Women’s Rugby League World Cup final group round: Samoa beats England 24–6

Samoa builds its lead and holds off England

Parramatta Eels winger Freedom Crichton Ropati scored 3 first-half tries, a hat-trick that gave Samoa a 12–0 half-time lead. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala extended the advantage to 16–0 immediately after the break, scoring where Samoa had extra players on the left.

England responded when Hollie-Mae Dodd broke through Samoa’s defense and set up Evie Cousins to score in the left corner. Isabel Rowe converted the try. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale then opted to kick a penalty for Samoa, adding 2 points.

Fran Goldthorp’s forward pass ended another England scoring opportunity near the try line, with teammates unmarked outside her. England then failed to kick the ball out of play from a penalty, and Fanua Rimoni scored Samoa’s late fifth try to seal qualification.

Remaining group matches and the semi-finals

Australia is scheduled to play its semi-final at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on 8 November 2026, with its opponent still to be confirmed.

BBC Sport names New Zealand as Samoa’s next opponent. Sky Sports schedules Samoa’s semi-final for 7 November 2026 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, but still lists the opponent as to be confirmed.