How to watch Rugby League World Cup: Official broadcasters, TV & streaming guide

The men’s, women’s and wheelchair events are taking place simultaneously across host nations Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Australia's Valentine Holmes runs with the ball during the 2021 Rugby League World Cup final against Samoa

Watch the Rugby League World Cup 2026 as the Kangaroos compete to retain their title (Trevor Wikinson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Watch the Rugby League World Cup, as Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea host the best sides on the planet for a month of top-level action.

Men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions are taking place simultaneously, with 53 matches to look forward to between now and the men’s and women’s finals on Sunday 15 November. The wheelchair tournament gets underway on Friday 30 October.

Australia are looking to defend their titles in the men’s and women’s competitions, while England are back to defend their crown in the wheelchair tournament.

– Rugby League World Cup dates: 15 October-15 November, 2026
– Rugby League World Cup FREE stream: 7 Plus (Australia)
– Rugby League World Cup broadcasters: Premier Sports (UK, Ireland, US), Sky Sport (New Zealand)
– Watch Rugby League World Cup from anywhere: Try

There are 10 teams competing in the men’s Rugby League World Cup: Australia, Cook Islands, England, Fiji, France, Lebanon, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga.

The eight teams battling for the women’s title are: Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Wales.

And in the wheelchair event, Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, the USA and Wales are vying to lift the trophy.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know to watch Rugby League World Cup live streams wherever you are in the world – including details of free viewing options if you’re in Australia. We’ll also explain how you can use a VPN to tune in to your usual streaming services if you’re travelling away from home.

Can I watch the Rugby League World Cup for free?

If you’re in Australia, you can watch every game of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup for free on Seven and its 7plus streaming service. Watching 7plus is easy – you just need your email address to create your free account.

ThreeNow in New Zealand w event.

Aussies travelling overseas right now don’t need to worry about missing any of the action, either. You can use a VPN to access your usual service as if you were still down under.

How to watch

Being away from home doesn’t have to stop you watching the Rugby League World Cup 2026. A VPN bypasses geo-blocking by changing your IP address, allowing you to stream matches as if you were at home. The tech experts at and rate NordVPN as world number one, thanks to its low price and unrivalled ability to unblock streaming services.

What are this week’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 fixtures?

  • Australia v New Zealand (Men Pool A)
    Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia
    Kick-0ff: 10.05am BST / 8.05pm AEDT / 10.05pm NZDT / 5.05am EDT / 2.05am PDT
  • Samoa v France (Men Pool B)
    CommBank Stadium, Sydney, Australia
    Kick-0ff: 7.45am BST / 5.45pm AEDT / 7.45pm NZDT / 2.45am EDT / 11.45pm PDT (Thursday)
  • Samoa v France (Women Pool A)
    CommBank Stadium, Sydney, Australia
    Kick-0ff: 10.05am BST / 8.05pm AEDT / 10.05pm NZDT / 5.05am EDT / 2.05am PDT
  • Papua New Guinea v France (Women Pool B)
    Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
    Kick-0ff: 3.15am BST / 1.15pm AEDT / 3.15pm NZDT / 10.15am EDT (Friday) / 7.15pm PDT (Friday)
  • Papua New Guinea v Lebanon (Men Pool B)
    Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
    Kick-0ff: 5.25am BST / 3.25pm AEDT / 5.25pm NZDT / 12.25am EDT / 9.25pm PDT (Friday)
  • England v Wales (Women Pool A)
    HBF Park, Perth, Australia
    Kick-0ff: 7.35am BST / 5.35pm AEDT / 7.35pm NZDT / 2.35am EDT / 11.35pm PDT (Thursday)
  • England v Tonga (Men Pool B)
    HBF Park, Perth, Australia
    Kick-0ff: 10.05am BST / 8.05pm AEDT / 10.05pm NZDT / 5.05am EDT / 2.05am PDT
  • New Zealand v Fiji (Women Pool B)
    McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
    Kick-0ff: 3.50am BST / 1.50pm AEDT / 3.50pm NZDT / 10.50am EDT (Saturday) / 7.50pm PDT (Saturday)
  • Fiji v Cook Islands (Men Pool A)
    McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
    Kick-0ff: 6.05am BST / 4.05pm AEDT / 6.05pm NZDT / 1.05am EDT / 10.05pm PDT (Saturday)

Other Rugby League World Cup viewing options around the world

Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.

Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).

2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Original source How to watch Rugby League World Cup: Official broadcasters, TV & streaming guide

Back to home