Defending champions Australia got off to a flyer on the back of Jocelyn Kelleher's dazzling debut before the PNG Orchids and England made statements of their own to kick off the 2026 World Cup.
Kelleher starred in the Jillaroos' 40-0 victory over Samoa, the five-eighth's booming boot causing havoc for her opponents while she also had a line break and a try assist.
Seven different Australian players crossed for tries as Australia jumped out to a 28-0 half-time lead before they closed out a clinical performance after the break.
The Orchids opened their World Cup in style, Naomie Kelly crossing for four tries in a comprehensive 58-4 victory over France.
Craig Sandercock's side was dominant from the opening whistle, running in 12 tries to one to outclass their opponents in Port Moresby.
England also produced a sensational attacking performance to outclass Wales at HBF Park in Perth.
Player of the match Isabel Rowe scored 26 points to equal the record for most points by an English woman in an international match. Centre Connie Boyd scored a hat-trick on debut, with Anna Davies also crossing for three tries.
England's win set the stage for a showdown with the Jillaroos in the second week of the tournament.
The final game of Round 1 in Newcastle was expected to be a walk in the park for the Kiwi Ferns but it was the brave Bulikula who stole the show in their World Cup debut.
Leading 12-4 after 30 minutes thanks to tries from Losana Lutu and Sienna Laing, Fiji were on track for an enormous upset but the experience of the Ferns got them home in the end as Zahara Temara nailed a late penalty goal before Leianne Tufuga crossed to make it 18-12.
The Kiwi Ferns will be on home soil in Round 2 when they face France in Christchurch while the Bulikula travel to Port Moresby to tackle the Orchids.
Australia v Samoa
Friday, October 16, 8.05pm AEDT at CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Match: Australia v Samoa
Round 1 -
home Team
Australia
away Team
Samoa
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Australia is number 1 Tamika UptonFullback for Samoa is number 1 Destiny Mino-Sinapati
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Winger for Australia is number 2 Jaime ChapmanWinger for Samoa is number 2 Mercedez Taulelei-Siala
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Centre for Australia is number 3 Jessica SergisCentre for Samoa is number 3 Monica Tagoai
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Centre for Australia is number 4 Isabelle KellyCentre for Samoa is number 4 Sarina Masaga
-
Winger for Australia is number 5 Julia RobinsonWinger for Samoa is number 5 Freedom Crichton Ropati
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Five-Eighth for Australia is number 6 Jocelyn KelleherFive-Eighth for Samoa is number 6 Taliah Fuimaono
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Halfback for Australia is number 7 Tarryn AikenHalfback for Samoa is number 7 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale
Forwards
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Prop for Australia is number 8 Millie ElliottProp for Samoa is number 8 Annetta Nuuausala
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Hooker for Australia is number 9 Olivia HigginsHooker for Samoa is number 9 Mary-Jane Taito
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Prop for Australia is number 10 Simaima TaufaProp for Samoa is number 10 Laikha Clarke
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2nd Row for Australia is number 11 Kezie Apps2nd Row for Samoa is number 11 Evania Isa'ako
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2nd Row for Australia is number 12 Shaylee Bent2nd Row for Samoa is number 12 Ivana Lolesio
-
Lock for Australia is number 13 Olivia KernickLock for Samoa is number 13 Leilani Wilson
Interchange
-
Interchange for Australia is number 14 Keeley NizzaInterchange for Samoa is number 14 Evelyn Roberts
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Interchange for Australia is number 15 Keilee JosephInterchange for Samoa is number 15 Fanua Rimoni
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Interchange for Australia is number 16 Tiana Penitani GrayInterchange for Samoa is number 16 Amber Hall
-
Interchange for Australia is number 17 Ellie JohnstonInterchange for Samoa is number 17 Jasmine Fogavini
-
Replacement for Australia is number 18 Makenzie WealeReplacement for Samoa is number 18 Tavarna Papalii
Match Officials
- Referee: Kasey Badger
- Touch Judge: Karra-Lee Nolan
- Touch Judge: Izzy Davidson
- Senior Review Official: Peter Gough
Last updated:
Australia v Samoa – Round 1, 2026
PNG v France
