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Leeds Beckett expertise on the world stage at Rugby League World Cup 2026
Current third-year Sport and Exercise Science student Evie Cousins and alumna Keara Bennett are among those representing England Women. Both took part in training sessions hosted at Leeds Beckett earlier this year, making use of the university’s Carnegie School of Sport facilities as the team prepared for the tournament.
Speaking during the spring training sessions, Evie who is looking to make her England debut said: “Everyone's so focused on the World Cup, it's taken training up another 10 notches, everyone's so competitive and it's just making me strive to be better.”
They will be joined in England Women’s World Cup preparations by Dr Sean Scantlebury, Senior Research Fellow at Carnegie School of Sport and England Women’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, and Emily Todd, a Leeds Beckett PhD student and Lead Sports Scientist for England Women.
Leeds Beckett is also represented in the England men’s set-up by James Bletsoe, Senior Lecturer in Performance Analysis and Head of Performance Analysis for England Men, and Dr Cameron Owen, Senior Research Fellow in Sports Performance and Injury and a Sports Scientist for the team.
James’s role will involve providing analysis to help the England men’s coaches and players prepare for and respond to their opponents throughout the competition.
He said: “Carnegie School of Sport plays an integral role within the professional rugby league game. We have a really ingrained programme with England Rugby League and the RFL as well as through Super League clubs. A lot of our students are currently working on placements across the game, and many have gone on to professional roles within the sport.”
The involvement of Leeds Beckett staff reflects the university’s established links with rugby league, bringing expertise in performance analysis, sports science, strength and conditioning and player monitoring to the international stage.
The Rugby League World Cup 2026 gets underway on 15 October, with England Men opening their campaign against Tonga on Saturday 17 October. England Women and Wales Women will also face each other in their opening match on 17 October.
Everyone at Leeds Beckett wishes Gracie, Evie, Keara and all the players and staff involved the very best as they represent their nations at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
In this article
Dr Sean Scantlebury
Dr Sean Scantlebury is a Senior Research Fellow in the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University. His research focuses on athlete development, training load monitoring, injury prevention, and applied sports performance. Alongside his academic work, Sean has extensive experience in elite sport and currently serves as Head of Performance for England Women’s Rugby League. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications, contributes to postgraduate supervision, and leads the Level 6 module Scientific Principles of Strength and Conditioning
James Bletsoe
James in a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University in the Carnegie School of Sport. He also currently consults for the Leeds Rhinos organisation.
Dr Cameron Owen
Dr Cameron Owen is a Senior Research Fellow in the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University, and a leading researcher in head injuries and performance in rugby. His research programme has generated significant impact across policy, practice, and player welfare in professional rugby league and rugby union, directly influencing rule changes, coaching practices, and injury prevention strategies that protect thousands of players. Through the TaCKLE project and his role as Head of Performance for the Rugby Football League, Cameron's work bridges rigorous scientific inquiry with real-world application, ensuring evidence-informed approaches to athlete development, performance monitoring, and concussion prevention whilst preserving the physiciallity of collision sports.
