Cunningham & Rudge to retire at the end of 2026

St. Helens RFC has announced that Jodie Cunningham and Emily Rudge will retire at the end of the 2026 season, concluding careers that began when the club's Women's team was formed in 2018. Both players have served as England Women's captain, and together they are the two most capped England Women's players, with Cunningham holding 34 caps and Rudge 33. Cunningham also serves as Head of Women's Pathways & Performance at St. Helens and previously led the club to a historic treble as captain in 2021.