Rugby League World Cup 2026: Schedule, dates, format, results from men's, women's, and wheelchair tournaments
The Rugby League World Cup takes place from October 15-November 15; England men play Tonga, France, and PNG in the group stages; England women play Wales, Australia, and Samoa in the group stages; Australia are the defending champions in both
Sunday 18 October 2026 08:14, UK
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is here, with Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea playing host to the men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments.
In the men's and women's tournaments, Australia are the defending champions. Meanwhile, England currently hold the title of world champions in the wheelchair competition.
The men's match got the World Cup under way on Thursday October 15, as Australia pulled off a thrilling 24-22 win over New Zealand.
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England men suffered a tough opening 30-12 loss against Tonga and will look to bounce back against France on Saturday October 24, with kick-off at 7.35am. England women started their title charge with a huge 70-6 win over Wales. They now face the tough test of Australia on Saturday October 24, with kick-off at 10.05am.
The wheelchair tournament gets going on Friday October 30, when England take on Wales at 4.30am.
Men's Pools - and the unique format
- Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji
- Group B: England, Lebanon, Samoa
- Group C: France, Papua New Guinea, Tonga
The format of the Men's Rugby League World Cup is rather unusual.
The four teams in Group A will face each other. The two teams that finish top of the group will progress to the semi-finals.
However, things are a bit different for teams in Group B and C.
The teams in Group B will play the three teams in Group C and vice versa. They will not play the teams in their own group.
Results from these matches feed into a combined Group B and Group C table with the two-highest-ranked teams going through to the semi-finals.
The team that finishes top of that combined table will face the runner-up in Group A in the last four. The team that comes second will play the winner of Group A.
Women's Pools
- Group A: Australia, England, Samoa, Wales
- Group B: New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, France, Fiji
Wheelchair Pools
- Group A: England, Ireland, Wales, USA
- Group B: France, Australia, Scotland, New Zealand
Men's Fixtures
All kick-off times are in BST.
Thursday October 15
Group A: Australia 24-22 New Zealand
Friday October 16
Group B/C: Samoa 78-4 France
Saturday October 17
Group B/C: Papua New Guinea 42-18 Lebanon
Group B/C: England 12-30 Tonga
Sunday October 18
Group A: Fiji 40-12 Cook Islands
Friday October 23
Group B/C: Tonga v Lebanon - CommBank Stadium, Newcastle (10.05am)
Saturday October 24
Group B/C: Papua New Guinea v Samoa - Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby (5.25am)
Group B/C: England v France - HBF Park, Perth (7.35am)
Sunday October 25
Group A: New Zealand v Cook Islands - One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5.05am)
Group A: Australia v Fiji - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (9.05am)
Friday October 30
Group B/C: England v Papua New Guinea - WIN Stadium, Wollongong (9.05am)
Saturday October 31
Group A: New Zealand v Fiji - Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast (4.30am)
Group A: Australia v Cook Islands - Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville (9.05am)
Sunday November 1
Group B/C: Lebanon v France - CommBank Stadium, Sydney (6.40am)
Group B/C: Tonga v Samoa - CommBank Stadium, Sydney (9.05am)
Saturday November 7
Semi-Final 1: TBC v TBC - McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle (9.05am)
Sunday November 8
Semi-Final 2: TBC v TBC - Allianz Stadium, Sydney (9.05am)
Sunday November 15
Final: TBC v TBC - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (8.35am)
Women's Fixtures
Friday October 16
Group A: Australia 40-0 Samoa
Saturday October 17
Group B: Papua New Guinea 58-4 France
Sunday October 18
Group B: New Zealand 18-12 Fiji
Friday October 23
Group A: Samoa v Wales - CommBank Stadium, Sydney (7.45am)
Saturday October 24
Group B: Fiji v Papua New Guinea - Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby (3.15am)
Group A: Australia v England - HBF Park, Perth (10.05am)
Sunday October 25
Group B: New Zealand v France - One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (3.00am)
Friday October 30
Group A: England v Samoa - WIN Stadium, Wollongong (6.45am)
Saturday October 31
Group B: Fiji v France - Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast (6.45am)
Group B: New Zealand v Papua New Guinea - Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast (2.20am)
Sunday November 1
Group A: Australia v Wales - CommBank Stadium, Sydney (4.40am)
Saturday November 7
Semi-Final 1: TBC v TBC - McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle (6.45am)
Sunday November 8
Semi-Final 2: TBC v TBC - Allianz Stadium, Sydney (6.45am)
Sunday November 15
Final: TBC v TBC - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (5.10am)
Wheelchair Fixtures
Friday October 30
Group A: Ireland v USA (3am)
Group A: England v Wales (4.30am)
Saturday October 31
Group B: France v Scotland (4am)
Group B: Australia v New Zealand (6.30am)
Tuesday November 3
Group B: France v New Zealand (12am)
Group B: Australia v Scotland (2.30am)
Group A: Ireland v Wales (5am)
Group A: England v USA (7.30am)
Friday November 6
Group B: Scotland v New Zealand (12am)
Group A: Wales v USA (2.30am)
Group A: England v Ireland (6am)
Group B: France v Australia (8.30am)
Monday November 9- Tuesday November 10
Semi-Finals
Thursday November 12- Friday November 13
Final
