St Helens women's rugby league legends Jodie Cunningham and Emily Rudge have announced they will retire at the end of the 2026 season, closing the book on historic careers that transformed the sport. The lifelong friends, both 34, revealed they planned their exits together, mirroring a journey that began on the school fields and culminated in a dynasty of domestic dominance.
Their announcement comes just days before another milestone: the Challenge Cup final at Wembley against Wigan Warriors on Saturday. It is fitting that two of the most decorated players in the women's game will share the sport's grandest stage as they chase a fourth consecutive Challenge Cup title, having won every edition from 2021 to 2024.
Cunningham, the club captain and 2021 Woman of Steel, and Rudge, the vice-captain and England's former skipper, are England's most capped women's internationals. Cunningham surpassed Rudge's record last year, now holding 34 caps to Rudge's 33. Their international careers have run in tandem, with both representing England at four World Cups, and a fifth tournament on home soil later this year looming as a final, irresistible target.
The duo's connection dates back to 2005, when they first played together at school. That bond has only strengthened through two decades of rugby league, from grassroots to the professional era. "I think Jodie and I always knew that we would finish together," Rudge said. "We've had a long career side by side and, honestly, I don't think either of us wanted to play without the other."
Both were foundational members of the St Helens women's team launched in 2018, and their impact was immediate. Cunningham became co-captain in 2019 and sole captain in 2021, leading the Red V to a historic treble that season. She has scored 43 tries in 95 appearances, earning the Woman of Steel award for her all-action displays at loose forward. Rudge, one of only two players to reach 100 matches for the club, has crossed for 48 tries, often as a powerful second-rower who also captained England.
Their trophy cabinet is staggering: a Women's Super League title, two League Leaders' Shields, and those four back-to-back Challenge Cups. They helped establish St Helens as the benchmark in women's rugby league, setting standards on and off the field. The team's success has mirrored the growth of the women's game, with increased visibility and investment, and both players have been central to that narrative.
Cunningham acknowledged the weight of the decision. "Rudgey and I have had this in mind as our last year for quite a while, and we thought it was finally time to make it official so we can enjoy our last time making the final of a competition that has played such a huge part in our career," she said. She emphasized that knowing this is her last season fuels her determination: "There's still a long way to go with a Challenge Cup final, the Women's Super League and hopefully a World Cup at the end of the year, but knowing this is my last season just makes me even more motivated to go out and give everything I've got."
Rudge, while confident in her body's ability to play on, is at peace with the call. "I probably do feel like I could carry on for another couple of years!" she admitted. "But I'm certain that this is the right decision. I'm excited for other opportunities and being able to experience some new things." She reflected on rugby league's role in her identity, saying it has given her chances to do amazing things and meet incredible people.
For St Helens, the departures of their on-field leaders will signal the end of an era. The void they leave will be immense, both in the locker room and in the wider women's game, where they have been role models and advocates.
With the Challenge Cup final, the Super League season, and a World Cup on the horizon, Cunningham and Rudge have clear targets. Their immediate focus is on winning at Wembley, a stage Cunningham described as a huge part of their career. A final trophy haul could add to their legacies, but their impact is already secured. They leave the sport in a far stronger place than they found it, having inspired a generation.
As they prepare for their final bow, the rugby league community will surely celebrate two careers that defined an era. Their story—from schoolmates to sporting icons—is one of friendship, resilience, and excellence. The 2026 season will be their victory lap, and they intend to make it unforgettable.
Based on reporting from Sky Sports.