Australia 30–14 Fiji: Church's four tries end the Bulikula's scare and set up a final against New Zealand

Independently verified

Australia beat Fiji 30–14 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney, on Sunday 8 November 2026 in the Women's Rugby League World Cup semi-final, after the sides were level 8–8 at half-time. Australia's tries: Abbi Church (4), Tamika Upton and Jaime Chapman, with Jocelyn Kelleher kicking three goals. Fiji's points came from a Luisa Yaranamua penalty and try and a Maria Paseka try, with Yaranamua kicking all three of Fiji's goals. Fiji, in their first World Cup, scored first: Yaranamua's penalty goal in the 12th minute was the first time since the 2013 World Cup final that the Jillaroos had not scored the first points in a Test match, and she then powered over from dummy half and converted her own try for 8–0. Church and Upton tries levelled it before the break, and Fiji dropped the ball in the last minute of the half with a golden chance to retake the lead. After half-time Church scored her second off a Jess Sergis tip-on, Kelleher's conversion making it 14–8; Chapman added her 10th try of the tournament and Church completed her hat-trick from a Tarryn Aiken crossfield kick for 24–8. Paseka, sent over by Yaranamua in the 62nd minute, cut it to 24–14, before Church took a bomb near her own line and sprinted 80 metres for her fourth try. Church also ran for 205 metres. The win puts Australia into a fifth straight Women's World Cup final, chasing a fourth successive title — New Zealand won the first three tournaments, Australia the last three — against New Zealand at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Sunday 15 November. Jaime Chapman left the field with 20 minutes to play with cramp.