Sports · Other Sports · 1 day ago
Jessica Skinner leads Australia’s Jillaroos into the 2026 World Cup
Jessica Skinner is preparing to lead Australia’s women’s rugby league team, the Jillaroos, at the 2026 World Cup.
It will be her first World Cup as head coach, after years of coaching at community and elite levels.
Australia has won the last three tournaments and will be aiming for a fourth title.
The 2026 event will be co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, with the final scheduled for Brisbane next month.
Skinner grew up in Trangie, a town in central-west New South Wales, and is a Barkindji and Māori woman.
She says she wants players to feel valued and cared for, and sees representing regional and Indigenous communities as part of her role.
The pressure is high, but Skinner says she is excited to take on the job.
Jessica Skinner is preparing for her first World Cup as head coach of Australia’s Jillaroos.
The 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup will be co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Australia has won the last three tournaments and is seeking a fourth title.
Skinner says the pressure to keep winning is nerve-racking, but she is excited.
She says her coaching approach puts the person before the player.
- Who
- Jessica Skinner, head coach of Australia’s Jillaroos.
- What
- She is leading the Jillaroos into the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup.
- When
- The tournament is in 2026; the final is scheduled for the following month after the article’s publication.
- Where
- The tournament will be co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The final is due to be held in Brisbane.
- Why
- Australia is seeking a fourth consecutive title after winning the last three tournaments.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I feel like I'm lifting my people, Australians, my community in Trangie (regional NSW), my family
I want to be known as a coach, who, when people leave my environments, they feel valued, seen and cared for
To know that you're stepping into big shoes, and there's an expectation that we win a World Cup, or that we win all the time, especially in the green and gold, it's nerve racking
Skinner began her elite coaching career as assistant coach of the Prime Minister's XIII.
Skinner served as an assistant coach; the tournament was played in 2022 because of COVID-19.
Skinner led the Indigenous Women's All Stars to victory over the Maori Women's All Stars.
Skinner is preparing to lead the Jillaroos at the World Cup.
- Head coach
- Jessica Skinner
- Team
- Jillaroos, Australia’s national women’s rugby league team
- Tournament
- 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup
- Host countries
- Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea
- Previous titles
- Australia won the last three tournaments
Sources
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