Rugby League World Cup fixtures: RLWC2021 schedule, groups and how to get tickets to games

England are hosting the 2021 Rugby League World Cups which are available to watch across the BBC. England will play Samoa in their opening fixture

By Susanna Sealy

10th Oct 2022, 2:18pm

Postponed from 2021, the Rugby League World Cup is set to take place this autumn with England hosting the men, women and wheelchair tournaments.

Australia are entering as the current holders of the men’s trophy while New Zealand will be the defending champions in the women’s. France will be defending their trophy in the wheelchair tournament and are still the number one ranked team in Rugby League while England are ranked second.

While playing in any World Cup is a special occasion, this year will be even more momentous for the Welsh prop Anthony Walker who was forced to retire just days before the previous World Cup after he was diagnosed with a fatal brain condition.

After undergoing radiotherapy for two years, he was given the all-clear by Rugby Football League to make a return to the field and after playing for both Bradford Bulls and Widnes Vikings since his return, he will now make his international return as he prepares for the upcoming competition.

Speaking to the BBC, Walker said: “It’s been a crazy five years really, a bit of a rollercoaster but I’ve come back to where it ended.

When I came back playing two years ago, this was my goal to get back into that World Cup squad.”

Here is all you need to know about how to follow Anthony Walker and the other squads in this year’s Rugby League World Cup...

When does the Rugby League World Cup start?

The World Cup will start this weekend, Saturday 15 October 2022, with a fixture between England and Samoa at 2.30pm BST.

There will be three match weeks before the quarter final stage on the first weekend in November. The final will then take place as a double header with the women’s match preceding the men’s final on Saturday 19 November 2022.

England’s Leah Burke celebrates scoring for team side St Helens

England’s Leah Burke celebrates scoring for team side St Helens

Which nations are competing in the Rugby League World Cup?

Here are all the teams in the men’s competition:

Group A: England, France, Greece, Samoa
Group B: Australia, Fiji, Italy, Scotland
Group C: Ireland, Jamaica, Lebanon, New Zealand
Group D: Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Wales, Tonga

Here are the teams in the women’s competition:

Group A: England, Brazil, Canada, Papua New Guinea
Group B: Australia, Cook Islands, France, New Zealand

How to buy tickets for Rugby League World Cup?

Tickets are still available to purchase through the Rugby League World Cup website. Those wishing to buy will need to set up a free account with RLWS202.

Pricing will vary depending on whether you are watching a men’s, women’s or double header fixture.

All matches are available to watch across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer for those unable to attend the grounds.

When are the fixtures for Rugby League World Cup?

Men’s Round 1:

Saturday 15 October: England v Samoa, 2.30pm BST - St James’ Park, Newcastle
Saturday 15 October: Australia v Fiji, 7.30pm BST - Headingley, Leeds
Sunday 16 October: Scotland v Italy, 2.30pm BST - Kingston Park, Newcastle
Sunday 16 October: Jamaica v Ireland, 5pm BST - Headingley, Leeds
Sunday 16 October: New Zealand v Lebanon, 7.30pm BST - Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Monday 17 October: France v Greece, 7.30pm BST - Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
Tuesday 18 October: Tonga v Papua New Guinea, 7.30pm BST - Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Wednesday 19 October: Wales v Cook Islands, 7.30pm BST - Leigh Sports Village

Men’s Round 2:

Friday 21 October: Australia v Scotland, 7.30pm BST - Coventry Building Society Arena
Saturday 22 October: Fiji v Italy, 2.30pm BST - Kingston Park, Newcastle
Saturday 22 October: England v France, 5pm BST - University of Bolton Stadium
Saturday 22 October: New Zealand v Jamaica, 2.30pm BST - MKM Stadium, Hull
Sunday 23 October: Samoa v Greece, 5pm BST - Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
Monday 24 October: Tonga v Wales, 7.30pm BST - Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Tuesday 25 October: Papua New Guinea v Cook Islands, 7.30pm BST - Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington

Men’s Round 3:

Friday 28 October: New Zealand v Ireland, 7.30pm BST - Headingley
Saturday 29 October: England v Greece, 2.30pm BST - Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Saturday 29 October: Fiji v Scotland, 5pm BST - Kingston Park. Newcastle
Saturday 29 October: Australia v Italy, 7.30pm BST - Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Sunday 30 October: Lebanon v Jamaica, 12pm GMT - Leigh Sports Village
Sunday 30 October: Tonga v Cook Islands, 2.30pm GMT - Cook Islands
Sunday 30 October: Samoa v France, 5pm GMT - Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Monday 31 October: Papua New Guinea v Wales, 7.30pm GMT - Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster

Men’s Quarter-finals:

Friday 4 November: Group B Winner v Group C Runner-Up, 7.30pm GMT - John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield
Saturday 5 November: Group A Winner v Group D Runner-up, 2.30pm GMT - DW Stadium, Wigan
Saturday 5 November: Group C Winner v Group B Runner-up, 7.30pm GMT - MKM Stadium, Hull
Sunday 6 November: Group D Winner v Group A Runner-up, 2.30pm GMT - Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington

Men’s Semi-finals:

Friday 11 November: Winner QF1 v Winner QF3, 7.45pm GMT - Elland Road, Leeds
Saturday 12 November: Winner QF2 v Winner QF4, 2.30pm GMT - The Emirates, London

Men’s Final: Saturday 19 November, 4pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester

Women’s Round 1:

Tuesday 1 November: England v Brazil, 2.30pm GMT - Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Tuesday 1 November: Papua New Guinea v Canada, 5pm GMT - Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Wednesday 2 November: New Zealand v France, 5pm GMT - LNER Community Stadium, York
Wednesday 2 November: Australia v Cook Islands, 7.30pm GMT - LNER Community Stadium, York

Women’s Round 2:

Saturday 5 November: England v Canada, 12pm GMT - DW Stadium, Wigan
Saturday 5 November: Papua New Guinea v Brazil, 5pm GMT - MKM Stadium, Hull
Sunday 6 November: New Zealand v Cook Islands, 5pm GMT - LNER Stadium, York
Sunday 6 November: Australia v France, 7.30pm GMT - LNER Community Stadium, York

Women’s Round 3:

Wednesday 3 November: Canada v Brazil, 5pm GMT - Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Wednesday 3 November: England v Papua New Guinea, 7.30pm GMT - Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Thursday 10 November: France v Cook Islands, 5pm GMT - LNER Community Stadium, York
Thursday 10 November: Australia v New Zealand, 7.30pm GMT - LNER Community Stadium, York

Women’s Semi-finals:

Monday 14 November: Group B winner v Group A runner-up, 5pm GMT - LNER Community Stadium
Monday 14 November: Group A winner v Group B runner-up, 7.30pm GMT - LNER Community Stadium

Women’s Final: Saturday 19 November, 1.15pm GMT - Old Trafford

France England 2022 Rugby League World Cup