A big honour for the young Hull FC dummy-half.
Hull FC hooker Denive Balmforth is set to make his international rugby league debut this month. The dummy half, who celebrated his 22nd birthday last week, has been named in Wales’ 19-man squad to take on Ireland in a two-match series.
The Red Dragons face the Wolfhounds in Wales on October 25 – the same day as the first Ashes Test between England and Australia. The two countries will then meet for a second time on November 1, with the game taking place at Featherstone Rovers.
Balmforth is one of five uncapped players included in the squad. He made 21 appearances this season for both Hull and Catalans – whom he featured for 10 times on loan.
The young hooker debuted for Hull in 2022 after playing for the club’s academy side. He is Leeds-born but qualifies to play for Wales through his family heritage. Charlie Glover, Lloyd McEwan-Peters, Sam Dickenson, and Owen Restall are the other four uncapped players included.
Elsewhere, Rhodri Lloyd will likely captain the side and bring the curtain down on a 15-year professional career. The player will hang his boots up at the end of the 2025 season.
Interestingly, the squad also contains a Hull-born player, with Sam Bowring named. The forward has previously played for Hull FC’s reserve side and, at first-grade level, has featured for Newcastle Thunder and Midlands Hurricanes. Bowring played three times for Wales last year against Jamaica, Serbia, and France.
Wales are coached by Paul Berry, who took over from John Kear earlier this year. On his squad selection, Berry said: “This autumn is the start of putting ourselves in the best position we can to qualify for the World Cup in 2030.
“It’s an opportunity for some young players to start their own stories as senior internationals and I’m excited to see how they rise to the challenge. There are also a number of players in the squad who have played in World Cups and European Championships and will share that experience with the younger players as we work towards that shared goal of 2030.
“Two games against Ireland is exactly the sort of challenge we need at this early stage and we can’t wait to start this new era in front of our own supporters at The Gnoll.”
Wales 19-man squad: Denive Balmforth (Hull FC), Sam Bowring (Midlands Hurricanes), Mike Butt (Widnes Vikings), Max Clarke (Workington Town), Connor Davies (Halifax), Curtis Davies (London Broncos), Sam Dickenson (Wigan Warriors), Matty Fozzard (Widnes Vikings), Charlie Glover (Salford Red Devils), Sam Grice (Castleford Tigers), Rhodri Lloyd (Widnes Vikings), Lloyd McEwan-Peters (Hunslet), Owen Restall (Halifax), Ashton Robinson (Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs), Matt Ross (London Broncos), Luke Thomas (Warrington Wolves), Billy Walkley (Sheffield Eagles), Huw Worthington (London Broncos), Fin Yates (Salford Red Devils).