Toronto/CMEDIA: The Canada Ravens have reportedly missed out on the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup when they return to action Sunday against Ireland in the third-place game at a four-team qualifying tournament in Brampton, Ont.
After blanking the 10th-ranked Canadians 48-0 on Tuesday, No. 16 Fiji will face No. 17 Nigeria in Sunday’s final of the International Rugby League (IRL) Women’s Rugby League World Series with the eighth and last berth at next year’s World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea on the line.
In Tuesday’s other semifinal, the Nigerians upset No. 8 Ireland 10-0.
A Fijian side with eight players from Australia’s elite National Rugby League Women’s Premiership (NRLW) proved to be too strong for Canada, whose lone NRLW player was forward Megan Pakulis.
“They were very good,” Canada coach Matt Barron, a former Welsh international, said of the Fijians.
Terry Fox Stadium presented a hard-hitting affair with the Canadian defence putting in a first-half shift.
Fiji led 12-0 at the half before taking advantage of Ravens by scoring 36 points on seven second-half tries.
Six of Fiji’s 10 tries came after the 58-minute mark, with four coming in the last 10 minutes.
“I think you always see the difference between professionals and amateurs at the 60-minute mark. And they kind of pulled away from that point and put up a score that I don’t think really reflects how well we actually played in terms of defence and effort and a little bit on attack,” said Barron, who doubles as coach of the Ontario Ospreys.
Making their debut against Fiji, Grace Campbell, Alayna Scramstad and Rebecca Kochuk became Ravens No. 67, 68 and 69, respectively.
Barron says his players are eagerly waiting to back on the pitch.
“We’re in Canada, we still have a home crowd behind us, and we need to send a statement to not only Ireland and the tournament, but also the International Rugby League that we’re a very good rugby league team. We won’t be going to the World Cup, but we’re still here … We want to stake our claim and make sure that we finish on a high.”
After the upset loss to Nigeria, the Irish will also be motivated.
“They’re going to be a bit of a wounded animal … I think they came in may be underestimating Nigeria,” said Barron.
The eve of the Nigeria game saw the arrival of the Irish arrived but they have now had a week together to train.
“They’re going to be a much more polished team and they’re going to have a point to prove,” said Barron. “So we will have to be very much focused on our game plan.”
Advancing to the four-team qualifier, The Ravens beat the 11th-ranked U.S. Hawks 40-8 in the final of the Americas Women’s Championship last November in Jacksonville, Fla.
The Canadian women made the 2017 and 2021 World Cups, but the qualifying process was more challenging this time.
Barron says he plans to establish an “elite training squad” .
Late next year, the Ravens will start the next qualifying cycle with the Americas Championship.
The Canadian lineup includes several professional players in the 2028 World Cup which will be a stand-alone women’s tournament.
