'We had to change after Vegas' - but England suffer another humbling
A new-look England side's hopes of getting closer to Australia were dashed as the ruthless defending champions dismantled them at the Women's Rugby League World Cup.
England's women's rugby league team suffered a 78-0 defeat to Australia in Perth, highlighting their status as World Cup favorites. This was not the first time England has been humbled by Australia, as they suffered a record 90-4 loss in Las Vegas in March 2025, prompting significant changes to their squad selection. Head coach Stuart Barrow emphasized the need to adapt after those early errors, acknowledging that the young players in his 17-player squad would benefit from the experience of competing against world champions.
Despite a second-half effort, England's lack of depth and experience compared to the seasoned Australia team proved too much to overcome.
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