Rugby League World Cup round two: Tonga beat Lebanon 36-0 and Samoa women beat Wales 76-0 ahead of weekend fixtures

Round two of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup opened with a double-header at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Friday 23 October, where Tonga defeated Lebanon 36-0 in the men’s tournament and Samoa beat Wales 76-0 in the women’s competition, according to NRL.com and BBC Sport. Seven more second-round fixtures across the men’s and women’s draws take place on Saturday 24 October and Sunday 25 October in Port Moresby, Perth, Christchurch and Brisbane.

Friday 23 October round two results

Men’s Pool B/C: Tonga 36 Lebanon 0 (CommBank Stadium, Sydney)

Tonga recorded a second victory from two matches to move to the top of the combined six-team Pool B/C standings in front of 25,065 spectators at CommBank Stadium, NRL.com reported. Wingers Sione Katoa (13th and 80th minutes) and Jojo Fifita (44th and 74th minutes) scored two tries each, while centres Paul Alamoti (21st) and Tolutau Koula (37th) and interchange forward Leka Halasima (70th) scored one apiece, according to BBC Sport’s match summary. Alamoti kicked one conversion in the first half and halfback Tui Lolohea converted Tonga’s final three tries in the last 10 minutes.

Tonga played without first-choice halfback Isaiya Katoa, who was ruled out before kick-off with an ankle injury; NRL.com reported he is expected to return for Tonga’s final pool game against Samoa on Sunday 1 November. Five-eighth Latu Fainu returned to the starting side after recovering from a pectoral injury sustained in the round-one win over England, partnering Lolohea in the halves, while back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu led the pre-match Sipi Tau and Tyson Frizell and Robert Toia were rested (NRL.com, 7NEWS).

Lebanon held Tonga scoreless for the opening 12 minutes and did not commit a handling error in the first half, while Tonga made 13 errors over the match, 7NEWS and Total Rugby League reported. Lebanon lost five-eighth Khaled Rajab to a first-half hamstring injury (Total Rugby League). After Sione Katoa and Alamoti put Tonga 10-0 ahead, Lebanon winger Jason Saab rose to tap back an Alex Conti high kick in the 37th minute, only for Manly teammate Koula to intercept the ball and run 90 metres to give Tonga a 14-0 half-time lead (NRL.com). Fifita scored four minutes into the second half from a Koula pass, before late tries from Halasima, Fifita and Sione Katoa completed the 36-0 scoreline.

Women’s Pool A: Samoa 76 Wales 0 (CommBank Stadium, Sydney)

In Friday’s curtain-raiser, Fetu Samoa scored 14 tries—seven in each 35-minute half—to record their highest score and widest winning margin in a women’s international, surpassing their 52-8 victory over Russia at the 2008 World Cup, NRL.com and BBC Sport reported. Halfback Pauline Piliae-Rasabale kicked 10 conversions from 14 attempts, setting a Samoan women’s single-match record (NRL.com).

Nineteen-year-old centre Tyra Ekepati, making her World Cup debut in place of injured centre Sarina Masaga (Achilles), scored a hat-trick, while fullback Destiny Mino-Sinapati and Mercedez Taulelei-Siala scored two tries each (NRL.com, BBC Sport). Laikha Clarke opened the scoring in the ninth minute—Samoa’s first Women’s World Cup try in nearly 18 years, BBC Sport noted—and prop Amber Hall, Ivana Lolesio, captain Evania Isa’ako, Monica Tagoai, 18-year-old Freedom Crichton Ropati and lock Tavarna Papalii also scored one try each. Hall was named player of the match by NRL.com after running for 108 metres, breaking nine tackles and scoring in the 25th minute.

According to match statistics cited by BBC Sport and Nine.com.au, Samoa gained more than 2,000 total metres (including 1,708 run metres to Wales’s 484), held 66 per cent of possession, and made 20 line breaks and 17 offloads to none by tournament debutants Wales. “We wanted to come out here and make a statement, and I’m really proud of the effort the girls put in tonight,” Isa’ako told the Seven Network broadcast, as quoted by Nine.com.au.

