How to watch Rugby League World Cup 2026: FREE live streams

Watch Rugby League World Cup 2026 FREE on 7Plus (Australia) Unlock your stream with Surfshark (save up to 85%) Rugby League World Cup 2026: Thu, Oct 15 – Sun, Nov 15 Rugby League World Cup 2026 is expected to be the most competitive edition of the tournament ever, Samoa and Tonga having each made significant inroads over recent years.

As ever, however, it's 12-time world champions Australia – this is the 17th edition of the RLWC – who enter as favourites.

The absences of code-crossing superstar Mark Nawaqanitawase and injured NRL Dally M Player of Year Nathan Cleary, however, might just knock the Kangaroos off their stride a touch, especially as Reece Walsh is coming off such a disappointing domestic campaign.

Kevin Walters has only included NRL joint-top scorer Thomas Jenkins as a shadow player.

2008 champions and three-time runners-up New Zealand won the Pacific Championships in Australia's absence, and are led by Kalyn Ponga, James Fisher-Harris and Erin Clark.

Samoa reached the Rugby League World Cup final for the first time five years ago, and will fancy making their mark again despite Payne Haas being missing through injury.

Tonga, who reached the RLWC last four for the first time in 2017, do have most of their big guns available, including Haumole Olakau'atu, Leka Halasima and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

England, who have reached the final three times (once as Great Britain), had their expectations tempered by last year's comprehensive Ashes series humiliation, which forced an impromptu managerial change.

New boss Brian McDermott, however, has raised eyebrows by dropping Super League top scorer Jake Connor for the unpredictable Mikey Lewis.

Here's how to watch Rugby League World Cup 2026 from anywhere in the world.

We've also listed the schedule below.

Watch Rugby League World Cup 2026 for free Yes .

Every game of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup is being shown on free-to-air Channel 7, 7Mate and 7Plus in Australia In New Zealand, select games are available on ThreeNow .

This will include every Kiwis game as well as the semi-finals and final.