PNG Orchids Beat France 58-4 in First World Cup Match on Home Soil

Papua New Guinea's Orchids opened their Women's Rugby League World Cup campaign with a 58-4 win over France at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026. It was the Orchids' first World Cup match on home soil, and the home crowd got a show. Winger Naomi Kelly scored four tries, and Papua New Guinea scored 12 tries to one.

Six tries before halftime

Centre Relna Wuruki-Hosea opened the scoring inside the first seven minutes, fending off two defenders to cross. Back-rower Shellie Long added the second try in the 19th minute, beating four defenders on a 20 metre run to the line.

Fleur Ginn and Tia Molo then scored in quick time to stretch the lead to 22-0. Molo turned provider for Kelly's first try, throwing an overhead pass that put the winger in at the left corner, and Emily Veivers converted from the sideline to make it 28-0. Rugby convert Ivania Wong scored from 40 metres out before the break. The Orchids led 32-0 at halftime, with Veivers kicking four goals, and France had held just 38 percent of possession.

Kelly equals the record

France got on the board early in the second half. Fullback Manon Samarra scored off an offload from Stacey Bessiere, and for a spell the visitors held their line.

The relief did not last. Kelly scored her second try in the 44th minute after work from Cynthiah Peters and Ginn down the left edge. Ginn, Molo and Kelly then scored three tries in five minutes as the home side pulled away in the Port Moresby humidity.

Kelly finished with four tries, equalling Belinda Gwasamun's record for the most tries in an international by an Orchids player, set against Brazil at the 2022 World Cup, the NRL reported. She ran 166 metres, the most of any player on the field, AAP reported. Captain Elsie Albert ran 154 metres and made 11 tackle breaks, and prop Essay Banu ran 127 metres. Local broadcaster FM100 named Molo its player of the match.

The win was not a team record. AAP noted that the Orchids' biggest World Cup win remains the 70-0 defeat of Brazil in 2022.

A double for the home crowd

Eight players in the Orchids side have NRLW experience, and the team is led by new coach Craig Sandercock. The Orchids stay in Port Moresby for their second round match against Fiji. France travel to Christchurch to play New Zealand, the NRL reported.

It was a hard weekend for France. Their men's team lost 78-4 to Samoa in Sydney on Friday night. For Papua New Guinea, Saturday brought two wins at the same stadium. The Kumuls, the men's team, beat Lebanon 42-18 later in the day to complete the double.