Defending champions Australia got off to a flyer on the back of Jocelyn Kelleher's dazzling debut before the PNG Orchids and England made statements of their own to kick off the 2026 World Cup.

Kelleher starred in the Jillaroos' 40-0 victory over Samoa, the five-eighth's booming boot causing havoc for her opponents while she also had a line break and a try assist.

Seven different Australian players crossed for tries as Australia jumped out to a 28-0 half-time lead before they closed out a clinical performance after the break.

The Orchids opened their World Cup in style, Naomie Kelly crossing for four tries in a comprehensive 58-4 victory over France.

Craig Sandercock's side was dominant from the opening whistle, running in 12 tries to one to outclass their opponents in Port Moresby.

England also produced a sensational attacking performance to outclass Wales at HBF Park in Perth.

Player of the match Isabel Rowe scored 26 points to equal the record for most points by an English woman in an international match. Centre Connie Boyd scored a hat-trick on debut, with Anna Davies also crossing for three tries.

England's win set the stage for a showdown with the Jillaroos in the second week of the tournament.

The final game of Round 1 in Newcastle was expected to be a walk in the park for the Kiwi Ferns but it was the brave Bulikula who stole the show in their World Cup debut.

Leading 12-4 after 30 minutes thanks to tries from Losana Lutu and Sienna Laing, Fiji were on track for an enormous upset but the experience of the Ferns got them home in the end as Zahara Temara nailed a late penalty goal before Leianne Tufuga crossed to make it 18-12.

The Kiwi Ferns will be on home soil in Round 2 when they face France in Christchurch while the Bulikula travel to Port Moresby to tackle the Orchids.

Australia v Samoa

Friday, October 16, 8.05pm AEDT at CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Jillaroos 40 bt Fetu Samoa 0 - 16-Oct-2026

PNG v France

Saturday, October 17, 1.15pm AEDT at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

PNG Orchids 58 bt 4 - 17-Oct-2026

England v Wales

Saturday, October 17, 5.35pm AEDT at HBF Park, Perth

England 70 bt Wales 6 - 17-Oct-2026

New Zealand v Fiji

Sunday, October 18, 1.50pm AEDT at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Kiwi Ferns 18 bt Fiji Bulikula 12 - 18-Oct-2026