BY ROSS HEPPENSTALL
Exclusive: Rising cross-code rugby star Francesca Goldthorp has secured a two-year deal to play for North Queensland Cowboys in the newly-expanded NRLW competition.
The fullback, 20, is rated as arguably the best young female talent in English rugby, having already represented her country in league and union.
The Loughborough University student has played for her hometown club Leeds Rhinos in the Women’s Super League since she was 16 and was a standout performer for England in last year’s Rugby League World Cup.
In the 15-a-side code, Goldthorp has recently been playing for Loughborough Lightning in the Allianz Premier 15s.
Last Saturday, she represented England Under-20s side in union against France, scoring a superb individual try, but her commitments at Leeds and Loughborough will now end as she moves down under.
Like so many of the best English players in Super League who have been lured to the NRL by the riches on offer, the newly-expanded Australasian women’s competition is now doing likewise.
England and York player Hollie-Mae Dodd last week sealed a move to Canberra Raiders and Leeds halfback Georgia Roche is being linked to Newcastle Knights.
But it is multi-talented Goldthorp’s switch that will raise the most eyebrows, given her growing profile in both codes.
She will play in the NRLW for this year and next but is already being lined up to rugby union in 2025 and play for England in their home World Cup.
For now, the move to the Cowboys – one of four new NRWL sides to enter the competition this year, taking it to 10 teams – will give Goldthorp a huge platform to showcase her talents.
The outside back had been linked to the Gold Coast Titans, but will instead join their Queensland rivals the Cowboys.
It will also mean putting her studies on hold with Goldthorp – who has also showed huge promise as a cricketer – currently in the first year of a degree in sport and exercise science at Loughborough.
