Wigan Warriors prop Mary Coleman has earned her first England call-up for the mid-season Test in France later this month.
The 28-year-old switched to rugby league four years ago, having previously played union for Preston Grasshoppers.
In the 15-a-side code, Coleman also played three times at Twickenham for Cambridge University in the Varsity match – in 2016, 2017 and 2018 – and has represented Kent, her home county, at both union and athletics.
She helped Wigan beat St Helens 54-6 at Wembley on 30 May to win the Women’s Challenge Cup.
England face France in a one-off Test at Stade Ernest Wallon in Toulouse on Saturday, 25 July (18:00 BST). The match will be staged as part of a double-header with Toulouse’s men’s Super League match against Catalan Dragons (21:00 BST).
Head coach Stuart Barrow has not selected any Australia-based players, as the NRLW is in the middle of its season.
The match will provide Barrow’s side with a warm-up before the Women’s World Cup in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea this October and November.
England – who will play all of their World Cup matches in Australia – begin their campaign against Wales in Perth on Saturday, 17 October.
Barrow said: “While our immediate focus is on delivering a strong performance in France, every training session and camp over the coming months will help shape where we need to be when the World Cup begins.”
England squad: Mia-Jayne Atherton (Wigan Warriors), Keara Bennett (Leeds Rhinos), Ruby Bruce (Leeds Rhinos), Mary Coleman (Wigan Warriors), Evie Cousins (Leeds Rhinos), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies (Wigan Warriors), Ellise Derbyshire (Wigan Warriors), Ella Donnelly (Leeds Rhinos), Jenna Foubister (Wigan Warriors), Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth (St Helens), Eva Hunter (Wigan Warriors), Katie Mottershead (St Helens), Lucy Murray (Leeds Rhinos), Tamzin Renouf (York Valkyrie), Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens), Megan Williams (Wigan Warriors), Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors).
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