By Ben Hart

The first fixture of the 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup takes place on Tuesday as England take on newcomers Brazil.

These two will be hoping to get off to a winning start in Group A, ahead of fixtures against Papua New Guinea and Canada. 

This will be the first time that eight countries have taken part in the tournament, with the top two in each group progressing to the semi-finals.

Emily Rudge has been named as captain of a strong looking England side, who are looking to make the final for the first since Great Britain qualified for the showpiece event in 2000. 

Meanwhile, opponents Brazil will be looking to make their mark at the tournament with a squad that includes six players who had never played the sport a year ago. 

Read more about the England women Rugby League World Cup team

Brazil: 18 Natalia Momberg, 4. Daniele Soares, 3. Leticia Medeiros, 1 Adriana Felix, 2 Tati Fernandes, 6 Giovanna Moura, 7 Maria Graf, 8 Franciny Amaral, 9 Patricia Bodeman, 15 Franciele Barros, 11 Patricia Oliveira, 12 Amanda Welter, 13 Barabara Leal, 14 Giovanna Barth, 10 Paula Casemiro, 16 Brena Prioste, 17 Ana Loschi de Quadroa, 22 Edna Santini, 20 Pamella Silva

England: 2 Caitlin Beevers, 21 Keara Bennett, 5 Leah Burke, 13 Jodie Cunningham, 11 Hollie Dood, 8 Grace Field, 3 Fran Goldthorp, 4 Amy Hardcastle, 22 Zoe Harris, 24 Zoe Hornby, 17 Shona Hoyle, 9 Tara Jones, 14 Vicky Molyneux, 6 Georgia Roche, 12 Emily Rudge, 1 Tara Stanley, 15 Vicky Whitfield, 7 Courtney Winfield-Hill, 18 Olivia Wood

Head-to-head

This is unchartered territory for Brazil as it's their first World Cup fixture, so they travel to England as something of an unknown quantity. 

They did, however, impress in their warm-up fixture against another European heavyweight, France, going down 16-4 at Featherstone. 

Fun fact

England have lost their three games at the women's Rugby League World Cup after losing only four of all their 10 games at the tournament prior to that period.

Brazil record

Matches in Brazil tend to attract 100-200 fans but they will step out in front of 15,000 fans at Headingley. 

That fixture will come just four years after their first ever international, against Argentina, in 2018, which they won 48-0. 

England record

England have finished third in each of the previous three World Cups, sharing the prize with Canada in 2017. 

There is a wealth of experience in the England side, with captain Emily Rudge set to win her 37th cap, and Vicky Molyneux the sole member of the present squad to have been part of England Women's first ever international outing in 2007. 

All the women's squads for the Rugby League World Cup

Players to watch

• Brazil's Franciny Amaral scored in the warm-up defeat to France and is certainly one to watch in attack. 
• For England, Leeds back Caitlin Beevers, aged just 21, has already won two Women's Super League titles and a Challenge Cup.
• Amy Hardcastle of St Helens is England's all-time leading try-scorer.

The Rugby League World Cup promises to be the biggest, best and most inclusive event in the sport’s 127-year history with men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams competing in 61 games across 21 venues throughout England. Tickets are available via rlwc2021.com/tickets