The Wallaroos beat Scotland 38-31 in Canberra on Friday night, completing a three-game sweep of the Scottish side. The hosts led 14-0 early but trailed 17-14 at half-time before regaining control. Retiring centre Cecilia Smith was sent off after receiving two yellow cards, and she embraced her daughter Ruby after the match. Former captain Emily Chancellor signed off with a win in her 42nd Test. The Wallaroos now await the start of a full-time program next year under new coach Sione Fukofuka.
Emily Chancellor will play her final Test for the Wallaroos against Scotland at Canberra Stadium. The 35-year-old has played 42 Tests and captained the team in 2025. She says she wants young girls to see women's rugby and believe they can take part. Chancellor says the team's future will be limitless once it becomes full-time ahead of the 2029 World Cup, which Australia will host. She plans to keep promoting the team after she retires.
Emily Chancellor has announced her retirement from international rugby, with her final game for the Wallaroos set to be against Scotland on Friday at Canberra Stadium. The 35-year-old back-rower said she had not known women's rugby existed while growing up. She made her debut against New Zealand in 2018 and has played 41 Tests. Chancellor said she was proud of the growth she had seen in the team and the number of players she has shared the squad with.
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Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona says her side still has room to improve despite a 56-12 win over Scotland in the Global XV Series. The team scored eight tries to two. Palu Sekona pointed to discipline, the ruck and set-piece accuracy as areas to work on. The Wallaroos, ranked seventh in the world, are moving towards full-time status ahead of the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup, which Australia will host. Their season finishes against Scotland in Canberra on Friday night.
The All Blacks beat the Wallabies 43-21 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, completing a series sweep of the Bledisloe Cup. The visitors led 36-7 at half-time after scoring six tries to one. Winger Josh Moorby scored a double, and Beauden Barrett scored two tries, including one after a 70-metre run. Tom Wright and Filipo Daugunu scored tries for the Wallabies, who next play England, Scotland and Wales in the UK. The Wallaroos beat Scotland 56-12 earlier in the day.
Wallaroos lock Kaitlan Leaney says the national women's side showed real promise during its recent WXV Global Series tour of Britain and France, ahead of the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup in Australia. Despite a 48-15 loss to England in Salford, the team led 10-5 at half-time before England pulled ahead. Leaney credited the squad's physical intent and well-planned tactics, which exposed weaknesses in England's defence and line-out. A 29-26 defeat to France followed, where the Wallaroos squandered a 19-0 lead, before a 30-10 win over Scotland. Leaney believes a full-time programme would transform the team's results.
The Wallaroos will face Scotland in a Test at Stadium Australia on Saturday, but fullback Caitlyn Halse has been ruled out with concussion symptoms. Winger Maya Stewart returns to the starting side after recovering from an Achilles tendon injury, and Desiree Miller moves to fullback. Siokapesi Palu Sekona and Pia Tapsell swap back-row positions. The Wallaroos are seeking back-to-back wins over Scotland, having won 30-10 in Edinburgh last month. The match is part of a rugby quadruple header, with the Wallabies, the Australian women's and men's sevens, and the Wallabies' Test rivals also playing that day.
