Eight Wigan Warriors stars represent England in victory over France in Toulouse
England Women enjoyed a convincing win over France in Toulouse on Saturday
England continued their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup with a comfortable 38-4 win over France in Toulouse on Saturday, with eight Wigan Warriors players in action.
Wigan stars Georgia Wilson, Anna Davies, Ellise Derbyshire, Jenna Foubister, Izzy Rowe, Mary Coleman, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams all started for Stuart Barrow’s England side, while Warriors prop Mia-Jayne Atherton was named 18th woman for the international Test match.
It was particularly a special weekend for Derbyshire, Coleman and Williams, with the Warriors trio having made their international debuts as they pulled the England jersey on for the first time.
Warriors speedster Derbyshire bagged a brace of tries on her debut, while her Wigan team-mates Hunter and Foubister also got on the scoresheet, with Rowe kicking five goals from seven attempts.
The England Women played their first international fixture of the year and travelled to Stade Ernest-Wallon, the home of Toulouse Olympique, as part of their preparations for the World Cup this autumn.
After a shaky start which saw France take the lead through two converted penalties, England quickly found their feet, as debutant Derbyshire received a pass out wide to score England’s first points of the match.
It was then a series of tries in quick succession for Barrow’s side, as Lucy Murray touched down twice, before Ella Donnelly also crossed for her first try in an England shirt.
England continued to dominate, and this time it was through the reigning Woman of Steel Hunter, who produced a rampaging run to evade numerous French defenders. This took the half-time score to 28-4, with Rowe converting four out of a possible five goals in the opening 40.
England picked up from where they left off as playmaker Foubister produced a splendid show-and-go to dance her way over the try-line, before Derbyshire went over for a second.
The girls managed to keep their French opponents tryless for the full 80 minutes, while crossing for a total of seven tries.
England: Georgia Wilson; Anna Davies, Tamzin Renouf, Evie Cousins, Ellise Derbyshire; Jenna Foubister, Izzy Rowe; Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth, Keara Bennett, Mary Coleman, Eva Hunter, Lucy Murray, Megan Williams. Subs: Jodie Cunningham, Vicky Whitfield, Ruby Bruce, Ella Donnelly. 18th woman: Mia-Jayne Atherton.
Tries: Derbyshire (2), Murray (2), Donnelly, Hunter, Foubister | Goals: Rowe 5
France: Manon Samarra; Perle Ramazeilles, Melissa Medina, Amael Vilanove, Margot Canal; Camille Boudaud, Lisa Diraison; Elisa Akpa, Dorine Samarra, Salome Segala, Stecy Bessiere, Perrine Monsarrat, Elodie Pacull. Subs: Fanny Ramos, Tessa Benmalek, Tallis Eranossian, Sarah Louise Vernay. 18th woman: Anais Andral.
Tries: | Goals: Diraison 2