Saturday, October 17, 1.15pm AEDT at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Match: Papua New Guinea v France
Round 1 -
home Team
Papua New Guinea
away Team
France
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Papua New Guinea is number 1 Anika ButlerFullback for France is number 1 Manon Samarra
-
Winger for Papua New Guinea is number 2 Ivania WongWinger for France is number 2 Perle Ramazeilles
-
Centre for Papua New Guinea is number 3 Relna Wuruki-HoseaCentre for France is number 3 Melissa Medina
-
Centre for Papua New Guinea is number 4 Tia MoloCentre for France is number 4 Amael Vilanove
-
Winger for Papua New Guinea is number 5 Naomi KellyWinger for France is number 19 Margot Canal
-
Five-Eighth for Papua New Guinea is number 6 Fleur GinnFive-Eighth for France is number 6 Camille Boudaud
-
Halfback for Papua New Guinea is number 7 Cynthiah PetersHalfback for France is number 7 Lisa Diraison
Forwards
-
Prop for Papua New Guinea is number 8 Elsie AlbertProp for France is number 8 Elisa Akpa
-
Hooker for Papua New Guinea is number 9 Ua RavuHooker for France is number 9 Cristina Song Puche
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Prop for Papua New Guinea is number 10 Jafinda SapProp for France is number 10 Elodie Pacull
-
2nd Row for Papua New Guinea is number 11 Belinda Gwasamun2nd Row for France is number 11 Perrine Monsarrat
-
2nd Row for Papua New Guinea is number 12 Shellie Long2nd Row for France is number 12 Stacy Bessiere
-
Lock for Papua New Guinea is number 13 Emily VeiversLock for France is number 13 Leila Bessahli
Interchange
-
Interchange for Papua New Guinea is number 14 Therese AitonInterchange for France is number 14 Fanny Ramos
-
Interchange for Papua New Guinea is number 15 Essay BanuInterchange for France is number 15 Tallis Eranossian
-
Interchange for Papua New Guinea is number 16 Jenny DavidInterchange for France is number 16 Salome Segala
-
Interchange for Papua New Guinea is number 17 India SeetoInterchange for France is number 17 Louisa Tooman
-
Replacement for Papua New Guinea is number 18 Gemma WalkerReplacement for France is number 18 Justine Roses
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Moore
- Touch Judge: Geoffrey Poumes
- Touch Judge: Dillan Wells
- Senior Review Official: Todd Smith
Last updated:
Papua New Guinea v France – Round 1, 2026
England v Wales
Saturday, October 17, 5.35pm AEDT at HBF Park, Perth
Match: England v Wales
Round 1 -
home Team
England
away Team
Wales
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for England is number 1 Fran GoldthorpFullback for Wales is number 1 Leanne Burnell
-
Winger for England is number 2 Anna DaviesWinger for Wales is number 2 Dani McGifford
-
Centre for England is number 3 Georgia WilsonCentre for Wales is number 3 Hannah Bluck
-
Centre for England is number 4 Connie BoydCentre for Wales is number 4 Zoe Heeley
-
Winger for England is number 5 Amelia BrownWinger for Wales is number 5 Frances Layton
-
Five-Eighth for England is number 6 Isabel RoweFive-Eighth for Wales is number 6 Ffion Lewis
-
Halfback for England is number 7 Georgia RocheHalfback for Wales is number 7 Tayla Preston
Forwards
-
Prop for England is number 8 Mary ColemanProp for Wales is number 8 Agnes Wood
-
Hooker for England is number 9 Keara BennettHooker for Wales is number 9 Jasmine Gibbons
-
Prop for England is number 10 Hollie-Mae DoddProp for Wales is number 10 Emily Hughes
-
2nd Row for England is number 11 Jasmin Strange2nd Row for Wales is number 11 Georgia Cussons
-
2nd Row for England is number 12 Eva Hunter2nd Row for Wales is number 12 Paige Travis
-
Lock for England is number 13 Megan WilliamsLock for Wales is number 13 Bethan Dainton
Interchange
-
Interchange for England is number 14 Jodie CunninghamInterchange for Wales is number 14 Carys Marsh
-
Interchange for England is number 15 Vicky WhitfieldInterchange for Wales is number 15 Kathryn Salter
-
Interchange for England is number 16 Jenna FoubisterInterchange for Wales is number 16 Katie Carr
-
Interchange for England is number 17 Hope MillardInterchange for Wales is number 17 Erin Williams
-
Replacement for England is number 18 Liv WoodReplacement for Wales is number 18 Jade Mullen
Match Officials
- Referee: Tara Jones
- Touch Judge: Tori Wilkie
- Touch Judge: Rochelle Tamarua
- Senior Review Official: Peter Gough
Last updated:
England v Wales – Round 1, 2026
New Zealand v Fiji
Sunday, October 18, 1.50pm AEDT at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Match: New Zealand v Fiji
Round 1 -
home Team
New Zealand
2nd Position
away Team
Fiji
3rd Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
New Zealand v Fiji – Round 1, 2026
