England Women overwhelm Wales as Boyd and Davies hit World Cup hat-tricks

England Women opened their Rugby League World Cup campaign with a 70-6 victory over Wales as debutant Connie Boyd and Anna Davies each scored hat-tricks in Perth.

Isabel Rowe contributed two tries and nine conversions for 26 points, equalling the record for an England women’s player in an international, according to the Rugby Football League’s match report.

Stuart Barrow’s side scored 13 tries at HBF Park, including a spectacular 109-metre effort from Amelia Brown, to begin their Group A campaign with a convincing win.

Wales briefly drew level through Paige Travis, whose try was their first at a Women’s World Cup. But England pulled away to lead 40-6 at half-time before adding six unanswered tries after the interval.

England Women beat debutantes Wales in the opening match of the tournament 🏉 pic.twitter.com/iCSPP6A4wr

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 17, 2026

England Women pull clear after early Wales response

Brown opened the scoring, but Wales responded through former England international Travis. Tayla Preston converted to bring the tournament debutants level at 6-6.

Georgia Wilson restored England’s advantage before Boyd collected Hollie-Mae Dodd’s offload to score her first international try.

Dodd then crossed herself, with further scores from Boyd and Davies putting England firmly in control. Rowe added another just before the break to complete a seven-try first half.

The result was already moving beyond Wales, although their early response had given Tom Brindle’s side a significant moment on their World Cup debut.

Brown goes the length as England add six more tries

Debutant Jasmin Strange scored shortly after the restart before Rowe’s second try took England to 50 points.

Brown then provided one of the match’s standout moments, collecting a Wales kick behind her own try line and racing 109 metres for her second score.

Boyd completed her debut hat-trick after an offload from Jenna Foubister, while Davies crossed twice in the closing stages to secure her own treble.

Wilson, Dodd and Strange joined Boyd, Davies, Brown and Rowe on England’s scoresheet.

Cunningham turns attention to Australia

England captain Jodie Cunningham acknowledged the challenge Wales had posed early on but was already looking towards the next group fixture.

“Job one done,” Cunningham told Premier Sports. “We’ll regroup, see where we can improve – we’ve got a huge game next week.”

Wales captain Bethan Dainton said she remained proud of her team despite the margin, pointing to lapses in concentration that had allowed England to take control.

England next face reigning champions Australia at HBF Park on Saturday 24 October, with kick-off at 10.05am BST.

Wales meet Samoa at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Friday 23 October.

Our Rugby League World Cup fixtures and TV guide explains how to follow the tournament, with further reports and reaction in our rugby league coverage.

England tries: Boyd 3, Davies 3, Brown 2, Rowe 2, Wilson, Dodd, Strange. Goals: Rowe 9.

Wales try: Travis. Goal: Preston.

Half-time: England 40-6 Wales.