RL World Cup moved to 2026 but England will tour Australia in Ashes series
ENGLAND’S international rugby league plans have been ripped up after the sport’s World Cup was moved back a year until 2026.
That means Shaun Wane’s men and Stuart Barrow’s women will tour Australia in 2025, when the Kangaroos were being lined up to tour here 12 months later.
However, the male tournament will shrink from 16 teams, which this country hosted last year, to 10.
International Rugby League chiefs opted to cut the men’s competition’s size, meaning just two teams will join last year’s quarter finalists – making it much harder for the likes of Wales, Scotland and Ireland to reach it.
New Zealand remains the favourite to host it, along with the Pacific islands of Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea after France pulled out of holding it in 2025 and a formal announcement will be made by the end of the year.
And from 2028, the women’s competition will be a standalone tournament, played every four years between the men’s and wheelchair formats.
Yet despite cutting off many northern hemisphere nations and going in the same years as football’s World Cup, IRL boss Troy Grant insisted: “I actually think it’s a progressive step. It’s a real turning point for our game.
“We were up against FIFA last year but because of the difference in time of year and audiences, we didn’t think it was a detriment to us.
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“One of the major criticisms is the number of games that were uncompetitive. This is the pinnacle of our sport, it should be that way and all matches should be as competitive as possible.
“Trent Robinson, France's coaching director, said, ‘For France to develop, there’s no point playing Australia, New Zealand, Tonga or Samoa. The benefit for France is to play nations who have a similar playing experience. That’s where we get most education.’
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“Not enough of Scotland, Ireland and Wales’ players are in Super League. We didn’t have outrageous reactions from the northern hemisphere countries when 10 teams was proposed.
“For them and France, consultations will be held about mirroring the competitions in the southern hemisphere, tri and four nations. Instead of not knowing when their next game is, they’ll have certainty over a decade so they can plan and grow.
“Hopefully that will attract more players. We hope it will be a game changer. Once every four years getting beaten 90-0 isn’t going to help them grow.
“A real clear message clubs gave to me was they didn’t want their players playing in what they described as Mickey Mouse competitions that didn’t have proper purpose or value.
“And we didn’t think New Zealand had enough time for it to be viable and successful in 2025 as it could be if it was in 2026.”
Grant also held out hope to countries like Greece and Jamaica – who provided great stories last year – they can make the World Cup in future and smaller nations will play in a world series.
An approach from Qatar for the next World Cup was described as ‘unfair to call a bid’ but they remain keen on holding future tournaments, along with other middle eastern countries – leaving the prospect of a Saudi Arabian move open.
England’s Test future was at least mapped out as the IRL met in Singapore, finally mapping out a much-needed international calendar.
After Tonga tour this year, New Zealand visit the northern hemisphere in 2027 and the Kangaroos in 2028.
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And Wane is happy, saying: “As a kid I was brought up on Ashes tours, so the chance to coach in that makes me and my family immensely proud.
“I’m so happy the international rugby league calendar has gone forward. It’s such a strong message to everybody. It’s a real shot in the arm for our game.”