Rugby League World Cup 2026 Coaches: Every Team’s Coach
Who is in charge of each team at the Rugby League World Cup 2026, and which big names are in the coaches’ box?
Ten men’s teams and eight women’s teams are at this World Cup, and every one of them has its own head coach.
Kevin Walters coaches the Kangaroos, Stacey Jones the Kiwis, Brian McDermott England and Laurent Frayssinous France at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika leads Lebanon, while Mick Potter is back in charge of Fiji, nine years after taking them to a World Cup semi-final.
Below, you’ll find every men’s and women’s head coach, with a short guide to each one and the coaches who played for their country.
We’ll update this page if any team changes coach during the tournament, which runs until the final on 15 November.
Quick Answer: Rugby League World Cup 2026 Coaches
- Kangaroos: Kevin Walters
- Kiwis: Stacey Jones
- England: Brian McDermott
- France: Laurent Frayssinous
- Lebanon: Michael Cheika
- Jillaroos: Jess Skinner
Who Are the Rugby League World Cup 2026 Coaches?
Here’s every men’s head coach at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
| Team | Head coach |
|---|---|
| Australia | Kevin Walters |
| New Zealand | Stacey Jones |
| England | Brian McDermott |
| Samoa | Ben Gardiner |
| Tonga | Kristian Woolf |
| PNG | Jason Demetriou |
| Fiji | Mick Potter |
| Cook Islands | Karmichael Hunt |
| France | Laurent Frayssinous |
| Lebanon | Michael Cheika |
Michael Cheika is the only head coach best known for rugby union, after coaching the Wallabies and Argentina.
Kristian Woolf and Mick Potter have both taken a team to a World Cup semi-final before, with Tonga and Fiji in 2017.
Every women’s head coach is listed further down this page, including the Jillaroos, Kiwi Ferns and England coaches.
Who Is the Kangaroos Coach?
Kevin Walters is the Kangaroos coach at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
In May 2026, the ARLC extended his contract by two years, so he leads Australia at a home World Cup.
Walters played 11 Tests for the Kangaroos and 20 State of Origin games for Queensland, and he won six premierships with Canberra and Brisbane.
He has said he never thought he’d be Kangaroos coach at a World Cup.
Who Is the Kiwis Coach?
Stacey Jones is the Kiwis head coach. He took over the job in 2024, after Michael Maguire left to coach NSW.
Jones is one of New Zealand’s greatest halfbacks, and this is his first World Cup as head coach.
He named a 23-man squad with Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai among the new faces.
Ponga has since been ruled out with a broken arm, so Keano Kini starts at fullback against the Cook Islands.
Who Is the England Rugby League Coach?
Brian McDermott is England’s head coach at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
He was appointed in April 2026, only six months before the tournament.
McDermott won four Super League titles as Leeds Rhinos coach, so he brings plenty of big-game experience.
He has said he believes England can break Australia’s dominance and win the World Cup for the first time.
England play France in Perth on Saturday 24 October, after facing Tonga in Round 1.
Who Is the France Rugby League Coach?
Laurent Frayssinous is the France rugby league coach at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
He guided France through qualifying, sealing the ninth World Cup place with a win over Jamaica in October 2025.
Frayssinous is a former Catalans Dragons coach, so he knows many of France’s players well.
France are 11th in the world rankings and face England in Perth on Saturday. See every player in our France World Cup squad guide.
Who Is the Lebanon Rugby League Coach?
Michael Cheika is the Lebanon rugby league coach at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
He’s a former Wallabies head coach, and he has also coached Argentina in rugby union.
Cheika also led Lebanon at the last World Cup in 2022, when they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Australia.
Lebanon are 23rd in the world rankings, the lowest of any team at this World Cup, so they’ll be counting on his experience.
Tonga, Samoa and Fiji Rugby League Coaches
Kristian Woolf coaches Mate Ma’a Tonga. He led Tonga to the 2017 World Cup semi-finals and won three Super League titles with St Helens.
Ben Gardiner coaches Toa Samoa. He was already part of Samoa’s coaching staff before he stepped up to head coach.
Mick Potter returned as Fiji Bati coach in July 2026, after guiding Fiji past New Zealand in the 2017 World Cup quarter-finals.
Potter has also coached Catalans, St Helens, Wests Tigers and the Bulldogs.
PNG and Cook Islands Rugby League Coaches
Jason Demetriou coaches the PNG Kumuls. He was appointed in August 2024.
He’s a former South Sydney Rabbitohs coach, and he has set the Kumuls the goal of reaching the semi-finals.
Karmichael Hunt coaches the Cook Islands Aitu. He played for the Kangaroos and Queensland, and later played rugby union and AFL.
Hunt took charge for the 2024 Pacific Championships, and he’s now leading the Aitu at a World Cup.
Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 Coaches
Here’s every head coach at the Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026.
| Team | Head coach |
|---|---|
| Australia | Jess Skinner |
| New Zealand | Ricky Henry |
| England | Stuart Barrow |
| Samoa | Frank Pritchard |
| Wales | Tom Brindle |
| PNG | Craig Sandercock |
| France | Alan Walsh |
| Fiji | Jone Wesele |
Jess Skinner leads the Jillaroos, who have won the last three Women’s World Cups, with Isabelle Kelly as captain.
Jone Wesele, a former Fiji Bati player, took charge of the Fiji Bulikula in August 2026, a month before the World Cup.
Frank Pritchard leads Fetu Samoa back to the Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2008. See every game in our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.
Which Rugby League World Cup 2026 Coaches Played for Their Country?
Several head coaches at this World Cup played Test rugby league for their country.
Kevin Walters played 11 Tests for the Kangaroos, and Karmichael Hunt also played for Australia before switching codes.
Stacey Jones is a Kiwis great, and Jone Wesele played for the Fiji Bati before moving into coaching.
Michael Cheika is different. He played and coached rugby union, and this is his second World Cup with Lebanon after 2022.
Rugby League World Cup 2026 Coaches: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about the World Cup coaches.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For more on each coach, see the sections above.
Who is the French rugby league coach?
Laurent Frayssinous coaches France.
He guided them through World Cup qualifying.
Alan Walsh coaches the France women’s team.
Who coaches the Kangaroos at the 2026 World Cup?
Kevin Walters coaches the Kangaroos.
His contract was extended in May 2026.
He played 11 Tests for Australia.
Who is the Jillaroos coach?
Jess Skinner coaches the Jillaroos.
Isabelle Kelly is the captain.
The Jillaroos have won the last three Women’s World Cups.
Who is the Kiwis rugby league coach?
Stacey Jones coaches the Kiwis.
He took over in 2024.
Ricky Henry coaches the Kiwi Ferns.
Conclusion
Kevin Walters, Stacey Jones, Brian McDermott and Laurent Frayssinous lead four of the big men’s teams at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
Michael Cheika is back with Lebanon, Mick Potter is back with Fiji, and Kristian Woolf is still in charge of Tonga.
On the women’s side, Jess Skinner’s Jillaroos are the team everyone is chasing.
See how every team stacks up in our Rugby League World Rankings 2026 guide, and every squad on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 teams page.
Want our World Cup updates first? Add RLWC 2026 Guide as a preferred source on Google.
