“YOU shouldn’t have to choose - you can have both if you can do it.”

That is the opinion of York Valkyrie’s Kelsey Gentles as she prepares to return to playing after her pregnancy.

The England international last turned out for the Valkyrie in September 2022 before welcoming her daughter with fiancee, former York Knights centre Jacob Ogden, eight months ago.

Gentles is the first Betfred Women’s Super League player in its new age to take time out from the sport to start a family, a decision she admits could have had repercussions upon her career.

But one thing she is certain of is that female athletes should not have to choose between their sporting careers and having children.

She told The Press: “I think there has been a bit of an idea that you have to choose your sporting career or choose your family, and no woman should be in that position. I never wanted to be in that position. 

“I’ve always wanted to have a family and I didn’t want to have to wait until I was 35 years old. 

“So I made a choice that I’m going to do this and then I’ll just see what happens when I come back. I had faith in my ability that I’d be able to play well when I came back.

“York have really supported me in pre-season, making sure that I’m taking care of my body and that I’m hopefully going to be in a position where I’m playing week in, week out, in the 17 for York all year, and that I haven’t rushed it so I get injured straight away.

“I think it’s really important that women have that support because sometimes it feels like ‘if I’m not playing with them, what am I doing? If I get pregnant, where will I stand?’

“That is a scary notion to think about, and I think that it’s an idea that needs to be scrapped. You shouldn’t have to choose - you can have both if you can do it.

The 25-year-old has entered a new era on the pitch as well as off it after signing a two-year professional contract with the Valkyrie.

Offering Lindsay Anfield’s side a salary similar to those offered in the men’s Betfred Championship and League One competitions, the deals only serve to highlight the upward trajectory the women’s game is continuing along.

The move also saw York become the first Women’s Super League team to make the step up, with Wigan Warriors, Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos and most recently St Helens, all set to pay some of their female players this season.

One clause that stood out to many was the maternity provisions offered by chairman Clint Goodchild to support the Valkyrie’s players, should they join Gentles in starting a family.

She stressed: “It’s so, so important. 

“When I got pregnant, I’m the first player in the Women’s Super League to since it’s become more like professional sport and not more of a hobby.

“There wasn’t really anything in place, there’s no guidelines, not really much support from an external point of view.

“York have really supported me when I’ve come back, but apart from that, it’s kind of like once you’re not playing, you’re on your own. When you’re in, you’re in, when you’re out, you’re out.

“Having this maternity point of the contract in place, it kind of gives you that bit of stability, that bit of support saying ‘we’ll still look after you, you’re still one of our players while you have your baby. When you’re ready to come back, you’ll come back and we’ll deal with it then’.

“Before, it was always like ‘I’m not part of the squad, where do I stand?’  You’ve got that bit of security now.”

As for now being a mum, Gentles described it as the greatest gift.

"I don't think you can ever understand it until you become a mum," she explained.

"I've always loved kids, I've got loads of nieces and nephews and I love them with all my heart, but the love you have for your child is something totally different.

"When I was pregnant, some people were saying 'you're going to regret it', 'you're going to wish you never did it'. But I've never once felt like that.

"Even when things haven't gone well, I've never once looked at my daughter and said 'I wish I'd never become a mum' because I just love her so much.

"She's just perfect, she's my little best friend, and I love her."