Australian success is not guaranteed but who can stop the Rugby League World Cup hosts?
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is set to begin in Australia, with experts debating whether the host nation can be challenged by increasingly competitive teams. Despite criticism regarding the tournament's global reach, the event is expected to be a high-stakes showcase for Pacific nations like Tonga and Samoa.
Why it matters
The tournament serves as a major cultural and sporting event for the Pacific region and highlights the growing professionalization of rugby league outside traditional strongholds.
Captains of the men’s Rugby League World Cup teams at Accor Stadium in Sydney before the tournament kicks off on Thursday./Getty Images Captains of the men’s Rugby League World Cup teams at Accor Stadium in Sydney before the tournament kicks off on Thursday./Getty Images Rugby League World Cup 2026 Australian success is not guaranteed but who can stop the Rugby League World Cup hosts? A handful of increasingly competitive teams are expected to at least provide intrigue in what is likely to be the best tournament the sport has witnessed
Jack Snape Tue 13 Oct 2026 15.00 BST Last modified on Tue 13 Oct 2026 15.01 BST Share Prefer the Guardian on Google Critics will dismiss the men’s Rugby League World Cup as a provincial oddity, or a forgettable postscript to a long NRL season. Worse, they will question its legitimacy.
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