The memory of her late grandfather and a family tragedy were the inspiration for Bulldogs captain Tayla Preston to play for Wales in their historic Rugby League World Cup 2026 campaign.

Preston will honour her maternal grandfather Melvin Richards, who was born and raised in Wales, when she pulls on the Dragons jersey against England in Perth on October 17 and Samoa and Australia at CommBank Stadium on October 23 and November 1.

Although her grandfather moved to Australia in his early 20s, Preston’s family has maintained contact with cousins in Wales and a visit Down Under ended in tragedy when one family member drowned at a beach on the NSW South Coast.

“My grandfather was born in Wales and grew up in Wales before moving here when he was about 20,” Preston said.

"All of our family on my mum’s side live over there and Mum has got a lot of her cousins in Wales, which is pretty cool.

“She lost one member of the family when they came out to Australia on a trip. It was probably a big thing to save up for a trip like that, and they came here for a holiday, but one of them drowned at a beach on the South Coast.

"That was when my mum was quite young and she still keeps in touch with them.”

Having also been selected for the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII to play PNG in Port Moresby, Preston is enjoying the opportunity to meet new team-mates and travel to places she hasn't played before.

Photo: Tayla Preston will represent the PM's XIII in PNG before travelling to Perth with Wales. @NRL Photos

The star halfback has made 48 NRLW appearances for the Bulldogs, Sharks and Eels, and led Cronulla to the 2024 NRLW grand final against Sydney Roosters before joining Canterbury last year as their No.1 signing.

While she has ambitions to play for the Jillaroos, Preston jumped at the chance to represent Wales.

“Tom (Brindle), the coach, reached out through the Bulldogs, and he gave me a bit of background about the Wales team; how they are building and how have qualified for their first World Cup,” Preston said.

“It was really nice to have a chat and he said he would be keeping an eye on my games. We just stayed in touch throughout the NRLW season, and then he gave me a call to see where I was at and what I wanted to do.

“I feel really honoured to be able to play for Wales in a World Cup, and hopefully we can help grow the game for girls back in Wales and inspire them to want to play.”

Besides rookie Cowboys winger Sian Williams, the 23-player Wales squad is drawn from the Women’s Super League and lower leagues, including former Eels secondrower Paige Travis, who has switched allegiances from England.

Captained by Wigan's Bethan Dainton, the squad includes three players who turned out in the first ever game for Wales in 2021 against England - Leanne Burnell, Kathryn Salter and Emily Hughes.

Salter and Hughes are joined by London Broncos teammates Ffion Lewis and Jade Mullen after helping the club win promotion to the Women's Super League with a 36-6 defeat of Leigh.

York Valkyrie star Agnes Wood is also coming off a triumphant season after playing in Sunday's WSL grand final triumph of Wigan, who have two players in the Wales squad - Dainton and Carys Marsh.

Lewis is a dual international, while Hannah Bluck will be aiming to represent Wales in a fourth sport – rugby league, rugby union, soccer and basketball.

Photo: Dual international Ffion Lewis played at the Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2022. @Wales Rugby League.

“To play in a Rugby League World Cup and be on the big stage is a big thing for Wales and no doubt it is going to have an even bigger impact than we would even know,” Preston said.

“I know a few of them played in the Super League grand final and I’m looking forward to getting to know them. A few girls have reached out so they probably know I’m a bit nervous.

“It seems like a tight-knit group, and they have been really welcoming. If we can get a few of them to come to the NRLW that would be nice too.”

With Preston and Williams, who played three NRLW matches for North Queensland this season, being the only NRLW players in the Wales squad, Brindle is expected to call on the 27-year-old playmaker to provide an insight into their Jillaroos and Fetu opponents.

In contrast, she will be relying on them for information about the England team, which includes Bulldogs team-mate Hope Millard.

“It’s really cool for the club to have players across the teams. We had a really young squad and it will be a good experience for them go to play in a World Cup at the back end of the season,” Preston said.

“It’s shaping up to be as a really good World Cup and I think it will be very competitive. In the other pool, I know that Fiji is getting strong now too.

“I have no doubt that England will have a really strong squad and I guess the Welsh girls will have some inside info on the English girls and I will be able to give them some tips on any of the girls that were playing in the NRLW girls to.

“We play first up over in Perth, which is really exciting. I’m sure the rugby league community in Perth will get around the World Cup and I think it is really cool to play games in different cities because it brings in a new audience too for the women’s game.”

Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.