Round one recap and updated pool standings

Men’s tournament

Under the 10-team men’s format confirmed by the International Rugby League and Sky Sports, the four Pool A nations play a full round-robin, with the top two advancing to the semi-finals. The three Pool B teams (England, Samoa, Lebanon) play only against the three Pool C teams (Tonga, Papua New Guinea, France), and results from those cross-pool matches count toward a single combined six-team Pool B/C table from which the top two teams qualify for the semi-finals.

Round one results (15–18 October):

• Thursday 15 October (Allianz Stadium, Sydney — Pool A): Australia 24 New Zealand 22. Jack Bostock scored three tries and Reece Walsh and Tom Trbojevic one each for Australia; Kalyn Ponga scored two tries and Casey McLean one for New Zealand (crowd: 41,255).
• Friday 16 October (CommBank Stadium, Sydney — Pool B/C): Samoa 78 France 4. Sualauvi Fa’alogo scored four tries off the interchange bench, Benaiah Ioelu scored two, and Stephen Crichton kicked 11 goals from 15 attempts; Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet scored France’s try (NRL.com, BBC Sport).
• Saturday 17 October (Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby — Pool B/C): Papua New Guinea 42 Lebanon 18. Rhyse Martin kicked seven goals from seven attempts; Abbas Miski scored twice for Lebanon.
• Saturday 17 October (HBF Park, Perth — Pool B/C): Tonga 30 England 12. Haumole Olakau’atu scored two tries and Isaiya Katoa kicked seven goals; AJ Brimson and Dominic Young scored England’s tries.
• Sunday 18 October (McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle — Pool A): Fiji 40 Cook Islands 12. Solomone Saukuru scored two of Fiji’s seven tries and Brandon Wakeham kicked six conversions (crowd: 10,604).

Men’s standings after Friday 23 October (played, points, points difference):

• Pool A: 1. Fiji (1 played, 2 pts, +28); 2. Australia (1 played, 2 pts, +2); 3. New Zealand (1 played, 0 pts, -2); 4. Cook Islands (1 played, 0 pts, -28).
• Combined Pool B/C: 1. Tonga (2 played, 4 pts, +54); 2. Samoa (1 played, 2 pts, +74); 3. Papua New Guinea (1 played, 2 pts, +24); 4. England (1 played, 0 pts, -18); 5. Lebanon (2 played, 0 pts, -60); 6. France (1 played, 0 pts, -74).

Women’s tournament

In the eight-team women’s competition, teams play three round-robin matches within two four-team pools, with the top two from Pool A and Pool B advancing to the semi-finals.

Round one results (16–18 October):

• Friday 16 October (CommBank Stadium, Sydney — Pool A): Australia 40 Samoa 0. Defending champions Australia scored seven tries and Jocelyn Kelleher kicked six goals.
• Saturday 17 October (Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby — Pool B): Papua New Guinea 58 France 4. Naomi Kelly scored four tries for PNG; Manon Samarra scored France’s try.
• Saturday 17 October (HBF Park, Perth — Pool A): England 70 Wales 6. Connie Boyd and Anna Davies scored three tries each, and Isabel Rowe scored two tries and kicked nine goals for 26 points; Paige Travis scored Wales’s try.
• Sunday 18 October (McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle — Pool B): New Zealand 18 Fiji 12. Fiji led 12-10 at half-time in their World Cup debut before Stacey Waaka’s second try, two Zahara Temara penalty goals and a late Leianne Tufuga try gave New Zealand the win.

Women’s standings after Friday 23 October (played, points, points difference):

• Pool A: 1. England (1 played, 2 pts, +64); 2. Australia (1 played, 2 pts, +40); 3. Samoa (2 played, 2 pts, +36); 4. Wales (2 played, 0 pts, -140).
• Pool B: 1. Papua New Guinea (1 played, 2 pts, +54); 2. New Zealand (1 played, 2 pts, +6); 3. Fiji (1 played, 0 pts, -6); 4. France (1 played, 0 pts, -54).

