With family ties and national pride driving her, Shania Hayles is set to don the iconic Reggae Girlz jersey away to France in a showdown that promises to test Jamaica’s mettle against one of the world’s best teams.

The highly anticipated friendly match at the Stade Auguste-Bonal on Friday will give the Reggae Girlz the chance to pit their skill, determination, and island spirit against a French squad renowned for its finesse and flair.

Hayles’ connection to Jamaica runs deep, tracing back to her grandparents’ Jamaican roots. Their stories and love for Jamaica ignited a fire within her and fuels her passion.

“I was excited to come back. Jamaica is in my family, my grandparents, which is lovely and so when I got the call, it just showed that all the hard work that I’ve been putting on the journey so far had paid off,” the English-born Hayles reflected, recalling the call to represent Jamaica.

Choosing to represent Jamaica over England wasn’t easy, but Hayles’ desire to be a role model for young black players made it worthwhile.

“My grandparents mean a lot to me, and for me, being a role model to other black children out there, that’s the big thing for me. I did a lot last season just so they can see someone like me playing for Jamaica and for my club, and they can aspire to be like me,” Hayles said, in a Jamaica Football Federation interview from the team’s base in France.

After representing England at the Under-19 level in 2018, Hayles made her international debut for the Reggae Girlz against Nigeria in June 2021, and has since played for Jamaica three times.

The Jamaica versus France clash is a rematch of the 2023 World Cup group stage encounter in Australia, where the Reggae Girlz secured a historic nil-all draw. That memorable result earned Jamaica their first-ever point at a World Cup.

As she looks forward to Friday’s encounter, Hayles will be surrounded by teammates who share her unwavering determination. Together, they’ll face a French team that embodies the pinnacle of women’s football.

“Each time I come into camp, it’s like family. I felt comfortable as soon as I came here as everyone is so lovely. It was really nice to catch up with the girls and obviously going back to Jamaica.

“I went there for the first time for one of my camps and, yeah, it was just unreal. I think you want to play against some of the best national teams, so for me, France is up there. It will be a hard game, a tough game, but it is one I’m looking forward to,” the 24-year-old forward said.

Next the 42nd-ranked Reggae Girlz are set to host 50th-ranked South Africa on November 29 and December 2, and Hayles is also looking forward to those encounters.

“Even the home games against South Africa, I think, are big. I think when we have the support behind us, it’s always a big thing, so I just think, the more support you get, obviously, it helps, like the crowd,” the former Bristol City player said, who scored 11 goals in a total of 37 appearances.

On 3 July 2024, Hayles signed for newly promoted Women’s Championship club Newcastle United.

On 22 September, in the second game of the 2024-25 season, Hayles provided a goal and an assist for Newcastle’s first-ever Championship win in a 2–0 result over Sheffield United. A month later, she scored her first professional hat-trick in a 3-3 result against Charlton Athletic.

“I think I just had a fresh start from last season — new team — so I had a lot to prove. I just went in with a lot of confidence and I think grabbing the first couple goals early on is always good for a striker because you kind of want to get them first goals.

“So when I got them, I went on to find a few more. Obviously, getting my hat-trick at the weekend was a proud moment for me because that was the first one in my career, so hopefully, I can get a few more this season,” said Hayles, who has also played for Birmingham City and Aston Villa.

Hayles, who had received the Bristol City Women’s Golden Boot Award for 2022–23 and the Bristol City Women’s PFA Community Champion Award for 2023 to 2024, is poised to make a lasting impact on the pitch, armed with renewed confidence and a steadfast commitment to the Reggae Girlz.

“Obviously, scoring goals is a big thing; that’s part of my game. It’s about being confident and showcasing my abilities. I think, before, I probably wasn’t as ready as I am now. Coming back in, I already feel a lot more confident,” she said.