Samoa vs France Rugby League World Cup 2026
Can France stop the 2022 World Cup finalists, or will Toa Samoa start their campaign with another big win in Western Sydney?
The last time these two teams met, at the 2022 World Cup in England, Samoa won 62-4 in Warrington.
Samoa vs France is on Friday 16 October 2026 at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, kicking off at 5:45pm Sydney time (7:45pm Samoa, 7:45am UK, 8:45am France).
It’s the first match for both teams in the combined Pools B and C, and a double-header with the Jillaroos playing Samoa’s women afterwards.
Below, you’ll find the kick-off time in every country, both official team lists, the head-to-head record, our prediction and how to watch.
We’ll add any late team changes before kick-off, then the result and a short match report straight after full-time.
Quick Answer: Samoa vs France Rugby League World Cup 2026
- Date: Friday 16 October 2026
- Kick-off: 5:45pm Sydney, 7:45pm Samoa, 7:45am UK
- Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
- Last meeting: Samoa 62-4 France, 2022 World Cup
- Captains: Junior Paulo (Samoa), Benjamin Garcia (France)
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
What Time Is Samoa vs France?
Samoa vs France kicks off at 5:45pm Sydney time on Friday 16 October.
| Where you are | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra | 5:45pm Friday |
| Brisbane | 4:45pm Friday |
| Samoa | 7:45pm Friday |
| New Zealand | 7:45pm Friday |
| France | 8:45am Friday |
| UK | 7:45am Friday |
Fans in Samoa and New Zealand get a Friday evening kick-off, while fans in France can watch with breakfast.
The women’s match between Australia and Samoa follows at the same ground, so stay in your seat for a double-header.
Samoa vs France Team Lists
Both teams were named on Tuesday 13 October. Here are the official 17s, as published on NRL.com.
| No. | Samoa | France |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | Arthur Mourgue |
| 2 | Brian To’o | Benjamin Laguerre |
| 3 | Izack Tago | Latrell Siegwalt |
| 4 | Stephen Crichton | Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet |
| 5 | Deine Mariner | Leo Darrelatour |
| 6 | Chanel Harris-Tavita | Cesar Rouge |
| 7 | Jarome Luai | Theo Fages |
| 8 | Francis Molo | Romain Navarrete |
| 9 | Benaiah Ioelu | Benjamin Garcia |
| 10 | Junior Paulo | Lambert Belmas |
| 11 | Connelly Lemuelu | Arthur Romano |
| 12 | Jermaine McEwen | Mathieu Jussaume |
| 13 | Francis Manuleleua | Julian Bousquet |
| 14 | Jazz Tevaga | Amir Bourouh |
| 15 | Spencer Leniu | Tiaki Chan |
| 16 | Shawn Blore | Jordan Dezaria |
| 17 | Sualauvi Fa’alogo | Mathieu Cozza |
Coaches can still make late changes, so the final teams are confirmed about an hour before kick-off.
Samoa’s side is packed with NRL stars, while France rely mainly on Catalans and Toulouse players.
See every other Round 1 side on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 team lists page.
Samoa: The Big Selection Calls
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow starts at fullback, giving Samoa real pace at the back.
Jarome Luai and Chanel Harris-Tavita form the halves, with Stephen Crichton and Izack Tago in the centres.
Captain Junior Paulo starts at prop alongside Francis Molo.
Spencer Leniu and Jazz Tevaga lead a powerful bench.
France: The Big Selection Calls
Captain Benjamin Garcia starts at hooker, a new role for the Catalans forward.
Arthur Mourgue is at fullback, with Cesar Rouge and Theo Fages in the halves.
South Sydney’s Lattrell Siegwalt starts in the centres, and Mathieu Jussaume plays in the second row.
Amir Bourouh starts on the bench, ready to take over at hooker.
Samoa vs France Head to Head
Samoa have the upper hand in recent meetings between the two nations.
| Year | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | World Cup pool match, Warrington | Samoa 62-4 France |
At the 2022 World Cup in England, Samoa beat France 62-4 in Warrington on their way to the final.
France have rebuilt since then, and they qualified for 2026 with a 36-0 win over Jamaica.
But they have rarely played Pacific teams, so this is a big test of how far they have come.
Samoa vs France Prediction
Samoa start as clear favourites, with a team full of NRL players and home-crowd support in Western Sydney.
France will be well organised, and their forwards know each other well from club rugby.
Our pick is Samoa by 16 to 20 points, but France will hope to keep it close for an hour.
A big win would also help Samoa’s points difference in the race for the semi-finals.
Where Is Samoa vs France Being Played?
The match is at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, in the heart of Western Sydney.
The stadium holds around 30,000 fans and is home to the Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers.
It’s a short walk from Parramatta train station, which has fast trains from Sydney’s city centre.
Western Sydney has one of the biggest Samoan communities in Australia, so expect a sea of blue.
What Channel Is Samoa vs France On?
Samoa vs France is live in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
- Australia: Free on the Seven Network and 7plus
- New Zealand: Sky Sport
- UK and Ireland: Premier Sports (subscription)
France’s World Cup broadcaster hasn’t been confirmed yet. We’ll add it here once it’s announced.
Following France or Samoa from overseas? A VPN like NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
For other countries, see our how to watch the Rugby League World Cup guide.
Samoa vs France Tickets
Tickets for Samoa vs France start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
Your ticket also covers the women’s match between Australia and Samoa.
Buy only from Ticketmaster, as resale tickets from other sites may not be valid.
Flying in for the match? An Australia eSIM from Airalo keeps your phone working from the moment you land.
Samoa vs France Result
The match hasn’t been played yet. It kicks off on Friday 16 October.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Samoa v France, 16 October 2026 | To be played |
We’ll add the score and a short match report straight after full-time.
Every score from the tournament also goes on our results page.
Match Updates
14 October 2026: Page published with kick-off times, both official team lists, the head-to-head record and our prediction.
Next update: any late changes to either 17 in the hour before kick-off.
After full-time on 16 October, we’ll add the score and a short match report.
Samoa vs France: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about Samoa vs France.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the sections above.
What time is Samoa vs France rugby league?
5:45pm Sydney time on Friday 16 October 2026.
That’s 7:45pm in Samoa, 8:45am in France and 7:45am in the UK.
It’s the first match for both teams.
Where is Samoa vs France being played?
At CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, Western Sydney.
It’s a double-header with Australia vs Samoa in the women’s World Cup.
The stadium holds around 30,000 fans.
What was the score when Samoa last played France?
Samoa won 62-4 at the 2022 World Cup in Warrington.
Samoa went on to reach the final of that tournament.
France were knocked out in the group stage.
Who are the captains for Samoa vs France?
Junior Paulo captains Samoa from prop.
Benjamin Garcia captains France from hooker.
Both are among the most experienced players in their squads.
Conclusion
Samoa vs France in Parramatta on 16 October opens the race for the Pools B and C semi-final places.
Samoa are clear favourites, but France arrive with a settled team and a point to prove.
Bookmark this page for team changes and the result.
Follow both teams on our Samoa next game and France next game pages, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