Upcoming round two weekend schedule and team news (all times GMT)

Saturday 24 October

• 2:15am GMT — Women’s Pool B: Fiji v Papua New Guinea (Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby) Host nation Papua New Guinea can move to four points and close in on a semi-final berth after their 58-4 round-one win over France, while Fiji must win to keep their knockout hopes in their own hands following their 18-12 defeat by New Zealand. NRL.com reported that Fiji coach Josaia Rabele made one change to his starting side, promoting Nanise Vakacavu from the bench to the second row in place of injured Tamika Jones (shoulder), with Naomi Tegu joining the interchange. PNG captain Elsie Albert leads an Orchids side with one starting change, as Venessa Nakas replaces Belinda Gwasamun in the back row alongside halves Fleur Ginn and Cynthiah Peters (NRL.com).

• 4:25am GMT — Men’s Pool B/C: Papua New Guinea v Samoa (Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby) Both teams sit on two points after round-one wins and are chasing a second victory to stay level with four-point leaders Tonga in the combined six-team table. Samoa coach Ben Gardiner made one forced change from the 78-4 win over France, naming four-try scorer Sualauvi Fa’alogo to start on the wing in place of injured Deine Mariner (hamstring) and adding Parramatta playmaker Ronald Volkman to the six-man interchange bench alongside Jazz Tevaga, Spencer Leniu, Shawn Blore, Ata Mariota and Clayton Faulalo (NRL.com). Papua New Guinea promoted halfback Bailey Biondi-Odo, prop Epel Kapinias and lock Jack de Belin from the bench into the starting XIII alongside hooker Edwin Ipape and second-rower Rhyse Martin, with Josh Feledy, Rodrick Tai and Khaiya Waiembi joining the bench; Chris Kendall referees (NRL.com).

• 6:35am GMT — Men’s Pool B/C: England v France (HBF Park, Perth) Following their 30-12 opening defeat by Tonga, England must beat France in Perth and Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on 30 October—and likely build a substantial points difference, which serves as the tiebreaker between Pool B/C teams that do not play each other—to remain in contention for a top-two finish, BBC Sport reported. In Friday’s 24-hour squad update on NRL.com, England head coach Brian McDermott brought Matty Ashton onto the wing in place of Zach Eckersley and added Mikey Lewis to the six-man interchange bench alongside Jez Litten, Ben Currie, Ethan Havard, Sam Walters and Jack Welsby. AJ Brimson remains at fullback, George Williams and Harry Smith continue in the halves, and Luke Thompson starts at prop in the absence of injured Morgan Knowles. Hooker Brad O’Neill rejected suggestions that England were underprepared against Tonga after not playing a warm-up game, telling BBC Sport: “Not at all, we had a great week of prep heading into the tournament. The whole team felt really good physically, it was just a good game and the better team won.” For France, Thomas Lacans starts at five-eighth, Romeo Tropis comes in at centre, Julian Bousquet starts at prop, captain Benjamin Garcia moves from hooker to lock, and Amir Bourouh starts at No. 9; Adam Gee is the referee (NRL.com).

• 9:05am GMT — Women’s Pool A: Australia v England (HBF Park, Perth) Pool A’s two unbeaten sides meet in the second leg of the Perth double-header in their first encounter since Australia defeated England 90-4 in Las Vegas in March 2025, BBC Sport noted. If defending champions Australia win, England’s final Pool A match against Samoa in Wollongong on Friday 30 October will become a direct playoff for the second semi-final spot (NRL.com). Australia coach Jess Skinner rested Jessica Sergis and Kezie Apps, bringing Abbi Church onto the wing, shifting Julia Robinson to centre alongside captain Isabelle Kelly, promoting Tiana Penitani Gray to the starting second row, and naming Quincy Dodd and Test debutants Makenzie Weale and Sariah Paki on the interchange bench (NRL.com). England coach Stuart Barrow named 19-year-old Woman of Steel Jenna Foubister at halfback to partner Isabel Rowe—moving Georgia Roche to the bench—along with Molly Jones at centre, Liv Wood at prop, Wigan prop Lucie Sams on the bench for her international debut, and Lucy Murray in the starting back row after Jasmin Strange suffered a tournament-ending knee injury at training (NRL.com, BBC Sport, Rugby Football League).

