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Rugby League World Cup 2026 Betting Guide
Welcome to our Rugby League World Cup 2026 betting guide. This tournament preview covers the 17th edition of the competition, which kicks off on 15 October 2026 with Australia against New Zealand at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, ten nations will battle it out across three pools for the right to be crowned world champions.
The tournament dates back to 1954, when France hosted the first edition, and Great Britain beat the hosts in the final to win the first of their three World Cups.
Below, we preview the tournament and look back at past winners, how favourites have performed, historical odds statistics, the teams and the records, plus the Women's Rugby League World Cup, to help you with your RLWC betting.
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Rugby League World Cup 2026 Preview
Who are the reigning Rugby League World Cup champions?
Australia are the reigning champions. Their win in the 2021 tournament, played in 2022, was their twelfth World Cup title. With that being only the sixteenth edition of the event, it shows just how dominant they have been.
When is the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
The Rugby League World Cup 2026 starts on 15 October 2026, when Australia face New Zealand at the Sydney Football Stadium, and the final takes place at Lang Park in Brisbane on 15 November 2026. The tournament was originally planned for 2025 with France as hosts, but they pulled out, and it was moved to 2026. Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea now share the hosting duties.
Who are the favourites to win the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
Australia go into their home World Cup as the team to beat, as reigning champions with a record of success that no other nation can match. Our favourites' records and historical odds stats further down the page show how short-priced sides have fared at past tournaments. Prices move all the time, so always check the odds you are getting before you confirm a bet.
Who will win the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
OLBG's rugby tipsters share their Rugby League World Cup predictions on the tournament winner market and on the matches throughout, so check their 2026 Rugby League World Cup tips before you place your bets.
You can also visit our Best Rugby League Tipsters page, both for this tournament and throughout the year. It only shows tips from profitable rugby league tipsters.
How can I watch the Rugby League World Cup 2026 in the UK?
Premier Sports has the exclusive broadcast rights for the Rugby League World Cup 2026 in the UK and Ireland. The broadcaster also showed the 2013 and 2017 tournaments, and the 2017 edition was staged in the same three host nations as this year's event.
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Rugby League World Cup 2026 Format & Pools
How does the Rugby League World Cup 2026 format work?
Ten teams are competing this year, split into three pools. Pool A has four teams, and Pools B and C have three each.
Each team in Pool A plays the other three once, and the top two advance to the semi-finals. In Pools B and C, each Pool B team plays each Pool C team, and the top two across both pools also reach the semi-finals. That gives four semi-finalists in total.
The Pool A winner plays the runner-up from Pools B and C, and the Pool A runner-up plays the winner from Pools B and C. The two semi-final winners meet in the final.
Rugby League World Cup 2026 pools
| Pool | Teams |
|---|---|
| Pool A | Australia (H), Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand (H) |
| Pool B | England, Lebanon, Samoa |
| Pool C | France, Papua New Guinea (H), Tonga |
(H) = host nation.
Rugby League World Cup 2026 Fixtures
Here is the full Rugby League World Cup 2026 fixture list in date order, from the opening match on 15 October to the final on 15 November. Dates are local to each venue, so some kick-offs fall on a different date or at a very different time in the UK.
| Date | Match | Stage | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 October | Australia v New Zealand | Pool A | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
| 16 October | Samoa v France | Pools B and C | Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney |
| 17 October | Papua New Guinea v Lebanon | Pools B and C | PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby |
| 17 October | England v Tonga | Pools B and C | Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth |
| 18 October | Fiji v Cook Islands | Pool A | Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle |
| 23 October | Tonga v Lebanon | Pools B and C | Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney |
| 24 October | Papua New Guinea v Samoa | Pools B and C | PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby |
| 24 October | England v France | Pools B and C | Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth |
| 25 October | New Zealand v Cook Islands | Pool A | Te Kaha, Christchurch |
| 25 October | Australia v Fiji | Pool A | Lang Park, Brisbane |
| 30 October | England v Papua New Guinea | Pools B and C | Wollongong Showground, Wollongong |
| 31 October | New Zealand v Fiji | Pool A | Robina Stadium, Gold Coast |
| 31 October | Australia v Cook Islands | Pool A | North Queensland Stadium, Townsville |
| 1 November | Lebanon v France | Pools B and C | Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney |
| 1 November | Tonga v Samoa | Pools B and C | Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney |
| 7 November | Pool A runners-up v Pool B and C winner | Semi-final | Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle |
| 8 November | Pool A winner v Pool B and C runners-up | Semi-final | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
| 15 November | Semi-final winners | Final | Lang Park, Brisbane |
Rugby League World Cup 2026 Venues
Matches are spread across ten stadiums in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
| Stadium | City | Country | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lang Park | Brisbane | Australia | 52,500 |
| Sydney Football Stadium | Sydney (Moore Park) | Australia | 42,500 |
| Newcastle International Sports Centre | Newcastle | Australia | 33,000 |
| Western Sydney Stadium | Parramatta (Sydney) | Australia | 30,000 |
| Robina Stadium | Gold Coast | Australia | 27,400 |
| North Queensland Stadium | Townsville | Australia | 25,455 |
| Te Kaha | Christchurch | New Zealand | 25,000 |
| Wollongong Showground | Wollongong | Australia | 23,750 |
| Perth Rectangular Stadium | Perth | Australia | 20,500 |
| PNG Football Stadium | Port Moresby | Papua New Guinea | 14,800 |
Where is the Rugby League World Cup 2026 final?
