Eboni Partington, Georgie Hetherington & Liv Wood in England squad

The sides will face off in Toulouse next Saturday (2:30pm) in the first of an international double header, before England’s Men take on France (5pm).

Toulouse Olympique will host Featherstone Rovers in their Betfred Championship Round 13 clash later that evening (9pm).

Both England’s Men and Women defeated their French counterparts 64-0 in Warrington last year, but had closer scorelines on their last trips to France in 2021. The Men claimed a 30-10 victory, and the Women 40-4.

York’s trio of call-ups come following a disrupted start to the Betfred Women’s Super League season that has been hampered by both injury and illness.

The reigning champions suffered their first back-to-back defeats in three years against rivals Leeds Rhinos and St Helens - the latter denying them a historic first Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final appearance at Wembley.

Wood and Partington were on the scoresheet in the Valkyrie's last fixture against Warrington Wolves. (Image: Alan Milner/Milner Creative/York RLFC)

Nonetheless, Partington, Hetherington and Wood have been among their standouts.

Winger Partington - who joined from Saints ahead of the season - is their top-scorer with 12 tries across all competitions, Hetherington has impressed at hooker during Sinead Peach’s pregnancy, and Wood has been a mainstay amongst the Valkyrie’s forward pack.

Hetherington could make her international debut, having been left out of England’s squad for their last international against Wales last November.

However, there is no place for injured pair Tara Jane Stanley and Tamzin Renouf, nor second-rower Lacey Owen, who all featured that day.

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20-year-old St Helens star Katie Mottershead is also in contention to make her international debut. She is one of seven Saints included in Stu Barrow’s 19-player squad, which also sees a recall for half-back Zoe Harris for the first time since 2022 after her Player of the Match performance in the Challenge Cup Final earlier this month.

Leeds have also seen seven players called-up, including prop Izzy Northrop, centre Amy Hardcastle, and hooker Keara Bennett. Wigan Warriors’ top-scorer Anna Davies and teenage talent Isabel Rowe have also been selected.

“It’s been a tough decision on who to include for next Saturday’s international, but I’m really pleased we’ve been able to name some new faces this time round including the likes of Katie Mottershead, Izzy Northrop, Isabel Rowe, Bella Sykes and Erin Stott,” Barrow said.

“The trip will be a brilliant experience for them and I’m confident that with the help of our more senior internationals, they will be able to showcase the talent I know they all possess when we get on the pitch in Toulouse.

“Now we’re all looking forward to getting into camp on Thursday and preparing for what will be a tough game against France, who have just overcome Serbia in really tough conditions to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but we’re up for the challenge.”

•  England squad: Caitlin Beevers, Keara Bennett (both Leeds Rhinos), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies (Wigan Warriors), Amy Hardcastle (Leeds Rhinos), Zoe Harris (St Helens), Georgie Hetherington (York Valkyrie), Shona Hoyle (Leeds Rhinos), Zoe Hornby (Leeds Rhinos), Katie Mottershead (St Helens), Izzy Northrop (Leeds Rhinos), Eboni Partington (York Valkyrie), Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors), Emily Rudge (St Helens), Erin Stott (St Helens), Bella Sykes (Leeds Rhinos), Paige Travis (St Helens), Olivia Wood (York Valkyrie), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens)