Rugby League World Cup 2026 Team Lists
Who will the coaches pick for the first round of the Rugby League World Cup 2026, and when will fans find out?
Ten men’s teams play five matches in Round 1, starting with Australia vs New Zealand in Sydney on Thursday 15 October.
All Rugby League World Cup 2026 Round 1 team lists were named on Tuesday 13 October, two days before Australia vs New Zealand opens the tournament.
Each side picks 17 players: 13 starters and four on the bench. Coaches can still make late changes before kick-off.
This page tracks every team list for the men’s and women’s tournaments, match by match, with links to each team’s squad.
Every Round 1 team is below, numbers 1 to 17, with the key selection calls, captains and debutants for each match.
Quick Answer: Rugby League World Cup 2026 Team Lists
- Round 1 team lists: all named on Tuesday 13 October
- Players per match: 17 (13 starters, four interchange)
- Men’s Round 1: five matches, 15 to 18 October
- Women’s Round 1: four matches, 16 to 18 October
- Opening match: Australia vs New Zealand, Allianz Stadium, 8:05pm AEDT
When Are Rugby League World Cup Team Lists Named?
Team lists come out a couple of days before each match. At the last World Cup in 2022, every Round 1 list was published two days before the first game.
Coaches usually name 17 players plus a few reserves. The reserves are cut on game day, and the final 17 is confirmed close to kick-off.
Official lists appear on rlwc2026.com and NRL.com. We add each one here, with the key selection calls explained.
Rugby League World Cup Team Lists: Round 1
All ten men’s teams for Round 1 were named on Tuesday 13 October. Times below are Sydney time.
| Date | Match | Kick-off | Team lists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 15 Oct | Australia vs New Zealand | 8:05pm | Named 13 Oct |
| Fri 16 Oct | Samoa vs France | 5:45pm | Named 13 Oct |
| Sat 17 Oct | PNG vs Lebanon | 3:25pm | Named 13 Oct |
| Sat 17 Oct | England vs Tonga | 8:05pm | Named 13 Oct |
| Sun 18 Oct | Fiji vs Cook Islands | 4:05pm | Named 13 Oct |
The lists below are numbers 1 to 17, as published on NRL.com.
For kick-off times in your country, see our Rugby League World Cup 2026 kick-off times guide.
Australia vs New Zealand Team Lists
The opener is at Allianz Stadium on Thursday 15 October at 8:05pm.
| No. | Australia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reece Walsh | Kalyn Ponga |
| 2 | Jack Bostock | Jamayne Isaako |
| 3 | Latrell Mitchell | Dane Gagai |
| 4 | Kotoni Staggs | Casey McLean |
| 5 | Tom Trbojevic | Ronaldo Mulitalo |
| 6 | Cameron Munster | Kodi Nikorima |
| 7 | Mitchell Moses | Jahrome Hughes |
| 8 | Patrick Carrigan | James Fisher-Harris |
| 9 | Harry Grant | Jeremy Marshall-King |
| 10 | Tino Fa’asuamaleaui | Moses Leota |
| 11 | Jacob Preston | Isaiah Papali’i |
| 12 | Liam Martin | Briton Nikora |
| 13 | Isaah Yeo | Joseph Tapine |
| 14 | Tom Dearden | Te Maire Martin |
| 15 | Cameron Murray | Naufahu Whyte |
| 16 | Reuben Cotter | Erin Clark |
| 17 | Keaon Koloamatangi | Xavier Willison |
Reece Walsh beats James Tedesco to fullback, and Mitchell Moses gets the No. 7 jersey ahead of Sam Walker.
Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai make their Kiwis debuts, and James Fisher-Harris captains New Zealand.
Full preview: Australia vs New Zealand Rugby League World Cup 2026.
Samoa vs France Team Lists
Samoa face France at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta on Friday 16 October at 5:45pm.
| No. | Samoa | France |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | Arthur Mourgue |
| 2 | Brian To’o | Benjamin Laguerre |
| 3 | Izack Tago | Latrell Siegwalt |
| 4 | Stephen Crichton | Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet |
| 5 | Deine Mariner | Leo Darrelatour |
| 6 | Chanel Harris-Tavita | Cesar Rouge |
| 7 | Jarome Luai | Theo Fages |
| 8 | Francis Molo | Romain Navarrete |
| 9 | Benaiah Ioelu | Benjamin Garcia |
| 10 | Junior Paulo | Lambert Belmas |
| 11 | Connelly Lemuelu | Arthur Romano |
| 12 | Jermaine McEwen | Mathieu Jussaume |
| 13 | Francis Manuleleua | Julian Bousquet |
| 14 | Jazz Tevaga | Amir Bourouh |
| 15 | Spencer Leniu | Tiaki Chan |
| 16 | Shawn Blore | Jordan Dezaria |
| 17 | Sualauvi Fa’alogo | Mathieu Cozza |
Jarome Luai and Junior Paulo co-captain Samoa, while Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua make their Test debuts.
Benjamin Garcia captains France and starts at hooker, with Theo Fages and Cesar Rouge in the halves.
See the Samoa next game page for every Samoa fixture.
PNG vs Lebanon Team Lists
PNG host Lebanon in Port Moresby on Saturday 17 October, kicking off at 2:25pm local time.
| No. | PNG | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morea Morea | Jacob Kiraz |
| 2 | Robert Derby | Tony Francis |
| 3 | Zac Laybutt | Michael Gabrael |
| 4 | Nene Macdonald | Jordan Samrani |
| 5 | Dudley Dotoi | Jason Saab |
| 6 | Gairo Voro | Khaled Rajab |
| 7 | Bailey Biondi-Odo | Alex Conti |
| 8 | Valentine Richard | Jaxson Rahme |
| 9 | Edwin Ipape | Yehya Ayache |
| 10 | Luca Moretti | James Roumanos |
| 11 | Rhyse Martin | Tony Sukkar |
| 12 | Nixon Putt | Charbel Tasipale |
| 13 | Jack de Belin | Alex Twal |
| 14 | Finley Glare | Moustafa Dirani |
| 15 | Liam Horne | Mikael Ibrahim |
| 16 | Epel Kapinias | Jalal Bazzaz |
| 17 | Sylvester Namo | Khalil Rahme |
Luca Moretti makes his Kumuls debut at prop, with captain Rhyse Martin in the second row.
Alex Twal captains Lebanon, and Jordan Samrani and Tony Sukkar make their Test debuts.
See the Lebanon next game page for every Cedars fixture.
England vs Tonga Team Lists
England face Tonga at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday 17 October, at 5:05pm local time and 10:05am UK.
| No. | England | Tonga |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AJ Brimson | Lehi Hopoate |
| 2 | Dominic Young | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak |
| 3 | Hugo Savala | Tolutau Koula |
| 4 | Herbie Farnworth | Robert Toia |
| 5 | Zach Eckersley | Jojo Fifita |
| 6 | George Williams | Latu Fainu |
| 7 | Harry Smith | Isaiya Katoa |
| 8 | Max King | Addin Fonua-Blake |
| 9 | Brad O’Neill | Soni Luke |
| 10 | Morgan Knowles | Jason Taumalolo |
| 11 | Junior Nsemba | Haumole Olakau’atu |
| 12 | Kai Pearce-Paul | Siua Wong |
| 13 | Victor Radley | Tyson Frizell |
| 14 | Jez Litten | Salesi Foketi |
| 15 | Luke Thompson | Stefano Utoikamanu |
| 16 | Ethan Havard | Demitric Vaimauga |
| 17 | Sam Walters | Leka Halasima |
Brian McDermott hands Test debuts to Zach Eckersley, Sam Walters, Hugo Savala and Max King.
