SHEFFIELD Eagles have signed former York Valkyrie pair Bettie Lambert and Ashleigh Hyde ahead of the 2026 Women’s Championship season.
The duo join Lisa Parker in swapping the Valkyrie for the Eagles, whom the club first announced a partnership with in 2023.
Irish international Lambert made her senior debut for York in 2018, going on to spend seven seasons in the Minster city before departing the club in 2024.
Whilst with York, she earned her first call-up to the Ireland squad in 2021, and capped a memorable debut with a try in their thrilling 26-24 win over Wales.
Lambert is excited for a new chapter at Sheffield, telling club media: “I’m excited for the opportunity to join Sheffield. It’s a new team, a new experience, and a new challenge that I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into.
“I’m excited to work with the staff and players and see what we can achieve together this season.”
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York native Hyde meanwhile returns to rugby with the Eagles after a period out of the game with a long-term knee injury.
She was one of four injured players not to have been assigned a squad number at the Valkyrie last season, alongside Kelsey Gentles, Tara-Jane Stanley and Liv Gale.
The former York City Knights Ladies vice-captain, who can play on the wing, centre or in the second-row, made headlines in 2021 after returning to play just seven weeks after giving birth to her son.
Along with Lambert, she was a part of the York squad that reached the Women’s Challenge Cup final later that year.
Hyde believes Sheffield is the right place to make her return to the sport, telling club media: “I’m really looking forward to returning to Rugby League after a couple of seasons out.
“I’ve had a knee operation and welcomed a baby back in October, so it will be amazing to be back playing.
“Sheffield feels like the right place for me to make my return. I really like the culture of the club and the way they are looking to grow and progress the women’s team.
“It seems like we have a great group of girls who are willing to work hard for each other, so I’m excited to see where we can go this year as a team and what the season will bring.”
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