Rugby Union · Wallaroos · WXV Global Series
England 48–15. The Wallaroos led at the break. Then the second half ran away.
WXV Global Series opener at CorpAcq Stadium, Salford. Australia 10–5 up at half-time — the first time England had trailed at the break in years — before eight English tries closed the night. Standings after the opening weekend sit below. France is next; that result is not on this page.
England 48, Australia 15 — the first fixture of the new WXV Global Series, played Saturday 12 September 2026 at CorpAcq Stadium in Salford (Sunday morning Brisbane time). The Wallaroos led 10–5 at half-time. That lead did not survive the second half. England finished with eight tries. Australia’s late reply came through Asoiva Karpani. Sources: World Rugby; ABC; BBC.
First half — Wood, Pohiva, and a rare English deficit
Samantha Wood’s penalty and Faliki Pohiva’s try put Australia in front. England’s Abi Burton scored the visitors’ only first-half try. Desk frame, sourced: it was the first time England had trailed at half-time since roughly 2019–2020. That is the half worth keeping on the record. The scoreboard at the break was real. The final was not a continuation of it.
Second half — England run away
After the restart England pulled clear. Eight tries for the night, a 48–15 final, and another extension of England’s long winning streak — about 39 on the published count. Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona’s line after the match was that the scoreline did not reflect the first-half fight. That is the skipper’s read, not a rewrite of the result. Karpani’s late try was Australia’s second-half answer; it did not change the outcome. Sources: World Rugby; ABC; BBC.
What the new series is
The WXV Global Series replaces the old WXV1 / WXV2 structure. Top twelve nations, home-and-away cross-regional fixtures through October 2026, on the road toward the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia. This was the opening weekend of that board, not a one-off Test. Source: World Rugby series framing.
Opening weekend around the table
Elsewhere on the first round: Canada 64–26 Scotland; New Zealand 28–14 France; Wales 50–19 South Africa. Those results, with Australia’s loss in Salford, set the early standings below. Bonus points explain Scotland on one point from a loss, and Canada, England, Wales and New Zealand on five from wins with try bonuses. Sources: Ultimate Rugby table; World Rugby results.
WXV Global Series standings — after opening weekend
Label: as of mid-September opening weekend; France–Australia still to come on the European leg. USA, Japan, Ireland and Italy have not played.
| Team | P | W | L | PF/PA | Diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 1 | 1 | 0 | 64/26 | +38 | 5 |
| England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 48/15 | +33 | 5 |
| Wales | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50/19 | +31 | 5 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 28/14 | +14 | 5 |
| Scotland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26/64 | −38 | 1 |
| France | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14/28 | −14 | 0 |
| South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19/50 | −31 | 0 |
| Australia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15/48 | −33 | 0 |
| USA | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| Japan | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| Ireland | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| Italy | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 |
Ultimate Rugby / World Rugby results · mid-September opening weekend · France–Australia still ahead on the European leg
Australia sit on 0 points from one loss, points difference −33, eighth among the sides that have played and level on points with France and South Africa behind Scotland’s bonus. Canada lead the board on points difference among the four teams on five.
Next — France, then Scotland
Next for the Wallaroos is France in the Aix-en-Provence / Marseille window — Saturday 19 September local / early Sunday 20 September AEST. That kickoff was still ahead when this item was filed. Do not invent a France result from this page. Then Scotland on 26 September. Preview only until those matches close.
What this item is not
No France–Australia scoreline. No invented try counts beyond the sourced England eight and the named Australia scorers. No claim the half-time lead meant the game was stolen rather than lost. Standings are opening-weekend only; they move when France–Australia and the rest of the European leg land.
Sources: World Rugby / ABC / BBC (England 48–15 Australia, CorpAcq Stadium / Salford, 12 Sep 2026; HT 10–5; Wood penalty; Pohiva try; Burton try; Karpani late try; England eight tries; win streak ~39; Palu Sekona on the scoreline vs first-half fight); World Rugby (WXV Global Series format — top 12, home-and-away through Oct 2026, path to 2029 RWC in Australia); Ultimate Rugby table / World Rugby results (Canada 64–26 Scotland; NZ 28–14 France; Wales 50–19 South Africa; standings and bonus-point framing as of mid-September opening weekend). France–Australia and Scotland fixtures are calendar only until results post. If it is not confirmed, it is not on this page.