England Women Beat Wales 70-6 as Rowe Equals Points Record

England Women opened their Rugby League World Cup campaign with a 70-6 win over Wales at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026. Half-back Isabel Rowe scored two tries and kicked nine goals for 26 points, equalling the record for the most points by an England women's player in an international match. Wales were playing at a Women's World Cup for the first time.

Thirteen tries, 40 points by halftime

England scored first in the opening minutes. Winger Amelia Brown crossed early, and Wales answered through Paige Travis, who charged onto a short ball to score her country's first try at a Women's World Cup. Travis is a former England international, and her try levelled the early contest and gave the debut side a moment to keep.

England then took the match away. Georgia Wilson scored in the corner, Connie Boyd crossed for her first try, and Hollie-Mae Dodd also scored. Boyd scored again, Anna Davies ran in a long-range try, and Rowe scored on the stroke of halftime. England led 40-6 at the break, with seven tries scored in the first half.

Boyd, the Women's Super League Young Player of the Year, was playing her first match for England. She finished with three tries.

Brown runs 109 metres for the try of the day

England kept scoring after the restart. Debutant Jasmin Strange opened the second-half scoring. Rowe then crossed for her second try in the 47th minute to bring up 50 points, and her kicking kept the score moving all afternoon. She ended the match with nine goals from the tee to go with her two tries.

Brown produced the play of the match soon after. She picked up a bouncing ball in her own in-goal area and ran 109 metres to score at the other end, completing her double. It was one of the longest tries of the tournament so far, and it came as Wales were pressing at the England line.

Boyd completed her hat-trick six minutes from time. Davies then scored twice in the final minutes to complete a hat-trick of her own, with her last try coming in the final play of the game. England scored 13 tries in total.

Australia next in Perth

The win puts England top of their group after the first round and sets up a direct test next week. England stay in Perth and play Australia at HBF Park on Saturday, Oct 24, 2026. Australia, known as the Jillaroos, are the tournament favourites, and the winner of that match will take a place in the semi-finals, the NRL reported.

Wales play Samoa in Sydney on Friday, Oct 23, 2026. Their first World Cup try is already in the record books, scored by Travis against the country she once represented. The score was heavy, but Wales stayed in the contest for long spells in the first half and forced England errors before the gap in finishing told.