With one week to go until the start of the 2025 Women's Rugby League season for the Saints, we caught up with Rachael Woosey to talk Pre-Season, and the excitement for the campaign ahead!
St.Helens Women begin their 2025 season at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday, 12th April against Warrington Wolves in the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Group Stage!
Match tickets are on sale now – click here to get yours! As part of the day you can also enjoy the Saints Reserves’ taking on Wakefield Trinity earlier in the afternoon too as part of a double header!
A reminder also that 2025 Saints Members get access to the Totally Wicked Stadium for this Saints Women’s fixture!
Rachael Woosey is proudly sponsored by Monster Power.
Last March, the Club announced the return of outside back Rachael Woosey to the Women’s team after a year with Sale Sharks Women from rugby union.
A whole lot has happened in the space of twelve months, and Woosey has enjoyed being back in the Red V.
“It felt like I never left to be honest! The past year was long and tough at times, all the games that we had were intense. I’ve come into a Pre-Season that’s been hard and it’s felt like it’s been a bit longer. But a year on, my main thing is it’s been a nice year and really good to get back playing league.”
Going from union to league, back and then back once again has allowed Rachael to develop and learn more about herself.
“Coming into league from union, it was a little overwhelming at points – especially getting thrown straight in and winning the first Challenge Cup final and doing that again the year after. So going back to union, I think I learnt more about myself to come back in to league; to be more confident within the team, get to know the girls better, and understand the rules more.
“I just felt as if I was more confident as a player to put my best foot forward. Last year I felt more as a senior player, someone that people could lean to or look for in games. So I do think I grew as a person and a player in that year that I was with Sale.”
Now she has someone who is experiencing a similar journey with Hollie Bawden, the Saints Women’s newest recruit, who also has joined us from Sale.
Woosey is certainly confident that Bawden will do well in rugby league.
“Hollie is a powerhouse, she is so quick, so powerful and I think she’s going to take a lot of stopping. I think fans can get excited by the fact that she isn’t going to hold back, she will hit a line to go over and score. I am sure people will be thrilled to see her play.”
Pre-Season for the Saints Women began officially back in December, and it’s been tough battling the cold winter months, but matches are just around the corner now!
“No-one loves running that much in the cold! But for us we got to spend more time together with each other before Christmas, we could learn together rather than have everyone be at different stages.
“Now it’s ramping up towards game time and people are getting more excited. We know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel with matches to play. Pre-Season is hard work and we are fighting for spots in the team at this point in time, but we’re doing it together.
“We have cemented an awful lot of our game, especially with new people coming in like Hollie [Bawden], Georgina [Holmes] and Caitlin [Casey], even with Amy [Hardcastle] and Shona [Hoyle] they’re not new here but coming back into our team. I think it should make our combinations strong for the start of the new season.”
For 2025 the biggest change for the Saints Women has been the appointment of not one, but two Joint Head Coaches.
Craig Richards and Derek Hardman, both of whom have done a lot with the St.Helens Women’s team and have come back to keep developing this successful squad for more.
Rachael speaks about how the two coaches returning has been a massive positive not just for her, but everyone involved in the Red V Women.
“They are honest above anything else. They have a level of understanding between them that works. When I first got to Saints, Dek [Derek Hardman] was that coach who embraced me and allowed me to be who I was when I was playing. He doesn’t restrict you, he tells you what skills you have and to just go out there and use them.
“For me as a person, that is what I value the most, I have my skill set and that’s what I want to be able to flourish with.
“Craig has shown a lot of faith in me, he was the one that brought me to league, so I do owe him a lot. He has allowed me to experience this sport. Having them back together, it’s great to have them both coaching us.”
Woosey scored 13 tries in 12 appearances last season for Saints, and whilst that is an impressive record she gets a better buzz for assisting her teammates instead.
“Obviously who doesn’t love to be on the score sheet and having your name on there? I think as a centre though, I have learnt to be more selfless, give it to Leah [Burke] or others and try to put the wingers away. That has always made me feel better than actually getting on the end of the try myself.
“As much as it’s unbelievable to score for the team, especially on Sky or in a big game, and especially in front of our home fans, I feel more passion when I’ve helped other people to score. You feel it because you’ve been a part of that success as well.”
It’s that team first mentality, isn’t it?
“Yes it is. Nobody in the team at all would ever put themselves first. We think about ‘What is best for the team?’ and how to be selfless in that moment. Can I do something that benefits everybody else, even if it is just a drive early in the set or deep in our own half.”
Open and honest about her own personal goals for the year ahead, Rachael wants Saints to get back to Wembley for a third successive season but this time be part of the match squad.
“Personally, I want to just to be able to play and enjoy each game as it comes, but not being able to play at Wembley last year was pretty gutting due to injury. Getting to Wembley and actually being able to walk out on the pitch as a player rather than as a supporter.
“It has lit a fire in me to get there again. As much as you want to be there for the girls, it can be hard to be in that moment and share the same feelings when you’ve not taken to the field. I really want to be able to get out there and be play at Wembley – that’s a big goal of mine.”
