England face ‘do or die’ World Cup game with Samoa
England need to beat Samoa on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup, making their final group match a “do or die” game, coach Stuart Barrow says. After opening with a 70-6 win over Wales, England lost 78-0 to defending champions Australia, and must now respond to stay in the tournament.
The match in Wollongong starts at 06:45 GMT; victory would secure second place in Group A and likely set up a semi-final against New Zealand. England’s defeat to Australia exposed the gulf between the southern hemisphere sides and England’s amateur league, while Samoa’s squad is made up of players from Australia’s semi-professional NRLW. Eva Hunter is out with a leg injury, but captain Jodie Cunningham has been named on the bench after treatment for an injured ear.
In short
- England must beat Samoa to qualify for the semi-finals.
- They lost 78-0 to defending champions Australia.
- Eva Hunter is out; captain Jodie Cunningham is available.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
England should treat the Samoa match as a defining test of resilience: a win keeps them in the tournament and rewards the team’s response after a heavy defeat. Competing for a semi-final place also matters to the players and supporters who have invested in the campaign, even against opponents with stronger professional pathways.
The case against
The 78-0 loss exposed a substantial gap in preparation and playing standards, while Samoa’s NRLW experience gives them a formidable squad. Some may argue that the result matters less than protecting players’ wellbeing and using the match to learn from the gulf between England’s amateur league and the professional southern hemisphere sides.
Explained simply
The Women’s Rugby League World Cup is an international tournament in which national teams compete in groups before the leading sides advance to the semi-finals. England are in Group A alongside Australia, Wales and Samoa, with the group results deciding who progresses.
England’s squad is largely drawn from the amateur game, while Samoa’s players compete in Australia’s semi-professional NRLW competition. Australia are the defending champions, and New Zealand are among the leading teams in the tournament.