Philippines women's rugby league team, the Sampaguitas, fall 30-6 to Malta in fourth official test on the NSW South Coast

The Philippines women's national rugby league team, known as the Sampaguitas, lost 30-6 to Malta on Sunday 25 October on the NSW South Coast, with Kayla Horvat scoring their only try in just their fourth official test.

The Philippines women's national rugby league team, known as the Sampaguitas, lost 30-6 to Malta on Sunday 25 October in a test match on the NSW South Coast, the Philippine Times reported. It was only the team's fourth official international test.

According to the Philippine Times, the Sampaguitas are a relatively new squad drawn from rugby league competitions and club systems including the Penrith Panthers, Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels, with players from New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory and one player from the USA. Lupang Hinirang was played before kick-off and sung by players and supporters, and the temperature was still over 33 degrees when the game began.

Malta scored two early tries to lead 8-0. In the 19th minute Kayla Horvat scored the Sampaguitas' only try of the game, and the conversion made it 6-8. Malta pulled away to lead 16-6 at half-time, and after a tight start to the second half they scored in the 53rd minute and added two more tries to win 30-6, as fatigue and injuries took their toll on the Philippine side.

The Philippine Times described the match as a step in the right direction for the Sampaguitas as they work to establish the Philippines in women's international rugby league, noting that the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea has given emerging nations a chance to play more internationals.

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