Sunday 25 October

• 3:00am GMT — Women’s Pool B: New Zealand v France (One NZ Stadium, Christchurch) New Zealand can reach four points and secure a semi-final place depending on Saturday’s Port Moresby result. NRL.com reported that Kiwi Ferns coach Ricky Henry handed Chantay Kiria-Ratu her international debut in the halves alongside Raecene McGregor, moving Zahara Temara to the reserves, while Tenika Willison replaces Leianne Tufuga on the wing and Alexis Tauaneai, Ivana Lauitiiti and Brooke Anderson move into the starting forward pack. France brought Haoua Kessely onto the wing after her late withdrawal in round one, shifted Perle Ramazeilles to centre, Leila Bessahli to prop and Justine Roses to lock, and promoted Fanny Ramos from the bench to start at hooker (NRL.com).

• 5:05am GMT — Men’s Pool A: New Zealand v Cook Islands (One NZ Stadium, Christchurch) Both Pool A sides lost in round one, leaving the loser in Christchurch facing elimination. With New Zealand fullback Kalyn Ponga sidelined after surgery on a broken forearm, Keano Kini starts at fullback, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad starts at centre, Joseph Tapine moves from lock to prop alongside captain James Fisher-Harris, Erin Clark wears No. 13, and Xavier Willison and Scott Sorensen start in the second row, NRL.com reported. Dane Gagai, Moses Leota and Naufahu Whyte are rested in the reserves, while Tanner Stowers-Smith and Jacob Laban are named on the bench for their Test debuts. For the Cook Islands, St George Illawarra fullback Valentine Holmes makes his Cook Islands debut at No. 1 after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out against Fiji, Brad Takairangi starts at halfback, Rua Ngatikaura starts at hooker, and Rhys Dakin and Amare Milford join the starting pack; Ashley Klein referees (NRL.com).

• 9:05am GMT — Men’s Pool A: Australia v Fiji (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) Pool A leaders Fiji (+28) and defending champions Australia (+2) meet in Brisbane with top spot in the group on the line. Following halfback Mitchell Moses’s tournament-ending lower-leg muscle tear, Australia coach Kevin Walters made five changes to his starting XIII, bringing in James Tedesco at fullback—who also captains the side with Isaah Yeo, Harry Grant and Liam Martin rested in the reserves—and handing Test debuts to halfback Sam Walker, centre Bradman Best and hooker Blayke Brailey alongside five-eighth Tom Dearden and prop Lindsay Smith (NRL.com, BBC Sport). Second-rower David Fifita makes his Kangaroos debut after representing Tonga at the 2021 World Cup, while round-one starters Reece Walsh, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Munster, Patrick Carrigan, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Jacob Preston are named on the six-man interchange bench. Fiji coach Mick Potter named an unchanged 17 captained by hooker Apisai Koroisau, with Brandon Wakeham at halfback, Sunia Turuva on the wing, and prop Mitchell Prest—who avoided suspension by accepting a warning for a Grade 1 careless high tackle against the Cook Islands—starting in the front row; Gerard Sutton referees (NRL.com).

Round three and knockout stage schedule

The pool stage concludes across Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, featuring England v Samoa (women, 6:45am GMT) and England v Papua New Guinea (men, 9:05am GMT) at WIN Stadium, Wollongong, on Friday 30 October; Fiji v France (women), New Zealand v Fiji (men, 4:45am GMT), New Zealand v Papua New Guinea (women) and Australia v Cook Islands (men, 9:05am GMT) on Saturday 31 October; and Australia v Wales (women), Lebanon v France (men, 6:50am GMT) and Tonga v Samoa (men, 9:05am GMT) at CommBank Stadium, Sydney, on Sunday 1 November, according to ESPN and Sky Sports.

The men’s and women’s semi-finals will be played as double-headers at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, on Saturday 7 November and Allianz Stadium, Sydney, on Sunday 8 November (women’s semi-finals at 6:45am GMT; men’s semi-finals at 9:05am GMT). The tournament concludes with the double-header finals at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Sunday 15 November, with the women’s final kicking off at 5:10am GMT and the men’s final at 8:35am GMT.