Woman of Steel, marriage, Vegas - Dagger's packed 12 months

England v Australia: Women's Test

Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas Date: Saturday, 1 March (02:00 GMT, Sunday, 2 March)

Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app

Georgie Dagger had so many big days last year that, in the end, she couldn't fit them all in. If all goes well in Las Vegas, her 2025 diary might be just as busy.

Last June, she made her England debut. In October, she was player of the match as York Valkyrie won a second straight Women's Super League Grand Final. Then she was named Woman of Steel.

In November, she would have been in line for a second international appearance - but the match clashed with her wedding.

So on the day England earned their biggest-ever win by defeating Wales 82-0 in Leeds, Dagger was the best part of 3,000 miles away in Cyprus.

It was there that the full-back, formerly known as Georgie Hetherington, married her long-term partner Will Dagger, who plays in the men's Championship for York Knights.

Now, she's with England in Vegas.

Having been given head coach Stuart Barrow's blessing to miss the Wales match, she is back on international duty as part of the 20-strong squad for Saturday's Test against world champions Australia.

"I got married on the same weekend that the Wales game was happening," the 27-year-old said. "We'd booked the wedding way in advance and at that point there weren't any clashes. So we were like 'Yep, we're all good to go'.

"And then the news of the game came out and I said to Stu: 'I'm really sorry, I won't be available. I'm getting married.' And he said: 'It's a good enough excuse to miss the game.'

"We followed updates on social media on the day, so we kept on board with what was going on.

"It's been great to get back around the girls and back in the environment. I'm excited and up for the challenge ahead."

Saturday's Test is part of a four-match showcase at Allegiant Stadium, which staged last year's Super Bowl: Wigan play Warrington in the men's Super League, while there are also two NRL games, with Canberra Raiders facing New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers up against Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

It is Barrow's biggest challenge since he became England head coach after Craig Richards stepped down at the end of the last World Cup just over two years ago.

Barrow's four matches so far have brought two wins each over France and Wales, with a total of 248 points scored and none conceded.

But England need stronger challenges as they build up to next year's World Cup and aim to improve on 2022, when they fell in the semi-finals against New Zealand - who were then thrashed by Australia in the final.

"The only way that you're going to measure your progress is to go up against the world champions, and to give it a real good crack and see where you're at," Dagger said.

"And whatever the result is, we're going to get loads out of this experience."

One way England are attempting to close the gap between themselves and the world's best is by leaning on the experience of those who play their club rugby in Australia.

Georgia Roche helped Newcastle Knights win the NRLW Grand Final after moving in 2023, while Hollie-Mae Dodd has two seasons under her belt with Canberra Raiders.

They will be joined in the NRLW this year by second-rower Paige Travis, who has left Challenge Cup holders St Helens to join Parramatta Eels on a two-year deal.

"It was always something I really wanted to do," Travis said. "But obviously England duties come first and then after that I can get excited about moving there."

England were beaten 38-0 the last time they met Australia, at the 2017 World Cup, with Travis and her team-mates seeking to prove they can be much more competitive.

"This is about this group," Travis said. "It's not about previous groups. It's not about the future. It's about this group and we can only judge it off how we are - and we feel really good and we feel ready.

"This is one of the biggest events we'll all be in and it'll be a brilliant pinnacle for our game. I think we'll get definitely a lot more following us from this."

As she helped St Helens to a fourth successive Women's Challenge Cup with victory over Leeds at Wembley in June, Travis went viral after spotting herself on the big screen and giving a cheeky wink.

Allegiant Stadium has its own big screens, but Travis has played down the idea of a repeat performance this weekend.

"I'll have to see," she said. "Maybe if I've got a try, I'll do a wink, but I don't know otherwise. I don't know if you can recreate the Wembley wink!"