Samoa score 14 tries to rout Wales in Sydney at Rugby League World Cup

Samoa ran in 14 tries to thrash Wales in Sydney at the Rugby League World Cup on 23 October 2026. Piliae-Rasabale kicked 10 goals as Samoa set a new record score.

Wales lost heavily for a second successive match at the World Cup and were contesting only their 14th international fixture. Samoa had lost their opening tournament game 40-0 against Australia and entered this match as the team ranked fifth in the world. The victory surpassed Samoa's previous record score of 52-8 against Russia at the 2008 World Cup. The tournament runs from 15 October to 15 November.

Wales began with early errors that forced Samoa under pressure and left the visitors camped on their own try line, but Samoa steadied and Laikha Clarke crashed over to score Samoa's first World Cup try in nearly 18 years. Frank Pritchard's side then used pace and power to open the scoring sequence. Wales were unable to contain Samoa's quick passing and physical play as the game progressed.

Destiny Mino-Siapati, Amber Hall and an Ekepati double extended Samoa's lead to 28-0 after 28 minutes. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala and Ivana Loleiso added two further tries to make it 40-0 at the interval, meaning Wales conceded 40 points in the first half for a second successive World Cup outing.

Samoa continued to score after the break as captain Evana Isa'ako crossed for an eighth try and Monica Tahoai added a ninth. Mino-Siapati then produced a long-distance effort for a 10th try, Taulelei-Siala struck again to complete her brace, and Freedom Crichton Ropati, cousin of Stephen Crichton and sister-in-law of Brian To'o, registered her first World Cup try aged 18.

Tyra Ekepati, on her debut for Samoa, completed a hat-trick in the closing stages before Tavarna Papalii added the 14th try with 90 seconds remaining. Samoa gained more than 2,000 meters and made 21 line breaks compared to none by Wales.

Tries: Clarke, Ekepati 3, Mino-Sinapati 2, Hall, Taulelei-Siala 2, Lolesio, Isa'ako, Tagoai, Crichton Ropati, Papalii. Goals: Piliae-Rasabale 10.

Wales conclude their Pool action against co-hosts Australia in Sydney on Sunday, 1 November, while Samoa head to Wollongong to face England on Friday, 30 October.