Julia Robinson Taken to Hospital as World Cup Fears Grow After Jillaroos Injury in Perth

Updated 11:37 UTC, Oct 24, 2026

Australia beat England 78-0 at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday, scoring 15 tries to win their second match in a row and book a place in the Women's Rugby League World Cup semi-finals. The Jillaroos led 36-0 at half time and are chasing a fourth straight World Cup title. Jaime Chapman scored twice in the first five minutes, Jocelyn Kelleher scored two tries and finished with 26 points, and Abbi Church also scored twice. Captain Isabelle Kelly scored two tries and said after the match: "I got to give it to the English girls. They were very physical. It was a great game, I know the scoreline blew out there but a lot of respect to those girls to coming over and giving it a crack." England had a try disallowed and did not score. England now play Samoa in week three, and the winner takes the final semi-final place in Pool A.

The final score also settled the injury question hanging over the match. Sideline reporter Katie Brown confirmed during the Fox Sports coverage that Julia Robinson had fractured her wrist and was on her way to hospital. "She will miss the remainder of the tournament," Brown said. Serious About Rugby League also reported that Robinson fractured her wrist and will miss the rest of the tournament. The diagnosis replaces the unconfirmed fracture concern reported earlier in this article: Robinson is out of the World Cup.

Australia winger and centre Julia Robinson was taken to hospital for scans after she left the field with a left arm injury in the 20th minute of the Jillaroos' Women's Rugby League World Cup match against England at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Robinson, the reigning Golden Boot winner, had scored a try shortly before the injury, and reports from the match said her World Cup may be over.

The Group A Round 2 match kicked off at 5:05 am EDT, straight after the men's England against France match at the same venue. Robinson reeled out of a tackle holding her left arm and was taken off the field shortly afterwards. Fox Sports Australia described the problem as a suspected forearm injury, while NRL.com described it as a wrist injury. Both reports agreed on the next step: Robinson went to hospital for scans over concerns about a fracture.

A try, then the injury

Robinson scored for Australia minutes before she left the field. Fox Sports reported that it was her 20th career Test try, scored in her 15th international. The Brisbane Broncos outside back had shifted from the wing to centre for this match, replacing the rested Jess Sergis, with Abbi Church coming in on the wing.

Former England international James Graham, speaking on match commentary, reacted as Robinson came off. "Awful news for Robinson there. It looked like friendly fire. Kalyn Ponga-esque," Graham said.

No confirmed diagnosis and no confirmed time out had been published when the reports were filed. NRL.com said her World Cup may be over after the injury, and Fox Sports reported fears that she could be sidelined for the rest of Australia's 2026 World Cup campaign. The scan results will decide whether that fear becomes fact.

England lose two players as well

England added to their own injury toll in the same first half. Eva Hunter was carried from the field soon after Robinson's exit with an injury to her left leg.

England had already lost Sydney Roosters second rower Jasmin Strange before the match. Strange will play no further part in England's World Cup campaign after she suffered an ACL injury at training this week. Her expected recovery time is nine months, with a return targeted for the early rounds of the 2027 NRLW season.

England head coach Stuart Barrow spoke about Strange in the NRL.com casualty ward report. "Jasmin joined us when we arrived here and has been outstanding. She's mixed with the girls really well and to lose her yesterday in training was a devastating blow for all the girls," Barrow said.

Both teams had started with big wins

Both sides came into the Perth match off heavy opening wins. Australia beat Samoa 40-0 in Round 1, and England beat Wales 70-6, with Isabel Rowe scoring two tries and nine conversions for England against Wales.

For Australia, the Robinson news cuts across that strong start. Losing the reigning Golden Boot winner for any part of the knockout path would change the Jillaroos' back line. Until the scan is reported, her World Cup sits in doubt rather than at a confirmed end.