Fran Goldthorp

Francesca Goldthorp (born 11 January 2003) is an England international dual-code rugby footballer who plays for North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Women's Premiership primarily as a centre or on the wing.

Fran Goldthorp
Personal information
Full nameFrancesca Goldthorp
Born (2003-01-11) 11 January 2003
Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Height1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight65 kg (10 st 3 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
PositionFullback, Wing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019–23 Leeds Rhinos 44 45 0 0 180
2023– North Qld Cowboys 8 1 0 0 4
Total 52 46 0 0 184
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021– England 8 7 0 0 28
Rugby union
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021–23 Loughborough Lightning 4 20
As of 16 September 2023

Goldthorp was a student at Loughborough University where she also played rugby union for Loughborough Lightning in the Premier 15s, as well as for England under-20s.[1]

Early and personal life

Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire,[2] Goldthorp played rugby union and cricket at junior level including captaining the Yorkshire Cricket Board under-15 team as they won the County Championship in 2018.[3][4] Her brother Eliot is a footballer.[5]

Club career

Goldthorp's first rugby league experience came with Guiseley Rangers which brought her to the attention of the Leeds Rhinos, who signed her to the club's under-19 squad.[6]

Aged only 16, Goldthorp made her first team debut for the Rhinos against Castleford in a Women's Super League match on 28 April 2019.[3] In the 2019 Women's Challenge Cup final, also against Castleford, Goldthorp scored a try as Leeds retained the cup.[7] Goldthorp ended the debut season with two tries in the Grand Final, another meeting with Castleford.[8]

With the 2020 season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was 2021 before Goldthorp played again. Although the Rhinos did not win any trophies during the 2021 season, Goldthorp set a new club try-scoring record with 20 tries in 12 games.[3] Goldthorp was nominated for the Woman of Steel award, losing out to Jodie Cunningham.[9][10]

In 2022, Goldthorp scored 13 tries in 15 appearances to help Leeds reach the final of the Challenge Cup and was in the team that beat York City Knights 12–4 in the Grand Final.[3][11]

On 29 April 2023, Goldthorp signed a two-year contract with the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Women's Premiership.[12]

In Round 1 of the 2023 NRL Women's season, she made her NRLW debut, starting at fullback in a 16–6 loss to the Gold Coast Titans.[13] In Round 7, she scored her first NRLW try in a 48–18 loss to the St George Illawarra Dragons.[14]

International career

Goldthorp's abilities were recognised with a call-up to the England squad and she made her international debut against Wales on 26 June 2021, celebrating the occasion with her first international try.[15] 2021 ended with a second England appearance, against France in October.[16]

2022 saw two more England appearances in the mid-season games, against France and Wales, scoring a try against France and two against Wales.[17][18]

In September 2022, Goldthorp was named in the England squad for the World Cup to be held in November 2022.[19]

References
  1. "Elite rugby starlet aims for England place after "life-changing" success at Loughborough College". Loughborough College. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  2. Smith, Peter (5 October 2021). "Fran Goldthorpe targets another Grand Final success with Leeds Rhinos Women". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  3. Hawkhead, Dan. "Francesca Goldthorp". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  4. "Yorkshire Cricket Board - News - U15 Girls win the County Championship!". Yorkshire Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  5. "Eliot Goldthorp - Men's Soccer". Hofstra University Athletics.
  6. Flynn, Leanne (25 May 2019). "Priim returns for Leeds Rhinos Women". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  7. "Leeds Rhinos win Women's Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 27 July 2019.
  8. Heppenstall, Ross (11 October 2019). "Women's Super League Grand Final: Fran Goldthorp inspires Leeds Rhinos to victory against Castleford Tigers". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  9. "Golden girl Fran aims to help Rhinos' women to another Grand Final appearance". Yorkshire Evening Post. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  10. Turner, Matt (5 October 2021). "Woman of Steel prize 'a real honour' for Warringtonian Cunningham". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  11. "Leeds beat York to win Women's Grand Final". BBC Sport. 18 September 2022.
  12. "Cowboys sign English fullback Goldthorp". NQ Cowboys. 29 April 2023.
  13. "Final team list: Eight Cowboys named to make NRLW debuts". NQ Cowboys. 22 July 2023.
  14. "Dragons pile on points in big win over Cowboys". NRL.com. 2 September 2023.
  15. "England Women 60-0 Wales Women: England score 11 tries in rout". Sky Sports. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  16. "Rugby League (Sky Sports)". SkySports. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  17. "England 36-10 France: Amy Hardcastle and Georgia Roche double up in win for hosts". Sky Sports. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  18. Mascord, Steve (12 June 2022). "England women win but Welsh vastly improved". rugbyleaguehub.com. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  19. "Seven Rhinos named in England World Cup squad: Challenge Cup star Zoe Hornby in line for first cap". Yorkshire Evening Post. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
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