England Beat France 82-0 in Rugby League World Cup Whitewash in Perth

England beat France 82-0 in Perth on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in a Men's Rugby League World Cup pool match at HBF Stadium. England scored 14 tries in their second-biggest win ever at a Rugby League World Cup, a result that keeps their slim semi-final hopes alive after an opening defeat.

France held England scoreless for the first 23 minutes. The resistance did not last. Herbie Farnworth then scored three tries in 13 minutes, and England pulled clear to lead 36-0 at half time. From that point the match was settled, and the second half became a contest for points difference as much as for the win itself.

Hat-tricks for Farnworth and Young

Farnworth finished with a hat-trick, and Dom Young matched him with three tries of his own. Mikey Lewis came off the bench to score two tries. The other England tries came from Matty Ashton, George Williams, Victor Radley, Jez Litten, Jack Welsby and AJ Brimson.

Brimson was named player of the match. Hugo Savala kicked 13 goals from 14 attempts, a return that turned a heavy win into a rout on the scoreboard. France, who had already lost 78-4 to Samoa in their previous match, could not find a point in reply.

Why the margin matters

England lost their opening match 30-12 to Tonga, so they arrived in Perth with no margin for another defeat. The win over France lifts their points difference to +64. That still leaves them 68 points behind Samoa, who beat Papua New Guinea 64-6 earlier on Saturday and sit on a points difference of +132.

The scale of the win therefore matters as much as the win itself. England did the first part of what they needed by scoring freely and conceding nothing. A clean sheet against a scoreless France protected the points difference they had built, try by try, across the 80 minutes.

What England need next

England face Papua New Guinea in their final pool match on Friday in Wollongong. They need another big win in that match, and they also need Tonga to beat Samoa on November 1, if they are to reach the semi-finals.

France will finish their tournament next week against Lebanon, another winless team. France cannot now advance from the group stage, so that final match is about ending a difficult tournament with a first win. England, by contrast, travel to Wollongong knowing the task is clear, even if it is not fully in their own hands.