World Cup history beckons for Wales' defiant Lewis

Lewis was part of the Wales squad at the 2022 union World Cup and was set to play in the inaugural WXV tournament a year later.

But she suffered a serious knee injury as Wales beat Italy in the 2023 Six Nations.

Since her recovery Lewis has played for Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge but, with no WRU contract, felt she had unfinished business and "didn't want any regrets".

"I could have easily just walked away from rugby at that point. I could have just been like 'I'm done'," said Lewis.

"But internally, I knew I wasn't, and I put so much time and effort into coming back and getting back fit, and I was only 28, and I was like, 'I've still got so much time left', and I just felt individually I didn't deserve my time to be done based on someone else's decision.

"So I took some time, and then I just set a goal to myself. If I got the opportunity to play rugby league, great.

"If I had the opportunity to play union, I wouldn't say no. But this opportunity came up, and I just grabbed it with two hands, and hopefully now it's paid off."

Hannah Bluck (Cardiff Demons), Hollie Brussels (Warrington Wolves), Leanne Burnell, Katie Carr (both Cardiff Demons), Georgia Cussions (Huddersfield Giants), Bethan Dainton (captain, Wigan Warriors), Lucia Davies, Jasmine Gibbons, Zoe Heeley (all Cardiff Demons), Gracie Hobbs (Huddersfield Giants), Emily Hughes (London Broncos), Frances Layton (Cardiff Demons), Ffion Lewis (London Broncos), Carys Marsh (Wigan Warriors), Dani McGifford (St. Helens), Jade Mullen (London Broncos), Tayla Preston (Canterbury Bulldogs), Amberley Ruck (Cardiff Demons), Kathryn Salter (London Broncos), Paige Travis (St. Helens), Erin Williams (Cardiff Demons), Sian Williams (North Queensland Cowboys), Agnes Wood (York Valkyrie).