Jasmin Strange ruled out of England's Women's Rugby League World Cup with knee injury
England have lost Jasmin Strange from their Women's Rugby League World Cup squad after a serious knee injury, and the head coach says it is a heavy blow.
Strange, a 23-year-old second-row forward (one of the big-bodied forwards who line up behind the front row) for the Sydney Roosters, scored a try on her England debut in the 70-6 win over Wales in the tournament opener. BBC Sport reports that she has now been ruled out after a scan confirmed the damage.
She was hurt in a defensive training session, when she stepped with the ball. The injury has been described as almost a freak accident, the sort of moment that can happen in ordinary training without any contact with another player.
England head coach Stuart Barrow called the withdrawal a devastating blow to the team's World Cup hopes. Strange had been one of five NRLW players picked in the squad, the women's version of the National Rugby League in Australia, and one of several players with Australian links in the group. Rugby League World Cup 2026 confirmed her selection in late September.
Leeds Rhinos second-row Lucy Murray comes into the squad to replace her. England have no plans to bring in any further players for the rest of the tournament, so the group will head into the remaining matches with the same numbers.
Strange had spoken before the tournament about how much the England shirt meant to her. Her debut was watched by her family, according to England Rugby League's own social media post after the win over Wales. That made the injury a hard blow for her as well as for the team.
Rugby league is a fast, physical game in which teams try to build field position with a limited number of tackles before they must hand over the ball. Losing a forward of Strange's age and experience changes how a coach shapes the pack, and England's next selection calls will show how Barrow plans to cover the gap.
For Strange, the focus now shifts to recovery. Her season and her international future will depend on how the knee responds to treatment over the coming months.
