Whilst all the talk over the weekend has been on the action at Wembley, there has been plenty of other international rugby league matches that have taken place, including multiple fixtures that had spots in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup on the line.

Whilst Reece Walsh’s Kangaroos debut will be talked about for years to come, we are switching the focus to other international matches in the men’s and the women’s game.

Super League stars shone, an incredible try went viral, and most-importantly we are now one step closer to finalising the teams for next year’s World Cup.

The weekend also saw action from the Wheelchair game, as England continued their winning start in their tour of Australia, beating a Queensland representative side 72-60.

Here is a full round-up of all the international fixtures that happened over the weekend, and there was a plethora of Super League talent on show.

International round-up as two nations quality for Rugby League World Cup 

Pacific Championships

Starting Down Under, the second round of the Pacific Championships took place, and this week saw Samoa take on Tonga and Papua New Guinea take on Cook Islands.

In a match that was delayed for 90 minutes due to lightning strikes, 2022 World Cup runners up, Samoa took the spoils, in a physical and brutal affair against rivals Tonga.

The Samoans won 34-6, as two tries from Jeremiah Nanai helped them to a convincing victory. Four other players scored tries, and Ben Gardiner’s side cemented their place in the Final. They will play New Zealand in that match, unless Tonga can beat the Kiwis by more than 17 points next week.

In the Pacific Bowl, which is the second tier of the competition, PNG edged out the Cook Islands in a high-scoring thriller, as a number of Super League talent were on show.

Salford Red Devils’ Esan Marsters and Toulouse Olympique duo Paul Ulberg and Reubenn Rennie featured for Cook Islands, with Marsters setting up two tries and Rennie scoring one.

Rhyse Martin was one of six players from the Northern Hemisphere to play for the Kumuls, with Nene MacDonald and four Leigh Leopards players making up the contingent.

Martin, in his 20th international game, scored a try and kicked five goals for his national side before being sent to the sin bin in the final minute of the game for a professional foul. However, that wouldn’t stop his team from earning a 40-28 victory.

In the Women’s side of the competition, the headlines were grabbed by Australia winger Julia Robinson, who scored a sensational try in the Jillaroos’ 60-0 win over Samoa.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/24r8Gb7n38

— NRLW (@NRLWomens) October 26, 2025

World Cup Qualifiers

Places in next year’s World Cup were on the line, as France took on Jamaica in the men’s game whilst Fiji faced Nigeria in the women’s.

There were hefty score lines in both matches, as the French recorded a 36-0 victory over the Reggae Warriors.

Departing Catalans Dragons players Fouad Yaha and Paul Seguier both crossed, plus a try from Sydney Roosters youngster Enzo Griffier made for a 16-0 half-time score.  Second tries for Yaha and Griffier, as well as scores from Dragons duo Julian Bousquet and Leo Darrelatour rounded out the victory, as they booked their place in the World Cup next year.

In the women’s game, there will be a brand-new team in the tournament, as Fiji qualified for the competition for the first time in their history. A 62-4 victory over Ireland saw them through, with NRLW star Cassie Staples scoring four of the 11 tries.

Wales vs Ireland

Two historic rivals went head to head in the first of a two-game series, as Wales’ men welcomed Ireland to The Knoll in Neath.

Hull FC youngster Denive Balmforth was one of 10 debutants on the field, with Wales fielding six and Ireland four.

Home advantage would prevail in game one, as Paul Berry’s Wales secured a 24-0 over the Irish, with tries coming from Lloyd McEwan-Peters, Max Clarke, Rhodri Lloyd and Connor Davies.

The second match of that series will take place in Featherstone on Saturday, and Huddersfield Giants quartet George King, Aiden McGowan, Harry Rushton and Connor Carr can put on a better showing for their country.