Tonga stun England in World Cup opener

Tonga put England's Rugby League World Cup campaign under jeopardy by beating them in their opening match at HBF Park.

BBC Sport

Published: Saturday, 17 October 2026 at 5:59 PM

Key Things to Know

Tonga defeated England 30-12 in the opening match of the Rugby League World Cup.
The match took place at HBF Park.
The opening defeat puts England's Rugby League World Cup campaign under immediate pressure.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Tonga defeated England 30-12 in their opening Rugby League World Cup match held at HBF Park. The result immediately places England's tournament campaign under jeopardy after falling behind in the group stage opener.

The matchup concluded with Tonga securing a convincing 18-point victory to open their World Cup run. Further match details and video highlights were restricted to UK users by the original broadcaster.

Read the full article on BBC Sport

Tonga stun England in World Cup opener

More Rugby League News

Never Miss a Sports Update