RLWC2026 countdown

[eels4lifee]

Is anyone looking forward to the wheelchair tournaments? I think this will be a classic

 

[England87]

Lebanon being automatically qualified for the WC is frankly bullshit.

 

[yakstorm]

Lebanon being automatically qualified for the WC is frankly bullshit.

I have less of an issue with them automatically qualifying (they qualified the same way as Tonga, PNG & Fiji by making the Final 8) than the IRL's arbitrary decision to allow them to remain eligible for the RLWC, despite losing their full membership, yet take away the opportunity for others to qualify.

That said, it's typical of the IRL to just make it up as they go along.

 

[Coastbloke]

Wales should be there over Lebanon. I know they didn’t qualify with the current setup, but they bring more to the table IMHO..

 

[Foreign Legion]

I'm still waiting for a website

 

[England87]

Is it 100% confirmed that its a stupid super pool tournament. 2 pools of 5 teams, 4 pool matches per team plus semis and a final please IRL!

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Lebanon being automatically qualified for the WC is frankly bullshit.

Why? They've made the quarters at the last two WCs, they've earned it

 

[shadowformz]

Lebanon and France should be in the Pacific Cup. Give PNG and Fiji 2 home games every year.

Interesting thought. If Rugby league could get a foothold in New Caledonia and french Polynesia then why not. Would be an excellent way to strengthen the french game indirectly.

 

[Foreign Legion]

World Cup qualifier to showcase South African talent to NRL clubs

South African coach Darryl Fisher believes November’s World Cup qualifier against Cook Islands at CommBank Stadium could double as an opportunity for Rhinos players to impress for an NRL contract.

www.nrl.com

Kick Off World Cup Qualifier – Cook Islands Aitu v South African Rhinos: 11:35am

 

[Ideas Man Stephen]

Is it 100% confirmed that its a stupid super pool tournament. 2 pools of 5 teams, 4 pool matches per team plus semis and a final please IRL!

Unfortunately, yes. One group of four and two groups of three.

It’s as dreadful a decision that could have been made.

 

[England87]

That is such crap, 2 pools of 5 teams into Semis and Final would have been perfect.

Imagine a group phase. You have a minimum of 5 games that would hypothetically sell out Suncorp and THEN the knock out stage!

 

[Ideas Man Stephen]

@England87 have a look at this suggestion for what I think is the best structure.

Too long we have been starved of quality match ups in a WC, instead settling for group games of little relevance and interest to the tournament.

Look at all the amazing games we never got to watch in 2022 because of the structure. There was no Aus v England; England v Tonga; England v NZ; Aus v Tonga; NZ v Tonga; NZ v Samoa. They would have to be some of the tastiest matchups international RL could deliver, and we skip them all because of an ill considered tournament structure.

Instead of buggerising around with wasteful matches like England v Greece and NZ v Jamaica, let’s organise the tournament so we get to see all the best nations playing all the best nations.

I would love to see the weaker nations still represented, but participating against nations of a similar standard.

2022 SF’ists auto qualify for four of six places in the Super 6s stage.

Prelim’ Knock Outs stage (played over two weeks immediately after GF)

Rd 1: Nations 5 - 20 Knock Outs (continental opponents)

Rd 2: 8 Winners of Rd1 play each other in four Knock Outs fixtures.

Rd 3: 4 Winners Rd 2 play each other to find two successful qualifiers to join the 2022 WC SF’ists in the Super Sixes.

Super 6s
Two qualifiers join the 2022 WC SF’ists for a 5 week round robin. This way we see the six best nations in the world (likely to be Aus, NZ, England, Sam, Tong and 1 other) all play each other over 5 weekends for the best standard of 15 matches RL can deliver.

No semi finalists, top 2 of Super 6s round robin move straight to a WC Final.

Failing that, if is must be a 10 team tournament, the. yes, a two groups of five should have been sorted like you say.

I would not be surprised if it was the RLPA which put the kybosh on what is a six match post season for the two fina

 

[Ideas Man Stephen]

World Cup qualifier to showcase South African talent to NRL clubs

South African coach Darryl Fisher believes November’s World Cup qualifier against Cook Islands at CommBank Stadium could double as an opportunity for Rhinos players to impress for an NRL contract.

www.nrl.com

Kick Off World Cup Qualifier – Cook Islands Aitu v South African Rhinos: 11:35am

Interesting they were concerned with Bracey’s potential conflict m, but have no issues with Gould’s.

 

[Last Week]

Just over a year until the world cup starts and we haven't even got dates and locations set for the final or semi finals.

This just feels like another afterthought by the NRL.

 

[Foreign Legion]

no website

 

[taste2taste]

Whats the chances NZ and Fiji get to play at home ?

Kiwis would get better crowds at home and will help lift the tournaments profile in both countries.

 

[Ideas Man Stephen]

Just over a year until the world cup starts and we haven't even got dates and locations set for the final or semi finals.

This just feels like another afterthought by the NRL.

Let’s be fair, it probably is an afterthought at this moment and that’s probably not a problem.

There’s a NRL Finals series, Ashes Tour and Pacific series to be completed yet.

What outcome do you expect there to be by having WC details confirmed this early?

 

[Foreign Legion]

We need South Africa to qualify also!

 

[Ideas Man Stephen]

We need South Africa to qualify also!

Why?

Little chance of that for 2026 or 2030 either if it remains as 10 teams.

 

[Foreign Legion]

Why?

Little chance of that for 2026 or 2030 either if it remains as 10 teams.

We need something different... different teams