IRL Women's Rugby League World Cup : Pool B

Sat 31st October 2026   - KO  12:35 - Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast , Australia

Fiji

54

FT

6

Half Time
20 - 0

France

Tries

Tahlia MARSHALL (3,45)
Maria PASEKA (19)
Aliti NAMOCE (24)
Losana LUTU (27)
Cassandra STAPLES (39)
Latisha SMYTHE ULUIBANU (51)
Leilani ASHAM (54)
Taina NAIVIDI (63)
Lorren Ieli (67)

Stecy BESSIER (38)

Goals

Luisa YARANAMU (7/10)

Lisa DIRAISON (1/1)

Match Preview | Fiji look to secure semi-final spot in Women's World Cup against France

Fiji are 80 minutes away from potentially securing a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 IRL Women’s Rugby League World Cup as they prepare to face winless France on Saturday.

With one win from two games, Fiji sit second in the group, 12 points ahead of Papua New Guinea on points difference. PNG face unbeaten leaders New Zealand in their final group game, leaving Fiji with a strong chance of progressing.

France have lost both of their opening matches and cannot reach the semi-finals, but will be aiming to claim their first win and spoil Fiji’s hopes of progressing when the sides meet at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast this weekend.

Maria Paseka comes in on the wing for Fiji to replace Sienna Laing, whilst Cristina Song Puche returns for France at hooker in place of Fanny Ramos.

Fiji (squad): Cassandra STAPLES, Maria PASEKA, Isabella WATERMAN, Taina NAIVIDI, Tahlia MARSHALL, Luisa YARANAMU, Losana LUTU, Latisha SMYTHE ULUIBANU, Sere Naitokatoka, Lorren Ieli, Grace NALEBA, Talei Holmes, Leilani ASHAM, Rory MULLER, Ema Masi, Naomi Sivoi TEGU, Aliti NAMOCE, Ebony LAING, Sienna Rose LAING, Nanise VAKACAVU, Abigayle SEKITOGA, Teaghan LAING-HARTIGAN

France (squad): Manon SAMARRA, Margot CANAL, Melisa MEDINA, Perle RAMAZEILLES, Haoua KESSELY, Camille BOUDAD, Lisa DIRAISON, Elisa AKPA, Cristina SONG PUCHE, Elodie PACULL, Perrine MONSARRAT, Stecy BESSIER, Leila BESSAHLI, Fanny RAMOS, Salome SEGALA, Louisa TOOMAN, Justine ROSES, Tessa BENMALEK, Amaël VILANOVE, Noemie SAMUEL, Chahrazad HIMOUDI, Tallis ERANOSSIAN

27 October 2026
1 Cassandra STAPLES
Full Back
Manon SAMARRA 1
2 Maria PASEKA
Right Wing
Margot CANAL 2
3 Isabella WATERMAN
Right Centre
Melisa MEDINA 3
4 Taina NAIVIDI
Left Centre
Perle RAMAZEILLES 4
5 Tahlia MARSHALL
Left Wing
Haoua KESSELY 5
6 Luisa YARANAMU
Stand Off
Camille BOUDAD 6
7 Losana LUTU
Scrum Half
Lisa DIRAISON 7
8 Latisha SMYTHE ULUIBANU
Prop
Elisa AKPA 8
9 Sere Naitokatoka
Hooker
Cristina SONG PUCHE 9
10 Lorren Ieli
Prop
Elodie PACULL 10
11 Grace NALEBA
Second Row
Perrine MONSARRAT 11
12 Talei Holmes
Second Row
Stecy BESSIER 12
13 Leilani ASHAM
Loose Forward
Leila BESSAHLI 13
14 Ema Masi
Int 1
Fanny RAMOS 14
15 Aliti NAMOCE
Int 2
Salome SEGALA 15
16 Naomi Sivoi TEGU
Int 3
Louisa TOOMAN 16
17 Rory MULLER
Int 4
Justine ROSES 17
18 Ebony LAING
Reserve 1
Tessa BENMALEK 18

Fiji Bulikula have stormed into the semi-finals at their first ever World Cup with a stunning 54-6 win over France at Cbus Super Stadium.

The 50-6 victory means Bulikula will face world champions Australia at Allianz Stadium next Sunday in what will be an emotional occasion for Sereana Naitokatoka and her team.

Fiji got off to a flyer with Tahlia Marshall crossing in the fourth minute before Maria Paseka grabbed the second try in the 20th minute in her return from a leg injury.

Interchange forward Aliti Namoce and star playmaker Losana Lutu then crossed in the space of three minutes as the Bulikula took full control although France looked unlucky to be denied a try when winger Haoua Kessely was ruled to have gone into touch when she touched down in the corner in the 23rd minute.

Trailing 20-0 at the break France came out firing in the second term and they had their second try of the tournament in the 39th minute when Fanny Ramos exploded out of dummy half and picked up Stecy Bessiere in support for a try under the sticks.

Fiji had a quick answer through Cassie Staples to take the scoreline out to 24-6 as they closed in on their historic semi-final berth.

Come the 46th minute and Marshall had her fifth try of the tournament after a sweep to the left with Taina Naividi delivering the final pass. The conversion from Luisa Yaranamua made it 32-6.

Powerhouse forwards Latisha Smythe and Leilani Ahsam then grabbed tries in quick succession as the power and pace of the Bulikula proved too much for a brave France outfit.

A hard-charging Lorren Ieli put the finishing touches on a famous win when she left four defenders in her wake to cross in the 68th minute.

Among a host of stars for Fiji it was fullback Staples with 135 run metres and front-rower Smythe (17 runs for 157m) who showed the way, although a leg injury to Paseka in the second half may be of some concern to the camp.

Having pushed the Kiwi Ferns to the absolute limit in an 18-12 loss in week one in Newcastle, the Bulikula will fancy their chances of slaying the giants in Sydney next weekend.

 

 

31 October 2026