England’s rugby league team has achieved a significant milestone by avoiding powerhouse nations Australia and New Zealand in the group stage of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup draw. This event coincides with the women’s and wheelchair rugby league competitions, enhancing the tournament’s inclusivity and global reach.
Group Stage Details
The tournament is scheduled to take place in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea from October 15 to November 15, 2026. England, under the guidance of coach Shaun Wane, will kick off their campaign against three formidable opponents: Tonga, France, and Papua New Guinea.
Group Assignments
- England’s Group Matches: Tonga, France, Papua New Guinea
- Group A Teams: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands
- Other Teams: Samoa, Lebanon
Australia, the reigning champions with twelve titles to their name, have been paired in a challenging group alongside New Zealand. Notably, Australia recently secured a convincing 3-0 series victory over England in the Ashes.
Tournament Structure
The competition format divides teams into Groups A, B, and C. Group A teams will face each other directly, while those in Group B will compete against Group C. The top two teams from Group A will proceed to the semi-finals, joined by the top two from a combined standings of Groups B and C.
Women’s and Wheelchair World Cups
In the women’s tournament, England finds itself in Group A alongside Australia and Samoa. Meanwhile, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, France, and Fiji are competing in Group B. Historically, Australia and New Zealand have dominated the women’s titles, having won all six championships.
For the wheelchair rugby league, England, Ireland, the United States, and Wales form Group A. Group B includes Australia, France, New Zealand, and Scotland. This setup highlights the growing popularity and competitiveness of the wheelchair format.
This upcoming 2026 Rugby League World Cup promises to be a thrilling experience, showcasing the best talents across multiple disciplines in the sport.
