England's final group game at the 2026 women's Rugby League World Cup is "do or die," according to coach Stuart Barrow. Barrow's side must beat Samoa in Wollongong on Friday (06.45 GMT) to finish second in Group A and qualify for the semi-finals. England beat Wales 70-6 in their opener but were thrashed 78-0 by reigning champions Australia in Perth last weekend. A win would likely set up a semi-final against New Zealand, who beat them in the last four of the previous World Cup in 2022.
"We knew we needed four points to reach the semis, and two points would likely have to come from here," Barrow told a media conference on Tuesday. "It is do or die and no-one wants to go home."
This tournament has produced several mismatched results, with heavy defeats for northern hemisphere nations inflicted by southern sides other than England. Samoa beat Wales 76-0 and New Zealand defeated France 92-0. Samoa's squad is made up entirely of players from Australia's semi-pro NRLW, a much higher standard than England's amateur Women's Super League. Barrow said his young squad had learned a lot from the defeat, particularly the speed of Australia's ball movement. "They now know what the game looks like against the best in the world," he said.
The challenge is compounded by the loss of Eva Hunter, who is out of Friday's match with a leg injury. Hollie-Mae Dodd moves from prop to the back row, with Mary Coleman coming in at prop. England have received a boost as captain Jodie Cunningham, who needed stitches to a serious ear injury after the Australia game, has been named on the bench.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing