Kiwi Ferns vs France Rugby League World Cup 2026

Can France stop the Kiwi Ferns on home soil? New Zealand beat them 46-0 when the two sides met at the last World Cup.

Now the Kiwi Ferns play their only home game of the tournament, in front of what should be a big crowd in Christchurch.

The Kiwi Ferns beat France 92-0 at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday 25 October 2026, scoring 18 tries, with four to Apii Nicholls.

It’s the first game of a double-header, with the Kiwis taking on the Cook Islands straight after at 6:05pm.

Below, you’ll find kick-off times in every country, both squads, the head-to-head record, our prediction and every way to watch.

Next up, the Kiwi Ferns play PNG and France play Fiji, both on the Gold Coast on Saturday 31 October.

What Time Is Kiwi Ferns vs France?

Kiwi Ferns vs France kicks off at 3:50pm NZ time on Sunday 25 October.

Where you are	Kick-off time
Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington	3:50pm Sunday
Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra	1:50pm Sunday
Brisbane	12:50pm Sunday
Perth	10:50am Sunday
UK	2:50am Sunday
France	3:50am Sunday

It’s a Sunday afternoon kick-off for Kiwi fans, with the game live on Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now.

Australian fans can watch at 1:50pm Sydney time, free on Seven and 7plus.

UK clocks go back early on Sunday 25 October, so the game starts at 2:50am GMT.

In France, it’s a very early 3:50am start, so most French fans will catch the replay later that morning.

Kiwi Ferns vs France Team Lists

Both 17s were named on Tuesday 20 October. Here’s how they line up, from the official NRL.com team lists.

No.	New Zealand	France
1	Apii Nicholls	Manon Samarra
2	Tenika Willison	Margot Canal
3	Mele Hufanga	Melissa Medina
4	Stacey Waaka	Perle Ramazeilles
5	Mackenzie Wiki	Haoua Kessely
6	Chantay Kiria-Ratu	Camille Boudaud
7	Raecene McGregor	Lisa Diraison
8	Alexis Tauaneai	Elisa Akpa
9	Georgia Hale	Fanny Ramos
10	Ivana Lauitiiti	Leila Bessahli
11	Annessa Biddle	Perrine Monsarrat
12	Kaiyah Atai	Stacy Bessiere
13	Brooke Anderson	Justine Roses
14	Ashleigh Quinlan	Noemie Samuel
15	Shannon Mato	Salome Segala
16	Shaniece Monschau	Tallis Eranossian
17	Trinity Tauaneai	Elodie Pacull

New Zealand change their halves. Chantay Kiria-Ratu makes her first Kiwi Ferns appearance at five-eighth beside Raecene McGregor.

Apii Nicholls stays at fullback and Georgia Hale at hooker. Zahara Temara drops to the reserves, and Tenika Willison comes onto the wing.

France keep Manon Samarra at fullback, with Camille Boudaud and Lisa Diraison in the halves and Fanny Ramos at hooker.

See both squads on our Kiwi Ferns and France Women squad pages.

Kiwi Ferns vs France Head to Head

New Zealand have dominated this matchup. At the last World Cup, played in England in 2022, the Kiwi Ferns beat France 46-0 in York.

The Kiwi Ferns scored nine tries that day, in the opening game of their campaign.

New Zealand have won three Women’s World Cups, in 2000, 2003 and 2008, while France are still chasing their first big result.

France’s best World Cup moment came in 2008, when they beat Tonga 34-4.

Kiwi Ferns vs France Prediction

The Kiwi Ferns are heavy favourites, at home and with a squad full of NRLW stars.

But they’ll want a sharper start than in Round 1, when Fiji led them 12-4 before New Zealand came back to win 18-12.

Our pick is New Zealand by more than 30 points.

A big win would boost New Zealand’s points difference before their final group game against PNG on the Gold Coast on 31 October.

Where Is Kiwi Ferns vs France Being Played?

The match is at One New Zealand Stadium in central Christchurch, a covered stadium built for big events.

