When Do England Play at the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
The Rugby League World Cup 2026 is almost here, and England’s World Cup fixtures promise more drama than the fixture list suggests. Brian McDermott’s side open against Tonga in Perth on 17 October, nine years after their extraordinary semi-final, with a newly confirmed England Rugby League World Cup squad and a route to the final that leaves precious little room for errors.
England World Cup Fixtures and UK Kick-off Times
Set an alarm rather than trusting an Australian fixture graphic. All three England group-stage matches start in the British morning.
| Match | Date | UK kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| England v Tonga | Sat 17 Oct | 10:05am BST |
| England v France | Sat 24 Oct | 7:35am BST |
| England v Papua New Guinea | Fri 30 Oct | 9:35am GMT |
The first two games take place at HBF Park, Perth. England then travel to WIN Stadium in Wollongong. Britain’s clocks go back on 25 October, so the third match uses GMT rather than BST.
Who Is in England’s 23-Man Squad?
McDermott confirmed his selection on 5 October. Established Super League names sit alongside NRL-based talent, but Leeds playmaker Jake Connor is a notable omission.
| Squad | Players |
|---|---|
| 1-8 | Matty Ashton, AJ Brimson, Ben Currie, Zach Eckersley, Herbie Farnworth, Ethan Havard, Max King, Morgan Knowles |
| 9-16 | Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, Junior Nsemba, Brad O’Neill, Kai Pearce-Paul, Victor Radley, Hugo Savala, Harry Smith |
| 17-23 | Morgan Smithies, Luke Thompson, Sam Walters, Ben Talty, Jack Welsby, George Williams, Dom Young |
Depth and positional flexibility could matter as much as star quality. Farnworth and Dom Young supply genuine attacking pace, while George Williams brings organisational experience in the halves. Selection alone will not solve the question of how England defend against power through the middle.
How Does the World Cup Format Work?
This is not a conventional four-team group. England are in Group B with Samoa and Lebanon, yet play Tonga, France and Papua New Guinea from Group C instead. The two groups share a combined standings table, with only its top two teams reaching the semi-finals. Group A contains Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Cook Islands; its top two advance separately.
Rugby League World Cup Odds: Who Are the Favourites?
Australia’s grip on the trophy is reflected in the market, but the outsiders offer more interesting questions than a short-priced favourite.
BetVictor UK outright snapshot, 12 October 2026. Prices may change.
England at 16/1 is no automatic bargain. Consider the combined table, likely semi-final opposition and team news before assessing that price. Our rugby league betting sites guide explains the other markets worth comparing.
TV Coverage and England’s Route to the Final
Premier Sports owns the exclusive UK and Ireland rights, covering the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments. The men’s semi-finals are scheduled for 7 and 8 November, with the final at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on 15 November.
A successful England campaign means finishing in the combined top two, winning a semi-final and then beating another elite side. There is no quarter-final safety net. That is an unforgiving qualifying equation.
Final Verdict
BetoThe bold one
