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2026 Rugby League World Cup betting
First held in France way back in 1954, the Rugby League World Cup has grown into a massive tournament that unites the rugby league world.
But it hasn’t always been that way. The idea of an international rugby league tournament stems all the way back to 1931, but it took more than 20 years to get it off the ground.
And it took even longer to get it right, with the tournament never quite being able to decide exactly what format works best.
From group formatting, to round robin, to events staged over three years, there have been several incarnations of the World Cup.
Most World Cup events in sports are held every four years, but that’s not the case for rugby league’s premier international tournament.
This is my table
The event has been held in intervals ranging anywhere from two to eight years, with some tournaments held over a three-year period.
In 1995, the competition was restructured, but organisers might have finally gotten it right in 2013, with that event considered the best ever. It was expanded to 14 teams, and organisers pledged to hold the event every four years.
The planned 2025 Rugby League World Cup, initially set for the USA and Canada and then reassigned to France, was canceled following France’s withdrawal in May 2023. Consequently, a smaller-scale World Cup is now scheduled for 2026 in the southern hemisphere, with New Zealand and Australia showing interest in hosting.
The 2026 tournament will feature fewer teams in the men’s competition, but the women’s and wheelchair tournaments will retain their expanded team numbers.
Australia has been the dominant force in the sport over the years and has shown its ascendancy with 11 World Cup wins, easily dwarfing Great Britain’s three.
The tournament always produces a flurry of betting action, so here’s our guide to getting your bets on responsibly and hopefully making a little dough in the process.
How do you bet on the Rugby League World Cup?
So you want to be patriotic and place a bet on the Rugby League World Cup? Maybe you’re not so loyal and think another nation can steal your country’s thunder?
Either way, before you bet, you need to make sure you can afford it. And we don’t just mean having the money in the bank; we mean making sure you have met all of your obligations, like bills and other commitments, before you load up your betting account and start splurging your hard-earned money. So put the food on the table, pay the rent or mortgage, and then have a little flutter.
The next thing you need to do is find a good online bookmaker to take care of your bet.
There’s no need to go hunting far and wide, though; we have scoured the world wide web and come up with a list of the hottest online bookmakers to handle your Rugby League World Cup bet.
Pick one – or more than one – to take advantage of bonus bets and other promotions, as well as have the peace of mind that your money and bets are safe and sound.
What is the format of the Rugby League World Cup?
As we have mentioned, there have been a variety of different formats across the journey for the Rugby League World Cup, but the current format looks like it is here to stay.
At present, the host nation automatically qualifies for the World Cup as one of 14 teams that will make the finals after the group stages are completed.
Those teams become four groups – two of the four teams and two of the three teams – with three teams from the groups of four progressing and one each from the groups of three.
The quarterfinals become knockout events, going from eight teams to four and then two in the final.
What markets are available for the Rugby League World Cup?
With the uncertainty and the venues not being set in stone, there are currently no markets for the Rugby League World Cup.
Typical Rugby League World Cup markets:
- Winner
- To make the final
- To make the semi final
- To make the quarter final
- How many tournament wins
- Leading try scorer
- Head to head match winner
- Line betting
- Total match score
- First try scorer
- Margin betting
Tips for winning money on the Rugby League World Cup
So you want to enhance your Rugby League World Cup experience by placing a bet – but you also want to make sure you’re maximising your chances of actually winning? Here are a few tips that should hopefully set you on your way to the pot of gold at the end of the tunnel.
- Steer clear of straight-out win bets in the group stages
There are very few upsets early in the tournament, and the odds are so skewed toward the favoured nations that it is almost not worth betting on head-to-head markets, unless you’re a multimillionaire who can afford to put your house on Australia to beat Ireland at $1.03. - Use multis to increase your odds
Given we’ve just mentioned how ordinary the head-to-head odds often are, here’s how you can make it worth your while. Take the favourites and pack them in a multi to enhance your odds. It’s a quick, easy way of making money, and if you can handle the odd scare here and there, you can make some decent money.
New Zealand’s All-Blacks are always a force to be reckoned with - Australia, New Zealand, England
Stick with the big guns, and you will be doing okay. These teams tend to smash the opposition in the group stages, so don’t get scared off by big lines. Back them in to lay waste to their opposition, and you’re sure to get a good run for your money.
Who won the last Rugby League World Cup?
The latest Rugby League World Cup Grand Final, held in 2022, was a decisive victory for Australia, who continued their dominance in the sport. The Kangaroos faced Samoa in the final, which took place at the iconic Old Trafford stadium. Australia showcased their superiority, outclassing Samoa with a convincing 30-10 win. This triumph marked Australia’s 12th World Cup title, reinforcing their position as a powerhouse in rugby league history.
Where and when is the next Rugby League World Cup?
The planned 2025 Rugby League World Cup, initially set for the USA and Canada and then reassigned to France, was canceled following France’s withdrawal in May 2023. Consequently, a smaller-scale World Cup is now scheduled for 2026 in the southern hemisphere, with New Zealand and Australia showing interest in hosting.
The 2026 tournament will feature fewer teams in the men’s competition, but the women’s and wheelchair tournaments will retain their expanded team numbers.
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Most Rugby League World Cup tournament wins and past winners
As we have mentioned, Australia is the dominant force in world rugby league, winning 12 of the 15 Rugby League World Cups to have been staged.
In fact, only three nations have won the World Cup, and the Aussies have lost just once since 1972 – the famous tied final that was awarded to Great Britain because they were higher in the standings.
That loss was the famous boilover when New Zealand claimed their first RLWC title on the back of a stunning 34-to-20 win over the Aussies in 2008.
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Group format era:
- 1954, France:
Great Britain 16 defeated France 12 - 1957, Australia:
Australia topped the table and was declared winner - 1960, England:
Great Britain topped the table and was declared winner - 1968, Australia:
Australia 20 defeated France 2 - 1970, England:
Australia 12 defeated Great Britain 7 - 1972, France:
Great Britain 10 drew with Australian 10 (Great Britain awarded world cup thanks to higher position on table) - 1975, International:
Australia topped the table and was declared winner - 1977, Australia, New Zealand:
Australia 13 defeated Great Britain 12 - 1985-88, International:
Australia 25 defeated New Zealand 12 - 1989-92, International:
Australia 10 defeated Great Britain 6
- 1954, France:
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Expanded format era:
- 1995, England:
Australia 16 defeated England 8 - 2000, United Kingdom, Ireland, France:
Australia 40 defeated New Zealand 12 - 2008, Australia:
New Zealand 34 defeated Australia 20 - 2013, England, Wales:
Australia 34 defeated New Zealand 2 - 2017, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea:
Australia 6 defeated England 0 - 2022, England:
Australia 30 defeated Samoa 10
- 1995, England:
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