There’s no general parking at the ground, so organisers recommend buses, taxis, rideshare or cycling.

The venue is cashless, so bring a card or phone to pay, and arrive at least 45 minutes before kick-off.

France fans have their own supporter bay in Section 130, while New Zealand fans are in Sections 136 and 137.

What Channel Is Kiwi Ferns vs France On?

In New Zealand, the match is live on Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now.

In Australia, it’s free on the Seven Network and 7plus. In the UK and Ireland, it’s live on Premier Sports.

Watching from abroad? A VPN like NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)

France’s local broadcaster for the tournament hasn’t been confirmed yet, so French fans may need WatchNRL.

Kiwi Ferns vs France Live Stream

Kiwi Ferns vs France was streamed live from Christchurch on Sunday 25 October. New Zealand won 92-0.

In New Zealand, you can watch the full replay on Sky Sport Now, with no full Sky package needed.

In Australia, the full replay is on the 7plus app. UK and Ireland fans can catch it on Premier Player.

In France and elsewhere, the replay is on WatchNRL. Skip replay links on social media, as many are scams built to steal your details.

Kiwi Ferns vs France Tickets

Adult tickets start from $19 NZD and family tickets from $49 NZD on Ticketmaster.

Your ticket also covers the Kiwis vs Cook Islands, the men’s game straight after at 6:05pm, so it’s a full afternoon of rugby league.

NRL.com reported in September that the double-header was nearing a sell-out, so book soon to avoid missing out.

Travelling to Christchurch? A New Zealand eSIM from Airalo keeps you connected from the moment you land.

Kiwi Ferns vs France Score and Result

The Kiwi Ferns beat France 92-0 at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday 25 October 2026.

Match	Score
New Zealand v France, 25 October 2026	New Zealand 92-0 France

New Zealand ran in 18 tries and led 46-0 at half-time. Apii Nicholls scored four tries, and Mele Hufanga and Stacey Waaka each scored three.

Debutant Chantay Kiria-Ratu kicked 10 goals and scored a try for 24 points. Raecene McGregor left late with an ankle problem.

Mele Hufanga was named Player of the Match, according to NRL.com. Every score goes on our Rugby League World Cup results page.

Kiwi Ferns vs France Latest Match Updates

25 October 2026: Full-time score and match report added.

22 October 2026: Page published with kick-off times, both team lists, the head-to-head record and our prediction.

Next update: none planned. Both teams now turn to their final group games on the Gold Coast.

After this game, New Zealand play PNG and France play Fiji, both on the Gold Coast on Saturday 31 October.

The top two in Group B reach the semi-finals, which are played on 7 and 8 November.

Kiwi Ferns vs France: FAQ

Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about this match.

Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.

For full details, see the sections above.

What was the Kiwi Ferns vs France score?

New Zealand won 92-0 in Christchurch on Sunday 25 October 2026.

Apii Nicholls scored four of the Kiwi Ferns’ 18 tries.

France did not score, and the winning margin was 92 points.

What time is Kiwi Ferns vs France?

3:50pm NZ time on Sunday 25 October 2026.

That’s 1:50pm in Sydney.

It’s at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.

What time is Kiwi Ferns vs France in the UK?

2:50am UK time on Sunday 25 October 2026.

UK clocks go back that morning.

It’s live on Premier Sports.

What happened when the Kiwi Ferns last played France at a World Cup?

New Zealand won 46-0 in York in 2022.

The Kiwi Ferns scored nine tries.

It was the opening game of their campaign.

Where can I watch Kiwi Ferns vs France?

Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now show it in New Zealand.

Seven and 7plus have it free in Australia.

Premier Sports has it in the UK.

Conclusion

The Kiwi Ferns made the most of their only home game, beating France 92-0 in Christchurch on 25 October.

Apii Nicholls scored four tries and debutant Chantay Kiria-Ratu kicked 10 goals in an 18-try rout.

New Zealand now play PNG on the Gold Coast on 31 October, while France face Fiji the same day.

See every game in our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.