Megan Pakulis is shown in action for the Canada Ravens against England in Wigan, England in this Nov. 5, 2022 handout photo at the Women's Rugby League World Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Touchlinepics — Stephen Gaunt (Mandatory Credit)
October 21, 2025 - 5:06 PM
BRAMPTON — Canada will miss out on the 2026 Women's Rugby League World Cup after a 48-0 semifinal loss to Fiji on Tuesday in a four-team qualifying tournament.
It was a hard-hitting affair at Terry Fox Stadium, with Canada's defence putting in a first-half shift against a powerful Fijian side boasting eight players from Australia's elite National Rugby League Women's Premiership (NRLW). But the Pacific Islanders kept coming, making the most of their physical forwards and elusive backs.
A tiring Canadian defence surrendered 36 points on seven second-half tries.
The 16th-ranked Fijians will face No. 17 Nigeria in Sunday's final of the International Rugby League (IRL) Women's Rugby League World Series with the winner becoming the eighth and last team in next year's World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The 10th-ranked Canada Ravens will play Ireland earlier Sunday for third place.
Nigeria, on tries by Fedelia Omoghan and Rachel Iliya, defeated No. 8 Ireland 10-0 in Tuesday's earlier semifinal.
The Canadian women made the 2017 and 2021 World Cups but the qualifying process was more arduous this time.
The Ravens advanced to the four-team qualifier by beating the 11th-ranked U.S. Hawks 40-8 in the final of the Americas Women’s Championship last November in Jacksonville, Fla.
Rugby league is the lesser-known rugby code, played 13-a-side instead of rugby union's 15-a-side. It's a physical game with powerful forwards and elusive backs each offering their own kind of threat.
No. 1 Australia, No. 2 New Zealand, No. 3 England, No. 4 France, No. 5 Papua New Guinea, No. 6 Wales and No. 12 Samoa have already qualified for next year's World Cup.
Maria Paseka scored three tries while Isabella Waterman, Sienna Laing and Tahlia Marshall each scored two, and Cassie Staples added a single try for Fiji, which led 12-0 at the half. Fiji also booted four conversions.
After the pre-game anthems, the Fijian players and coaches gathered in a circle on the pitch and sang a hymn while the Canadian women, arm in arm, looked on.
Fiji threatened early, spending time deep in the Canadian end. The Canadian defence held firm with Fiji not helping its cause with several handling errors near the Canadian goal-line.
Fiji finally broke through in the 18th minute with Waterman capping off an attack started from a scrum following a Canadian knock-on in its own end. Marshall made it 8-0 four minutes later, touching down in the corner as the Fijians continued to make metres.
A Canadian penalty for a high tackle in its own end set the stage for Fiji's third try by Paseka as the Pacific Islanders extended their lead to 12-0.
It looked like Megan Pakulis had scored for Canada with seven minutes remaining in the half. But Pakulis was judged to have made a double movement in trying to touch the ball down while being tackled so the try was waved off.
Fiji added two tries from each from Laing and Paseka plus singles by Staples, Waterman and Marshall in the second half.
The Canadian lineup included several professional players.
Pakulis is coming off a season with the NRLW's Gold Coast Titans, while Lauren Mueller and Channy Crowl play in England for the London Broncos and St. Helens, respectively.
Caitlin Sears and Rachel Choboter play for club teams in New Zealand.
A touring Canadian side, minus some of its top talent, toured Fiji in August, losing 30-8 to the Fiji Rise academy and 34-12 to the Bula Kuli Residents.
The Ravens are coached by former Welsh international Matt Barron.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2025.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2025