Strange injury 'devastates' England as Jillaroos rematch looms

England's women's Rugby League World Cup campaign has been rocked by a "devastating blow" on the eve of the biggest game of the tournament so far, with star edge forward Jasmin Strange ruled out of the competition after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a freak accident at training. The Sydney Roosters forward collapsed after a step during a defensive session in Perth on Wednesday, just three days before England's blockbuster group-stage showdown with Australia at HBF Park. Scans confirmed the worst within seven hours.

"Jasmin joined us when we arrived here and has been outstanding. She's mixed with the girls really well and to lose her yesterday in training was a devastating blow for all the girls," England head coach Stuart Barrow said.

"It was almost a freak accident. It was a defensive session but Jasmin was with the ball, did a step and unfortunately suffered a serious knee injury. It was a real disappointing outcome for someone who has been excellent for us."

"It flatlined the group and it flatlined the coaching staff but we've bounced back today," Barrow said. "Within seven hours Jas had a scan and got the results. I went to the hospital with her last night and the scan confirmed our worst fears."

The timing could hardly be worse. Strange had been one of England's best performers in Saturday's 70-6 demolition of Wales in Perth, scoring a try in a statement opening win. Saturday's fixture is a rematch of the infamous 90-4 record defeat England suffered at the hands of the Jillaroos in Las Vegas in March 2025 — a result that has loomed over English rugby league ever since. England arrive with momentum and belief. Amelia Brown's 107-metre solo try against Wales — sweeping up a Welsh kick deep in England's in-goal and powering down the flank to score at the other end — has over a million views on Instagram.

"I was surprised when I got my hands on the ball, the focus was just getting as far as I could. Luckily I got all the way," said the Huddersfield Giants winger, the Women's Super League's top try-scorer this season.

"My phone has been popping off. It feels good. My family at home don't really understand social media, but they're all really happy for me and proud of me. The Giants girls have all been buzzing, just saying how proud they are of me."

"It's a bucket list thing to say you've played in the World Cup, never mind played against the best girls in the game at the minute. It's unreal," Brown said. "Everybody wants to play against the best, there's no point playing against opposition that doesn't challenge you."

Barrow has also made a bold selection call at half-back, handing the No. 7 jersey to 19-year-old Jenna Foubister to partner Isabel Rowe in the halves. Foubister was named Woman of Steel after a standout Super League season with Wigan Warriors and came off the bench against Wales, while Georgia Roche — who started the opener — shifts to the interchange.

It is a significant show of faith in the teenager, and she is not the only young star Barrow is backing. Rowe, also 19, torched Wales with two tries and nine goals for a 26-point haul that equalled Natalie Gilmour's record for the most points by an England player in a World Cup match. Centre Connie Boyd, the Women's Super League Young Player of the Year, marked her international debut with a hat-trick.

Molly Jones, Liv Wood and debutant prop Lucie Sams complete Barrow's reshuffle. Fox Sports reported that Lucy Murray will replace Strange in the back row for Saturday's game, while NRL.com noted Sams was shaping as another option to come into the starting side for her international debut.

For the Jillaroos, coach Jess Skinner has made a handful of changes to the side that defeated Samoa last week, with Abbi Church coming onto the wing and Julia Robinson shifting to centre. Former sevens star Sariah Paki and Dragons recruit Makenzie Weale are set for Test debuts off the bench, while Jess Sergis and Kezie Apps have been rested. Captain Isabelle Kelly leads a side that remains the overwhelming favourite.

England wing Anna Davies knows the scale of the task but insists this England side is better equipped than the one humiliated in Las Vegas.

"It's definitely a challenge — we would be naive to go into it not thinking it would be really tough," Davies said. "But we approach it having grown from the last time we faced them, it is exciting to see the changes we have made. I think we can control a game much better than last time."

"I love getting the chance to play them. It's a chance to have a go at the best in the world."

Just weeks ago she lifted the NRLW title with the Roosters, where her father is part of the coaching staff, before choosing to represent England — the country of her mother's birth — at the World Cup. She took to Instagram to thank the England camp as she faced the long road back.

Kick-off at HBF Park is at 10.05am BST on Saturday, immediately after the men's clash at the same venue. England's men face their own pressure after head coach Brian McDermott stuck with the same 19-man squad thrashed 30-12 by Tonga for their second group game against France.

For the women, though, the story of this World Cup is already being rewritten. England came to Australia to announce themselves against the world's best. Now they must do it without one of the players who got them to this point.