Rugby League World Cup 2026: England avoid Australia and New Zealand in the men’s draw

England have avoided favorites Australia and New Zealand in the men’s draw for the group stages of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, which will be held alongside the women’s and wheelchair competitions.

Shaun Win’s team will play Tonga, France and Papua New Guinea in their opening matches of the tournament, which will be held in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea from October 15 to November 15.

Twelve-time winners Australia, who won the recent Ashes series 3-0 in England, have been placed in the same group with close rivals New Zealand, along with Fiji and the Cook Islands.

A total of 10 teams – Samoa and Lebanon are the other two – will participate in the men’s competition, which was scheduled to be held this year in France before the host nation withdrew from organizing it due to financial problems.

The structure of the tournament sees Group One teams play matches against each other while Group Two teams, of which England are one, play Group C teams and vice versa.

The top two teams from Group A will qualify for the semi-finals, along with the top two teams from a joint table between Group B and Group C teams.

Meanwhile, England and Wales have been drawn alongside Australia and Samoa in Group A of the Women’s World Cup, while New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, France and Fiji are in Group B.

All six women’s titles have been won by Australia or New Zealand.

England, Ireland, the United States and Wales are in Group One of the Wheelchair Championship, while Australia, France, New Zealand and Scotland are in Group Two.