Tonga stuns England in Rugby League World Cup

Associated Press

Oct 17, 2026

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is seen as Team Tonga perform the Sipi Tau prior to the Men's Rugby League World Cup Group A match between England and Tonga in Perth, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image)

Stefano Utoikamanu of Tonga, center, celebrates after scoring a try during the Men's Rugby League World Cup Group A match between England and Tonga in Perth, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image)

AJ Brimson of England, right, reacts after scoring a try during the Men's Rugby League World Cup Group A match between England and Tonga in Perth, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image)

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Tonga pulled off a stunner at the Rugby League World Cup on Saturday by beating England 30-12.

It was another shock result against a Pacific island nation for the English, who were beaten by Samoa in the semifinals on home soil in 2022.

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It was the first of third-ranked England's three group-stage games and immediately jeopardizes its progress to the semifinals, with games still to come against France and Papua New Guinea.

Tonga, which had never previously beaten England, is ranked No. 5 in the world and has other group games against Lebanon and Samoa.

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Only two of those six teams advance to the last four.

The semifinals of the month-long World Cup are scheduled for Nov. 7 and 8, with the final at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Nov. 15.

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