YORK VALKYRIE CONFIRMS 2023 SQUAD NUMBERS

York Valkyrie have confirmed their 2023 squad numbers ahead of the new Betfred Women’s Super League season.

Reigning Woman of Steel Tara Jane Stanley has retained the number one shirt while England internationals Tamzin Renouf and Sinead Peach keep the numbers three and nine respectively.

Outside backs Liv Whitehead (two), Emma Kershaw (four) and Georgia Taylor (five) have all earned promotions to starting jerseys after impressive displays last year for York.

Off-season recruit Sade Rihari has been handed the number six jersey while Olivia Gale takes number seven, having worn 26 in 2022.

Forwards Lacey Owen and Rhiannion Marshall have been elevated to numbers 11 and 15 respectively after wearing 28 and 27 last season.

New signings Aimee Staveley (14), Chloe Smith (24) and Eva Izumi (25) have also learnt their Valkyrie squad numbers, as has Kacey Davies (26), who joins from Wakefield Trinity.

York Valkyrie 2023 squad numbers: 

1. Tara Jane Stanley
2. Liv Whitehead
3. Tamzin Renouf
4. Emma Kershaw
5. Georgia Taylor
6. Sade Rihari
7. Liv Gale
8. Liv Wood
9. Sinead Peach
10. Jas Bell
11. Lacey Owen
12. Savannah Andrade
13. Hollie-Mae Dodd
14. Aimee Staveley
15. Rhiannion Marshall
16. Ashleigh Hyde
17. Bettie Lambert
18. Grace Field
19. Georgie Hetherington
20. Alisha Clayton 
21. Matilda Butler
22. Ellie Hendry
23. Daisy Sanderson
24. Chloe Smith
25. Eva Izumi
26. Kacey Davies

Explaining her decision-making process regarding the squad numbers, Director of Rugby Lindsay Anfield said: “We judged it on the commitment to the pre-season and what the players did last year - that’s all we can go off.

“It’s quite tricky picking the squad numbers but at the end of the day, it is just a number.

“There’s still a while to go in our pre-season and we’ll continue to look at performances in training before finalising who starts in round one.

“The squad list shows that we’ve got much more depth than last season, especially at half-back. It’ll be exciting to have dilemmas before matches and looking at who is in form rather than just who’s available. There’s depth in every position too now, which is great.

“We’re counting down the days until that Leeds Rhinos game in round one. The fact that it’s a big one to start off has given us a little bit more incentive.

“The prospect of the first game of the season, live on Sky Sports, at Headingley Stadium against the team we lost the Grand Final to last season is exciting and one we’re definitely up for.”

First-team squad member Alex Stimpson, proudly sponsored by Stabler Textiles, has not been given a squad number due to injury, but will receive one when she is fit to play.

York Valkyrie begin their home campaign in the 2023 Betfred Women's Super League against St Helens at the LNER Community Stadium on Sunday 16th April (3pm).

Tickets are priced at £5 for Adults and Concessions and FREE for Under-16s and are available to purchase HERE.