The final is at Lang Park in Brisbane on 15 November 2026. With a capacity of 52,500, it is the biggest of the ten venues. The semi-finals are at the Newcastle International Sports Centre on 7 November and the Sydney Football Stadium on 8 November.
Rugby League World Cup Past Winners & Finals
When was the first Rugby League World Cup?
The first Rugby League World Cup was played in France in 1954 and featured just four teams. Great Britain beat the hosts France 16-12 in the final to become the first world champions.
Which countries have won the Rugby League World Cup?
Only three nations have ever won the tournament. Australia are by far the most successful, with twelve titles from the 16 tournaments played. Great Britain won three times, and New Zealand have won it once, in 2008.
| Nation | Titles |
|---|---|
| Australia | 12 |
| Great Britain | 3 |
| New Zealand | 1 |
Last 10 Rugby League World Cup winners
| Year | Winner | Score | Runners-up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021* | Australia | 30-10 | Samoa | Old Trafford, Manchester |
| 2017 | Australia | 6-0 | England | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| 2013 | Australia | 34-2 | New Zealand | Old Trafford, Manchester |
| 2008 | New Zealand | 34-20 | Australia | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| 2000 | Australia | 40-12 | New Zealand | Old Trafford, Manchester |
| 1995 | Australia | 16-8 | England | Wembley Stadium, London |
| 1989-92† | Australia | 10-6 | Great Britain | Wembley Stadium, London |
| 1985-88† | Australia | 25-12 | New Zealand | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 1977 | Australia | 13-12 | Great Britain | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
| 1975‡ | Australia | - | England | - |
*Held in 2022 due to COVID-19 postponement.
†Final of a tournament played over multiple years.
‡Decided on the league table, with no final.
Rugby League World Cup Favourite Statistics
How Often Do Favourites Win at the Rugby League World Cup?
Favourites have won 79 of the 97 matches played across the last four Rugby League World Cups, an overall win rate of 81.44%. Reliability has improved in recent tournaments, with 86% of favourites winning in 2017 and 84% in 2021. The two tournaments before that saw lower figures, at 70% in 2008 and 79% in 2013.
Underdogs have won 16 of the 97 matches (16.5%), and there have been two draws.
| Year | Favourites | Winners | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 10 | 7 | 70.00% |
| 2013 | 28 | 22 | 78.57% |
| 2017 | 28 | 24 | 85.71% |
| 2021 | 31 | 26 | 83.87% |
| Total | 97 | 79 | 81.44% |
Which Teams Are the Most Reliable Rugby League World Cup Favourites?
Australia have been the most dependable favourites, winning 20 of their 21 matches when favoured, a 95% success rate. England are next among the major nations, winning 10 of 11 (91%), with their only defeat coming in the 2021 semi-final against Samoa, which they lost in golden point after a 26-26 draw. Samoa have been the least reliable of the regular favourites, winning just five of nine.
| Team | Games as Favourite | Wins | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 21 | 20 | 95.2% |
| New Zealand | 15 | 13 | 86.7% |
| England | 11 | 10 | 90.9% |
| Tonga | 11 | 9 | 81.8% |
| Samoa | 9 | 5 | 55.6% |
| Fiji | 8 | 7 | 87.5% |
| Papua New Guinea | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
| France | 2 | 2 | 100.0% |
| Lebanon | 2 | 2 | 100.0% |
| Cook Islands | 2 | 1 | 50.0% |
Statistics cover the 2008, 2013, 2017 and 2021 tournaments, with favourites based on pre-match odds.
Rugby League World Cup Odds Statistics
How Often Do Rugby League World Cup Odds Land?
The chart below shows how teams have performed at the last four Rugby League World Cups, grouped by their pre-match decimal odds. Each band also shows the win rate those odds imply, so you can see whether teams at each price have won more or less often than the bookmakers expected.
What Do the Odds Tell Us About World Cup Winners?
The shortest-priced teams, at odds between 1.01 and 1.09, have won 34 of 38 matches (89.47%), and those priced between 1.10 and 1.19 have won 11 of 13 (84.62%). From 1.20 to 1.99, the picture is more mixed, with most bands winning less often than the odds implied. Teams priced at 2.00 to 2.99 have won five of 15 (33.33%).
The biggest surprise has come in the 4.00 to 4.99 band, where teams have won four of eight (50.00%) against an implied 20.4% to 25.0%. Teams priced at 6.00 or bigger have won just four of 57 matches (7.02%).
