key players during the first half of the campaign.

Reigning champions, York currently sit fourth in the Women’s Super League table, behind Wigan Warriors, St Helens and Leeds on points difference only.

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England head coach Stu Barrow explained: “With the mid-season international on the horizon it’s time for us to continue that positive momentum and I’m looking forward to linking up with our Lancashire and Yorkshire based squads for our War of the Roses game next Saturday.

“The same fixture last Autumn was extremely competitive and was a good learning experience for both players and staff. Much like last year, the game will be an opportunity for each squad to test themselves against Super Leagues’ best with a place in France up for grabs – it should be a fantastic game.

“When we announced our Senior and Knights squads at the beginning of the year it was always planned that we would give them this opportunity to train and play together at the mid-season point and we have another Origin game scheduled for the Autumn which will operate on a selection basis.”

YORKSHIRE: Amelia Brown (Huddersfield Giants), Caitlin Beevers (Leeds Rhinos), Chloe Billington (Featherstone Rovers), Jas Bell (York Valkyrie), Keara Bennett, Caitlin Casey, Ruby Enright, Grace Field (all Leeds Rhinos) Liv Gale (York Valkyrie), Amy Hardcastle (Leeds Rhinos), Georgie Hetherington (York Valkyrie), Phoebe Hook (St Helens), Shona Hoyle, Zoe Hornby (both Leeds Rhinos), Emma Kershaw (York Valkyrie), Lucy Murray, Izzy Northrop (both Leeds Rhinos), Jess Sharp (York Valkyrie), Bella Sykes (Leeds Rhinos), Dannielle Waters (Featherstone Rovers), Liv Whitehead (Leeds), Liv Wood (York Valkyrie)

LANCASHIRE: Emily Baggaley (St Helens), Grace Banks (Wigan Warriors), Leah Burke (St Helens), Mary Coleman (Wigan Warriors), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies, Eva Hunter, Molly Jones (all Wigan Warriors), Zoe Harris, Tara Jones, Katie Mottershead (all St Helens), Eboni Partington (York Valkyrie), Izzy Rowe (Wigan Warriors), Emily Rudge, Lucy Sams, Beri Salihi, Erin Stott, Georgia Sutherland (all St Helens), Tara Jane Stanley (York Valkyrie), Amy Taylor, Paige Travis, Megan Williams, Victoria Whitfield (all St Helens)