Wales seeks to excel on World Cup debut

Wales aims to excel on their Rugby League World Cup debut against England on Saturday in Perth, before facing Samoa and co-hosts Australia in Sydney. Head coach Tom Brindle expresses that the team, representing a small nation, is eager to contribute to the growth of rugby league. He shares his excitement, stating, "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." Brindle has announced a 21-player squad that includes three new caps in the starting lineup as well as two others who might debut from the bench.

Captain Bethan Dainton highlights the integration of new players into the team culture, noting, "They jumped in like they’ve been part of this team the whole time, you can’t tell that they’re new to the squad at all." Among the debutants, Sydney-born Tayla Preston steps in as scrum-half, marking the first Welsh female player to participate in both codes of rugby at the World Cup level.

Dainton acknowledges the talent present in her squad, stating, "We’ve got strengths all across the park." Erin Williams, who is on the bench, expresses her hopes of making her international debut and following in the footsteps of her brother, Zak, who also played for Wales in rugby league. She conveys her admiration for him, stating, "He’s a massive inspiration in my life. Without him, I wouldn’t be here today."

Wales' path to the World Cup has been atypical; having played only nine games prior to qualifying, they secured their place with a convincing 48-6 victory against the Netherlands in June 2024. They also defeated Ireland 28-10 in their opening qualifier. However, their preparation included a stark reminder of the competition's intensity when they faced England in November 2024, suffering an 82-0 defeat. Despite this, they recorded a narrow 18-12 win against Scotland and continued to build momentum before the World Cup journey that commenced Saturday.