Holders Australia were drawn on Sunday into the same group as fellow New Zealanders for next year’s Rugby League World Cup, with Brisbane announced as hosts of the men’s and women’s finals.
The tournament was initially scheduled to be played this year, but host country France withdrew due to financial constraints.
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The International Rugby League (IRL) has moved the event to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, with the action now set for October 15 to November 15, 2026.
It will be a scaled-down competition featuring 10 men’s teams, eight women’s teams and eight wheelchair teams.
“International rugby league has never been more competitive and there will be true superstars across all groups and stages of this tournament,” said IRL President Troy Grant.
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“With rugby league’s popularity reaching unprecedented heights, the international game is riding a wave of momentum and will become the biggest global showcase the game has ever seen.”
Australia, twelve-time winners among the men, are in Group A alongside New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands.
England top Group B with Samoa and Lebanon, while Tonga, Papua New Guinea and France complete Group C.
The teams in Group A will play matches against each other.
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Teams from groups B and C will each play three matches against teams from the adjacent group. The teams in Group B will therefore only play against the teams in Group C, and vice versa.
The top two in Group A will advance to the semi-finals, as will the top two in a combined Group B and Group C draw.
Matches will be played in Sydney, Port Moresby, Perth, Newcastle, Christchurch, Brisbane, Wollongong, Gold Coast and Townsville.
All six Women’s World Cup titles have been shared between Australia and New Zealand.
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They were drawn in opposing groups with Australia alongside England, Samoa and Wales, while New Zealand were pitted against Papua New Guinea, France and Fiji.
Each team will face the others in their group, with the top two advancing to the semi-finals.
Men’s tournament
Group A – Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands
Group B – England, Samoa, Lebanon
Group C – Tonga, Papua New Guinea, France
Women’s tournament
Group A – Australia, England, Samoa, Wales
Group B – New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, France, Fiji
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