Triumph or flop? The Rugby League World Cup that split opinion

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup produced a split verdict: Australia praised it as highly competitive and financially successful, while concerns in Britain and elsewhere centred on its reduced men’s tournament and limited access to matches. England’s wheelchair team won the title, but the men’s and women’s sides exited early, adding to disappointment among northern hemisphere supporters.

Australia won the men’s and women’s competitions for the fourth World Cup in a row, with Tonga and Samoa impressing and drawing on strong Polynesian support. The men’s field was cut from 16 teams to 10 after Australia took over hosting from France, which withdrew for financial reasons; some group matches were still heavily one-sided. Australian players reportedly received A$40,000 each, while Wales’ women’s and wheelchair teams shared a reported A$15,000. Australian viewers had free-to-air coverage, but UK and North American fans generally needed a Premier Sports subscription.