Australia will meet New Zealand in the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup final after overcoming a determined Fiji side 30-14 in Sunday’s semi-final at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. The Jillaroos are one step away from another World Cup title, but their path to the final was far from straightforward, with the Fiji Bulikula delivering one of their strongest performances of the tournament before Australia eventually pulled away in the second half.
Fiji made their intentions clear from the opening exchanges, putting the defending champions under pressure with physical defence, strong carries and an attacking intensity that disrupted Australia’s usual rhythm. The Bulikula struck first through Luisa Yaranamua, who opened the scoring with a penalty goal before crossing for a try of her own and converting to give Fiji an early 8-0 advantage. Australia responded through winger Abbi Church, who crossed in the 25th minute before Tamika Upton added another try four minutes later. With both conversions unsuccessful, the teams went into the break locked at 8-8. The second half, however, belonged to the Jillaroos. Church continued to cause problems for the Fijian defence, scoring twice more before Jaime Chapman added another try to extend Australia’s advantage. Her fourth try of the afternoon came in the 67th minute, putting the result beyond reach and completing an outstanding individual performance. Church finished with four tries, while Upton and Chapman also found the try line. Jocelyn Kelleher contributed three successful conversions. Fiji refused to go quietly. Maria Paseka crossed in the 62nd minute following an attacking opportunity created by Yaranamua, bringing the score to 24-14 and briefly giving the Bulikula hope of a late comeback.
However, Australia’s response through Church sealed the 30-14 result and confirmed the Jillaroos’ place in another World Cup final. For Fiji, the result marks the end of a historic first World Cup campaign. The Bulikula demonstrated their ability to compete against established international opposition, recording victories over Papua New Guinea and France during the pool stages before pushing New Zealand in a closely contested opening-round match. Their semi-final performance against Australia further highlighted the progress of the Fijian women’s program and the growing competitiveness of international women’s rugby league. A trans-Tasman showdown awaits in Brisbane. Australia’s victory sets up a highly anticipated final against the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns, who secured their place in the decider after defeating Samoa in Saturday’s semi-final in Newcastle. The matchup continues one of international rugby league’s biggest rivalries, with the Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns meeting in the fifth consecutive Women’s Rugby League World Cup final between the two nations.
The Kiwi Ferns will arrive with their own ambitions of reclaiming the world title, setting the stage for another chapter in a rivalry that has defined the women’s international game. The women’s final will form part of a major double-header at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, November 15. It will also be a significant occasion for both nations beyond the women’s competition. Following Sunday’s men’s semi-final results, Australia and New Zealand have now qualified for both the men’s and women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 finals. The Kangaroos secured their place in the men’s decider with a 44-12 victory over Samoa, while New Zealand booked their spot with a 34-10 win over Tonga on Saturday. It means all four finalists will come from the two traditional rugby league powerhouses, setting up a remarkable trans-Tasman double-header to decide the men’s and women’s world champions.
For the Jillaroos, the focus now turns to one final challenge against the Kiwi Ferns. For Fiji, their inaugural World Cup campaign concludes with valuable experience and a performance against the defending champions that demonstrated just how far the program has come. Brisbane will now host two of international rugby league’s biggest rivalries, with Australia and New Zealand preparing to meet for the ultimate prize on the world stage.
2026 Rugby League World Cup Finals
- Women’s Final: Australia Jillaroos vs New Zealand Kiwi Ferns
- Men’s Final: Australia Kangaroos vs New Zealand Kiwis
- Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
