Wales aim to punch above weight on World Cup debut

Despite a daunting group Wales women's head coach Tom Brindle says the team want to play their part in growing rugby league. Wales captain Bethan Dainton represented Wales in rugby union before swapping to rugby league Wales women's head coach Tom Brindle says the team want to play their part in growing rugby league as a "small nation punching above their weight". His side make the country's Rugby League World Cup debut against England on Saturday in Perth, before facing Samoa and co-hosts Australia in Sydney. Group A provides a daunting test for a team who played their first full international in June 2021. "Not only is it a big opportunity for us as Wales and the people of Wales, I think it's a big opportunity for rugby league across Europe," said Brindle.

"We have to pinch ourselves that we set off on a journey and we got here and we're not too far away from competing at our first World Cup game." Brindle has named a 21-player squad, with three new caps in the starting line-up and two others who could make their debut from the bench. Hannah Bluck will represent Wales in her fourth sport, having earned 15 senior caps in rugby union as well as representing the country at basketball and U19s level football. Canterbury Bulldogs captain,