SARAH Dixon could be heading to the Women's Rugby League World Cup after being drafted in to the Great Britain squad.
The Pendle Panthers flyer has been called up to the full squad after just one appearance for England under 21s, when she scored five tries on her debut against Great Britain students last week.
Dixon, 16, impressed watching head coach Jackie Sheldon so much that she was invited to team up with the full squad for training. It could lead to her booking her place on the flight to New Zealand in the summer.
Pendle Panthers coach Steve Swann believes his prize asset is good enough to make the step up -- despite attending only two training sessions with the England under 21s and playing just one match.
"Sarah is good enough to play for the full Great Britain team but whether she makes the World Cup is another matter. But to get called up after just one match shows just what the head coach thinks of her. I watched the Great Britain team 18 months ago and I could see Sarah playing for them."
He added: "Jackie was really impressed with Sarah and straight after the match invited her in to the full squad. It certainly has been a dramatic rise for her."
The Reedley youngster, a student at Nelson and Colne College, has only been playing rugby league for three years.
And despite playing most her rugby at full back or centre, Swann believes the wing, where she made such a devastating debut last week, is her best position.
"Sarah has such searing pace I think that the wing is her best position. As far as I can remember, that is the first time she played out there and scored five tries. She only touched the ball about eight times."
Swann thinks that only the self confidence of the former Walton High School pupil can hold her back -- but said that will come with experience.
"She was scared stiff before the England under 21s game and then went and scored five tries. Once her confidence improves then nothing will hold her back.
"This is great news for Sarah and for Pendle Panthers."
It turned out to be a good week for the Panthers as Andrea Dobson, Shaunagh McGarvey, Danni Simpson and Heather King made their debuts for the Lancashire womens team against Yorkshire.
Despite losing the match, Dobson was named Lancashire's player-of-the-match.
And Kelly Fergeson starred in the England under 21s team alongside Dixon that went on to beat Great Britain students 52-0.
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