England Thrash France 82-0 to Keep Rugby League World Cup Hopes Alive

England produced a commanding performance to defeat France 82-0 at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday, 24 October 2026, in their second group match of the men’s Rugby League World Cup. This emphatic victory marked England’s first win of the tournament after an opening defeat to Tonga and keeps their slim hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.

The match began with a tense, scoreless period as France’s defence held firm for the first 20 minutes. However, once England found their rhythm, they unleashed a dominant attacking display, running in six tries before half-time to lead 36-0. The scoring spree continued in the second half, with England crossing the line 14 times in total.

Standout performers included Dom Young and Herbie Farnworth, who each scored three tries, completing impressive hat-tricks. Mikey Lewis contributed two tries off the bench, while Matty Ashton, George Williams, Victor Radley, Jez Litten, Jack Welsby, and AJ Brimson also got on the scoreboard. Brimson, who was named Player of the Match, was instrumental throughout, registering one try, three try assists, five line breaks, and seven tackle busts, accumulating 272 running metres.

Hugo Savala was flawless with the boot, converting all 13 goal attempts to add crucial points after tries. England’s overall control was reflected in the statistics, with 55% possession, over 2,100 metres gained compared to France’s 900, 12 line breaks, and 53 tackle busts. Ten England players surpassed 100 metres in running, demonstrating the team’s collective effort.

Despite the dominant scoreline, England’s path to the semi-finals remains uncertain. The tournament format combines teams from Pools B and C into a six-team table, with only the top two sides advancing. England currently sit third in this combined group, having two points from one win and one loss. Their points difference improved to +64 after the France match but remains 68 points behind Samoa, who have a +132 points difference following big wins against France and Papua New Guinea.

England’s final group game is against Papua New Guinea at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Friday, 30 October 2026. A convincing victory is essential to boost their points difference and keep qualification hopes alive. However, England’s fate also depends on the result of the Tonga versus Samoa match on Sunday, 1 November. Tonga currently holds the head-to-head advantage over England due to their earlier 30-12 win, so if Tonga defeats Samoa, England could qualify based on points difference. Conversely, a Samoa win would eliminate England from the tournament.

The qualification permutations mean England must not only secure a strong win over Papua New Guinea but also rely on Tonga to beat Samoa to progress. A victory margin of around 68 points would guarantee that any Tonga win over Samoa would be sufficient for England to advance. A smaller England win would require a larger Tongan victory to overturn Samoa’s points difference lead.

England’s coach Brian McDermott praised his team’s attacking style and resilience after the France match, highlighting the importance of carrying momentum into the crucial final group fixture. The team’s forwards and backs combined effectively to break down France’s defence, and the attacking flair shown, led by Brimson and the try-scoring trio of Young, Farnworth, and Lewis, provided a statement of intent.

While the 82-0 victory was one of England’s largest margins over France in World Cup history, the team now faces significant pressure to replicate that performance against Papua New Guinea. The outcome of the remaining group matches will ultimately determine whether England can avoid a rare group-stage exit and secure a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.