England Open Women’s Rugby League World Cup With 70-6 Win Over Wales

What changed

England opened the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup with a 70-6 Group A win over Wales in Perth.

Wales scored first through Paige Travis, but England responded with 13 tries. Anna Davies and Connie Boyd scored hat-tricks, while Izzy Rowe added two tries and nine conversions for 26 points.

Why it matters

For 10 minutes, Wales looked capable of making their World Cup debut uncomfortable. England’s early errors gave Travis the chance to score, and Wales levelled the contest.

Then England found another gear. They led 40-6 at half-time, turning Wales’ attacking promise into a long defensive night. Brown’s 109-metre try, after a Wales kick bounced behind its own line, captured the shift: a promising Welsh attack became another England score.

The result gives England a forceful start to their campaign as they chase a first World Cup final. Wales have shown they can threaten going forward, but this match exposed the distance they still need to close against England’s power and finishing.