Jillaroos Win Fourth Straight Women's World Cup as Men's Final Kicks Off

Australia's Jillaroos have won a fourth consecutive women's Rugby League World Cup, beating New Zealand 34-10 in the final at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. The Guardian reported that the Australians were in control early, scoring six tries in the first half alone.

A try is the rugby league version of a touchdown, worth four points. Each one is scored by grounding the ball over the opponent's try line, and the team with the most points at the end wins. The Jillaroos made their attacking chances count, and New Zealand were left chasing the game from a long way back.

Attention now turns to the men's final, which is also between Australia and New Zealand. The Kangaroos are coached by Kevin Walters, and their five-eighth, the playmaker who directs the attack from between the halfback and the centres, is Cameron Munster. New Zealand's Kiwis have Kalyn Ponga in their side. The men's match is being played on Sunday 15 November, and the Guardian is running live updates as it goes.

Rugby league is a game of possession and field position. A team gets six tackles to move the ball forward before it must hand over possession, and the Kangaroos and Kiwis will be working that count throughout the afternoon. Every set of six can end with a kick, a try or a turnover.

There was also news from the wheelchair version of the sport. England beat France in the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final, successfully defending their title for the second tournament in a row. Wheelchair rugby league is played by athletes who use chairs, with the same aim of carrying the ball over the try line.

For anyone new to the sport, the day offers a useful entry point. Two strong women's sides have just produced a one-sided final, and the men's showdown between the same two nations is about to begin. Both finals will be watched closely by fans of the sport in Australia and New Zealand.