Vicky Molyneux
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Victoria Molyneux | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 3 February 1988 Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Loose forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 2 January 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vicky Molyneux (born 3 February 1988)[1] is an English rugby league footballer who represented England internationally and plays at domestic level for Wigan Warriors.
Molyneux is from Rochdale and is the daughter of former Wigan player Jimmy Molyneux and started playing rugby league at a young age.[3] Her first open-age club was Hillside Hawks and it was while at Hillside that Molyneux was first selected by England, making her international debut against France in July 2007, a match that was also the England team's first full international.[1][4]
After playing for Hillside and Leigh East and taking time out from the game, Molyneux joined Wigan Warriors in the Women's Super League in 2019.[5] The same year Molyneux was captain of the Great Britain Teachers rugby league team.[1][6][7]
A recall to the England squad, 14 years after her previous appearance, came in 2021 when she was picked to play against Wales in 2021.[7] A third cap came in the 2021 game against France.[8] Molyneux was selected for England for the 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup and played in three of England's four matches being named Player of the Match in the 54–4 win over the Canada Ravens[9] Molyneux was one of four England players named in the World Cup Women's Team of the Tournament.[10]
Two further England caps followed in 2023. In November 2023 Molyneux announced her retirement from international rugby[11] In announcing her international retirement Molyneux became the last member of the inaugural England team to retire.[12]
In 2023, Molyneux became the first woman inducted into the Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Victoria Molyneux | Wigan Warriors". www.wiganwarriors.com. Wigan Warriors. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Player Summary: Vicky Molyneux". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "Vicky Molyneux hopes to lead Wigan Warriors Women through a successful Challenge Cup run". Wigan Today. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Rugby league: England call-up for Victoria Molyneux and Paige Travis ahead of historic televised clash". www.rochdaleonline.co.uk. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ Marsden, Lorraine (1 January 2020). "Super League's Super Women of 2019". TotalRL.com. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Molyneux ready for 'emotional' return". BBC Sport. 23 June 2021.
- ^ a b Graham, Josh (31 October 2022). "England Women Rugby League World Cup squad in profile". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "France 4 v 40 England". European Rugby League. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Rugby League World Cup: Vicky Molyneux back in England Women's squad for New Zealand semi-final clash". Sky Sports. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "RLWC2021 Teams of the Tournament announced". RLWC2021. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Molyneux on 'twitchy moment' in England farewell". BBC Sport. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ Marsden, Lorraine (6 November 2023). "'The time is right': Vicky Molyneux on England retirement – and almost being sent off". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2023.