Hollie-May Dodd the first English player to sign a deal in the women’s NRL after joining Canberra Raiders from York Valkyrie; Dodd was named RFL Women’s Young Player of the year in 2022 and is youngest to feature in a Challenge Cup final, doing so for Castleford Tigers at age of 16
Last Updated: 14/04/23 11:04am
Hollie-May Dodd has become the first Englishwoman to sign for a women’s NRL club
Hollie-May Dodd has become the first Englishwoman to sign a professional rugby league deal in Australia after swapping York Valkyrie for Canberra Raiders.
Dodd, 19, is set to link up with the women’s NRL side next month ahead of the new season beginning in July.
The second-rower made her last appearance for Valkyrie on Easter Sunday as the team beat Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos 34-12 at Headingley.
Dodd told the Raiders website: “I am super grateful and excited to be on board at Canberra. I’ve heard so many good things about the city and I’m more than looking forward to representing the badge.
“I knew now was the time for a challenge within myself therefore, coming over and playing in the NRLW I’m ready to learn off world class athletes to help my development within the game.
Dodd scored two tries for England at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup
“Training and playing as a professional athlete in the sport I have love for has been a dream of mine ever since being a child.”
Dodd was named the RFL Women’s Young Player of the year in 2022, while she became the youngest player to feature in the Challenge Cup final, doing so at the age of 16 for former club Castleford Tigers in 2019.
She played four times for England at the 2021 World Cup, scoring two tries.
Raiders coach Darrin Borthwick said: “I obviously watched a fair bit of the World Cup and Hollie was a good performer for England. We’ve had a few Zoom calls with her and she fits the mould to what we want here as well.
“She’s a really good person and she was really good to talk to and to top it all off she’s a good player as well.”
Leeds duo Georgia Roche and Fran Goldthorp are also expected to move to NRLW clubs over the next few days.
