Results, key facts and tables from Round 1 of the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup.
The big nations held firm in Round 1 of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup, though not all with the same ease. England put 70 points on Wales and Australia kept Samoa scoreless (40-0), while New Zealand needed the closing minutes to get past Fiji (18-12).
Kiwi Ferns made to sweat
In their first ever World Cup match, Fiji led 12-10 at half-time in Newcastle. Stacey Waaka scored twice for the three-time world champions, but it took Zahara Temara’s penalty goals and a late Leianne Tufuga try to win 18-12.
England rampant, Australia unbreached
In Perth, tournament debutants Wales opened the scoring through Paige Travis, their first ever World Cup try. England then ran in 13 tries (70-6), with hat-tricks from debutant Connie Boyd and Anna Davies. Amelia Brown scored twice, including a 109-metre effort, and Izzy Rowe finished with 26 points (two tries, nine conversions).
In the tournament opener, Australia beat Samoa 40-0 with seven tries from seven different players, Jaime Chapman and Jessica Sergis among them. Jocelyn Kelleher kicked six conversions.
France against PNG
In Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea beat France 58-4 in the sides’ first World Cup meeting. Naomi Kelly scored four tries, matching Australia’s Jessica Sergis against France in 2022 (92-0), and Fleur Ginn, Tia Molo and Shellie Long each crossed twice. Manon Samarra scored France’s only try.
Round 2 fixtures
Samoa v Wales opens Round 2 on October 23. On the 24th, PNG face Fiji and Australia meet England for top spot in Group A. On the 25th, France take on New Zealand in Christchurch, four years after a 46-0 loss to the Kiwi Ferns at the 2022 World Cup.
Round 1 results
Group A
| Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 40-0 | Samoa |
| England | 70-6 | Wales |
Group B
| Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea | 58-4 | France |
| New Zealand | 18-12 | Fiji |
Tables after Round 1
Group A
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +64 | 2 |
| 2 | Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +40 | 2 |
| 3 | Samoa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -40 | 0 |
| 4 | Wales | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -64 | 0 |
Group B
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papua New Guinea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +54 | 2 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 2 |
| 3 | Fiji | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -6 | 0 |
| 4 | France | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -54 | 0 |
Two points for a win, one for a draw. The top two in each group reach the semi-finals, crossed between the groups.
Key figures
13 tries Scored by England against Wales (70-6)
4 tries Naomi Kelly's haul for PNG against France
12-10 Fiji's half-time lead over New Zealand
Comments