Some bands include only a handful of matches, so treat the percentages as a guide rather than a rule. Statistics cover the 2008, 2013, 2017 and 2021 tournaments and exclude matches where the favourite was priced at 1.00 or the underdog at 100.00 or bigger.
Rugby League World Cup Teams
Which Teams Are Playing at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup?
Ten nations are competing at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. The eight quarter-finalists from the 2021 tournament qualified automatically: Australia, New Zealand, England, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Lebanon. The final two places went to the winners of the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere play-offs, France and the Cook Islands.
| Team | Pool | Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | A | 17 | Twelve-time champions |
| New Zealand | A | 17 | Champions in 2008 |
| Fiji | A | 7 | Semi-finalists in 2008, 2013, 2017 & 2021 |
| Cook Islands | A | 4 | Group stage (2000, 2013 & 2021) |
| England | B | 8 | Runners-up in 1975, 1995 & 2017 |
| Samoa | B | 7 | Runners-up in 2021 |
| Lebanon | B | 4 | Quarter-finalists in 2017 & 2021 |
| France | C | 17 | Runners-up in 1954 & 1968 |
| Papua New Guinea | C | 9 | Quarter-finalists in 2000, 2017 & 2021 |
| Tonga | C | 7 | Semi-finalists in 2017 |
Rugby League World Cup Records
Who Has Played the Most Rugby League World Cup Matches?
Australia's Cameron Smith holds the record for the most Rugby League World Cup appearances, with 17 matches between 2008 and 2017.
| Player | Nation | Years | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Smith | Australia | 2008-2017 | 17 |
| Chris Hill | England | 2013-2022 | 16 |
| Bob Fulton | Australia | 1968-1975 | 15 |
Who Has Scored the Most Points at the Rugby League World Cup?
Just four points separate the top two on the all-time points list. Australia's Johnathan Thurston leads with 124 points, ahead of New Zealand's Shaun Johnson on 120.
| Player | Nation | Years | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnathan Thurston | Australia | 2008-2013 | 124 |
| Shaun Johnson | New Zealand | 2013-2017 | 120 |
| Mick Cronin | Australia | 1975-1977 | 108 |
| Michael O'Connor | Australia | 1986-1990 | 108 |
Who Has Scored the Most Tries at the Rugby League World Cup?
Australia's Billy Slater leads the try-scoring list with 16 between 2008 and 2017. Three players share second place on 14: Jarryd Hayne (Australia and Fiji), Ryan Hall (England) and Valentine Holmes (Australia).
| Player | Nation | Years | Tries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Slater | Australia | 2008-2017 | 16 |
| Jarryd Hayne | Australia / Fiji | 2008-2017 | 14 |
| Ryan Hall | England | 2013-2022 | 14 |
| Valentine Holmes | Australia | 2017-2022 | 14 |
Women's Rugby League World Cup 2026
Women's Rugby League World Cup 2026 Preview
The 2026 Women's Rugby League World Cup is co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and runs alongside the men's tournament, with the first matches on 15 October 2026. Australia are the reigning champions after beating New Zealand 54-4 in the 2021 final.
The planned expansion to 16 teams was put on hold after the tournament was rescheduled, so the field remains at eight teams. They are split into two pools of four, and the top two in each pool reach the semi-finals. Matches are played over 70 minutes.
Who Are the Last Five Women's Rugby League World Cup Winners?
| Year/Host | Champions | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021* England | Australia | 54 - 4 | New Zealand |
| 2017 Australia | Australia | 23 - 16 | New Zealand |
| 2013 England | Australia | 22 - 12 | New Zealand |
| 2008 Australia | New Zealand | 34 - 0 | Australia |
| 2003 New Zealand | New Zealand | 58 - 0 | New Zealand Māori |
* Held in 2022.
Australia and New Zealand have won all six Women's Rugby League World Cups between them, three each. The last four finals have all been contested by those two nations. The only other finalists have been New Zealand Māori (2003) and Great Britain (2000).
Which Teams Are in the 2026 Women's Rugby League World Cup?
England and Australia qualified as 2021 pool winners, with New Zealand and Papua New Guinea joining them as 2021 runners-up. Wales and France won their European qualifying groups, Samoa won the 2024 Pacific Bowl, and Fiji won the 2025 Women's Rugby League World Series to claim the final place.
| Pool A | Pool B |
|---|---|
| Australia | Fiji |
| England | France |
| Samoa | New Zealand |
| Wales | Papua New Guinea |
Contributor Information
We are blessed with an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. This Rugby League World Cup Preview & Betting Guide is written by Luke Bradshaw-Lee, our main Rugby specialist, who fact-checks the article for accuracy. It is edited by Andy Powell, who manages the Rugby tipsters and results in our Rugby League Tips Section and keeps the data in this guide up to date. Together, they produce our Rugby League Previews and Rugby Union Previews.
About the author
About the editor
