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Rugby League World Cup 2026: Schedule, dates, format, results from men's, women's, and wheelchair tournaments

The Rugby League World Cup runs until 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

The Rugby League World Cup 2026 takes place from October 15-November 15
Image: The Rugby League World Cup 2026 takes place from October 15-November 15

Latest scores and results from the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, 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, while 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.

England men suffered a tough opening 30-12 loss against Tonga but bounced back to thrash France 82-0 and earn their first points of the tournament.

England women started their title charge with a huge 70-6 win over Wales before a 78-0 loss to three-time defending champions Australia.

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 and results

All kick-off times are in BST.

England are based in Perth for the majority of the group stages
Image: England are based in Perth for the majority of the group stages

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 36-0 Lebanon

Saturday October 24

Group B/C: Papua New Guinea 6-64 Samoa

Group B/C: England 82-0 France

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

Woman of Steel Jenna Foubister will play in her first World Cup
Image: Woman of Steel Jenna Foubister will play in her first World Cup

Friday October 16

Group A: Australia 40-0 Samoa

Saturday October 17

Group B: Papua New Guinea 58-4 France

Group A: England 70-6 Wales

Sunday October 18

Group B: New Zealand 18-12 Fiji

Friday October 23

Group A: Samoa 76-0 Wales

Saturday October 24

Group B: Fiji 40-4 Papua New Guinea

Group A: Australia 78-0 England

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

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