The Rugby League World Cup

Rugby League rules

 



The history of the Rugby League World Cup

1954 - France

Winner: Great Britain

The men’s Rugby League World Cup was first hosted by France. Commissioned by Paul Barrière (1920-2008), then president of the French Rugby League Federation (formerly the Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII), the tournament was represented by four nations: Australia, France, Great Britain and New Zealand. It was Great Britain who took home the trophy in the end, beating France 16-12.

1957 - Australia

Winner: Australia

The competition celebrated the 50th anniversary of rugby league in the country.

1960 - England

Winner: Great Britain

Matches first broadcast on TV.

1968 - Australia and New Zealand

Winner: Australia

1970 - England

Winner: Australia

The trophy was stolen from the Australian team and wasn’t recovered until 1990!

1972 - France

Winner: Great Britain

1975 - World series

Winner: Australia

1977 - Australia and New Zealand

Winner: Australia

1985-1988 - World series

Winner: Australia

The competition changed format again with five nations playing for the first time with Papua New Guinea added.

1989-1992 - World series

Winner: Australia

1995 - England and Wales

Winner: Australia

The men’s competition extended to 10 nations.

2000 - Great Britain, Ireland and France

Winners:
• Australia (Men)
• New Zealand (Women)

First staging of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup.

2005 - New Zealand

Winner: New Zealand (Women)

Women’s competition only.

2008 - Australia

Winners:
• New Zealand (Men)
• New Zealand (Women)
• England (Wheelchair)

First staging of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.
Double for New Zealand (Men's and Women's competitions).

2013 - Great Britain, Ireland and France

Winners:
• Australia (Men)
• Australia (Women)
• France (Wheelchair)

Double for Australia (Men's and Women's competitions).

2017 - Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea / France

Winners:
• Australia (Men)
• Australia (Women)
• France (Wheelchair)

The wheelchair competition was hosted in France, independently of the other two competitions.
The Rugby League World Cup trophy was named the Paul Barrière trophy in honour of the tournament’s founder.
Double for Australia (Men's and Women's competitions).

2021 - England

Winners:
Available soon

Postponed to autumn 2022 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it hosted three competitions concurrently for the first time: wheelchair (8 teams), women’s (8 teams) and men’s (16 teams).

2025 - France

4 competitions in one (wheelchair, women’s, men’s, youth) and 16 teams selected for each, so 64 national teams in all. The youth (U19) contested the Rugby League World Cup for the first time!




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