With England hosting next year’s rugby union World Cup, her latest code change created immediate intrigue.
She only added to it by scoring a try in her first game back for Loughborough, with England attack coach Lou Meadows telling the Rugbypass website, external that she would be on the Red Roses selection radar.
Goldthrop says playing in the rugby league World Cup in 2022 – where England reached the semi-final – was the “biggest thing” she has done in her career so far, and says going on to do something similar in the 15-player game would feel the same.
But she insists “it is no driving force” behind why she returned to rugby union.
“You always chase those moments, they are the games that you want to play in, they are the experiences that you will probably look back on in your career,” she said.
“If that happens, it happens. I’ve been brought up as a very grounded person and if those opportunities come about, then you take it and relish the experience.
“I just want to try and be the best athlete I can be. I don’t think I have reached my potential yet. I still have lot of learning and growing to do.
“I just want to play consistent rugby at a high level and see where that takes me.”
With rugby league’s next World Cup taking place in the southern hemisphere in 2026, Goldthorp has plenty to play for across both codes on both sides of the globe.
