Fiji and Samoa Make History With First-Ever Women's Rugby League World Cup Semi-Finals

Fiji and Samoa have both reached the semi-finals of the Women's Rugby League World Cup for the first time, capping a historic weekend for Pacific rugby league. Fiji, competing at their first World Cup, thrashed France 54-6 on the Gold Coast, with Tahlia Marshall scoring twice and eight other Fijian players also crossing in a ten-try rout. Samoa were equally impressive in Wollongong, beating England 24-6 with Freedom Crichton Ropati scoring a first-half hat-trick.

Fetu Samoa will now face the Kiwi Ferns in Newcastle on Saturday, while Fiji take on the Jillaroos at Allianz Stadium in Sydney next Sunday. Both semi-finals promise to be celebrations of how far the women's international game has travelled.

The results also reshaped the tournament, with England eliminated and the Pacific nations announcing themselves as genuine contenders rather than feel-good stories. For Fiji and Samoa, the semi-finals are already history; what happens next could be even bigger.