Tonga start with Jason Taumalolo and Addin Fonua-Blake up front, and Isaiya Katoa at halfback.
See the England and Tonga next game pages.
Fiji vs Cook Islands Team Lists
Fiji and the Cook Islands meet at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday 18 October at 4:05pm.
| No. | Fiji | Cook Islands |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayleigh Bentley-Hape | Esom Ioka |
| 2 | Sunia Turuva | Paul Ulberg |
| 3 | Waqa Blake | KL Iro |
| 4 | Solomone Saukuru | Reubenn Rennie |
| 5 | Semi Valemei | Cameron Brown |
| 6 | Kurt Donoghoe | Maui Winitana-Patelesio |
| 7 | Brandon Wakeham | Esan Marsters |
| 8 | Jacob Saifiti | Davvy Moale |
| 9 | Apisai Koroisau | Mason Teague |
| 10 | Mitchell Prest | Makahesi Makatoa |
| 11 | Taane Milne | Delahia Wigmore |
| 12 | Kitione Kautoga | Reuben Porter |
| 13 | Caleb Navale | Pride Petterson-Robati |
| 14 | Josese Lanyon | Rua Ngatikaura |
| 15 | Emosi Ravosai | K-CI Newton-Whare |
| 16 | Elijah Keung | Rhys Dakin |
| 17 | Ronald Philitoga | Brad Takairangi |
Apisai Koroisau captains Fiji from hooker, and Jacob Saifiti returns after a four-game suspension.
KL Iro captains the Cook Islands from the centres, with Esan Marsters at halfback.
See the Cook Islands next game page for every Aitu fixture.
Women’s Rugby League World Cup Team Lists
The women’s tournament starts a day later, and its teams are named on the same kind of schedule.
| Date | Match | Team lists |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Oct | Australia vs Samoa | Not yet named |
| Sat 17 Oct | PNG vs France | Not yet named |
| Sat 17 Oct | England vs Wales | Not yet named |
| Sun 18 Oct | New Zealand vs Fiji | Not yet named |
The Jillaroos open against Samoa at CommBank Stadium. See the Jillaroos squad, Kiwi Ferns squad and England Women squad.
For every women’s fixture, read our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.
Can Teams Change Their Team List?
Yes. A named team isn’t final until close to kick-off, and coaches often swap players because of injury, illness or tactics.
Players can also be replaced in the wider squad if they’re ruled out of the tournament.
Before each round, check our Rugby League World Cup 2026 injury list and the full teams and squads page.
Team List Updates
13 October 2026: Page published with all five men’s Round 1 team lists.
Next update: the women’s Round 1 teams and any late changes before kick-off.
Round 2 team lists will be added from around 21 October.
Rugby League World Cup Team Lists: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about World Cup team lists.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For match-by-match details, see the sections above.
When are Rugby League World Cup team lists announced?
A couple of days before each match.
All men’s Round 1 lists were named on Tuesday 13 October 2026.
Round 2 lists are expected around 20 to 21 October.
How many players are in a rugby league team list?
17 players play in each match: 13 starters and four interchange players.
Coaches often name a few extra reserves.
The reserves are cut on game day.
Where can I find official Rugby League World Cup team lists?
The tournament publishes them on rlwc2026.com, and NRL.com covers them too.
We add every list to this page.
Each team’s next game page shows its latest 17 as well.
Who plays in the first round of the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
Australia vs New Zealand, Samoa vs France, PNG vs Lebanon, England vs Tonga and Fiji vs Cook Islands.
The round runs from 15 to 18 October.
The women’s tournament starts on 16 October.
Conclusion
Every men’s Round 1 team is now named, and the Rugby League World Cup 2026 starts on Thursday.
The opener comes first, then the rest of the round follows over the weekend.
Bookmark this page, because we add late changes, the women’s teams and Round 2 lists as soon as they’re named.
Keep this page open for every 17, and use our full schedule and results pages to follow the tournament.
