England Dominates France in Rugby League World Cup
England secures a decisive 82-0 victory over France to keep tournament semi-final hopes alive in Perth.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Soccer
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England claimed a commanding 82-0 victory against France during the second week of the Rugby League World Cup in Perth. The win was critical for keeping England's semi-final aspirations alive following their opening tournament loss to Tonga.
Why it matters
The massive win provides England with a necessary boost to their points differential as they fight to remain competitive in the tournament group stages. To advance, England must overcome a required point swing of 68 and rely on specific results in other group matches.
England scored 14 tries during the match, with AJ Brimson covering 289 metres while recording three assists and five line breaks. Additional contributions included Mikey Lewis scoring two tries and Jez Litten scoring one.
The players
AJ Brimson
He is an attacking player for England whose performance featured significant metre gains and line breaks.
Mikey Lewis
He is a member of the England squad who contributed two tries to the team total.
Jez Litten
He is an England player who influenced the match by operating effectively around the ruck.
The details
AJ Brimson led the offensive effort with attacking energy and consistent carries, while Jez Litten effectively controlled the play around the ruck. This performance marks a significant rebound for the squad after their earlier 30-12 defeat to Tonga.
Timeline
The opening tournament match took place earlier in October 2026.
The second week match against France occurred in October 2026.
England plays Papua New Guinea in the final week of group stages.
Season Trajectory
This victory drastically shifts England's path in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup group stage requirements by narrowing the points gap. The squad remains dependent on the outcome of the Tonga versus Samoa match to determine their ultimate tournament standing.
England now requires a net point swing of 68 to remain in contention for the semi-finals. Their final match against Papua New Guinea will decide their position in the group rankings.
The takeaway
England has successfully kept their championship hopes alive through a high-scoring victory in Perth. Fans and observers will look to the final group stage matches to see if the required point differential is met.
Further reading
For more information on national tournament outcomes, visit Australia Soccer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hull Daily Mail.
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