Fran Goldthorp’s journey from six-year-old super-fan to playing a starring role in England women’s Rugby League World Cup campaign will continue on Tuesday when she steps out in front of an expected crowd of over 16,000 at her beloved Headingley.
Steeped in generations of the city’s sporting success, with her grandfather, father and brother all having played cricket for Yorkshire, the 19-year-old Leeds Rhinos centre will write her own chapter when the tournament hosts face Brazil in their Group A opener.
Goldthorp is equally adept at a number of sports, having also captained Yorkshire’s cricket team at junior level, but honed her love for rugby league having stood on the terraces of the famous ground since the age of six watching stars like Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow.
