Dodd on dream England debut!

A dominant victory over Wales 60-0 was a great warm-up for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup set to take place at the end of the year, and the Tigers’ centre got her first taste of international action after a stunning start to the Betfred Women’s Super League season.

Dodd, who made her Castleford debut in the 2019 Women’s Challenge Cup Final just one day after turning 16 years old, has been putting in remarkable performances with the Tigers this season, scoring on numerous occasions and linking up well with former Woman of Steel Georgia Roche. England Head Coach Craig Richards had clearly been impressed with Hollie, who was already in the Knights setup and did not expect to get her first senior international cap so early.

Speaking about getting the call up to the senior squad, Dodd said: “Quite a few months back I got a phone call to say I was in the Knight’s squad so not the senior one. Then I have continued to work hard from there and in the last training session on Saturday before the game, he (Craig Richards) came up to me to say I had made the squad!

 “It was absolutely amazing, I didn’t really expect to make the squad because of me being a Knights player but I worked hard and pushed on from there.

It was always going to be a special day not just for Hollie, but her entire family too who were quite rightfully wanting to share the news!

“They were absolutely amazed. My parents kept telling people and I said, ‘stop telling people, it’s not actually out yet!’”

 “It’s a dream come true - what more could you want? At 17 years old making my debut, it was really unexpected, and I’m overwhelmed to represent my country.”

It is one thing making your England debut, but to score in the game too regardless of when it happens was the icing on the cake for Hollie.

“It felt amazing, it was in the last thirty seconds of the match as well, so I wasn’t really expecting it, but it was good, straight under the sticks.

“A few of my friends and family came. I’ve not been able to this season have friends and family at games. We have been limited to having two people at maximum from your family, so it was good to have not only just two people but friends as well too.”

Within Richards’ England squad were five Tigers Women players, four of which featured in the match against Wales and all of which impressed in various stages of the game as Hollie discusses.

“They’ve been absolutely amazing. All the girls in the England squad have actually, on and off the field.

They are a great set of girls and have made me feel very welcome. The Cas girls have just pushed me, we all just do it together and stick together to try and make the team.”

It has been a hectic season so far for Castleford Tigers Women, with plenty of challenges and adversity in their way, but above all else the team have remained strong together and remain determined to play well for Cas.

“We’ve had a few ups and downs, a few girls leaving however the girls have been really determined and despite what has gone on, we’ve only lost one league game so far against Wigan. That was a hard match considering the circumstances with only fifteen players and losing so many to injury.

“All of the Cas girls have been working really hard and I’m really impressed with how people have adapted to the circumstances and played their hearts out.”