Here is what the page “Rugby League World Cup 2026: Australia, New Zealand Lead Contenders as New Format Puts Pre” contains. The 2026 Men’s Rugby League World Cup kicks off this week with a revamped format that could shake up the traditional order. Ten teams are split into three groups, but only four semi-final spots are available after the quarter-final stage was scrapped. Australia and New Zealand, co-hosts and perennial powerhouses, are expected to dominate Group A, which sends two teams directly to the semis.
England faces a tougher path: they are in a three-team Group B that must combine results with Group C, meaning every match carries extra weight. The new inter-group structure adds complexity and raises the stakes for nations like Samoa, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea, who have shown they can challenge the elite. This listing links straight to the original page, where the content is available in full.