England vs France Rugby League World Cup 2026
Can France spring a surprise in Perth, or will England keep their grip on one of rugby league’s oldest rivalries?
England and France first met back in 1934, and England beat them 42-18 at the last World Cup in 2022.
England vs France is on Saturday 24 October 2026 at HBF Park in Perth, kicking off at 2:35pm local time (5:35pm Sydney, 7:35am UK, 8:35am France).
It’s Round 2 of the combined Pools B and C, and it’s a double-header with the Jillaroos playing England’s women straight after.
Below, you’ll find the kick-off time in every country, both teams, the head-to-head record, our prediction, the TV channels and tickets.
We’ll add both Round 2 team lists as soon as they’re named, any late changes on match day, and the result straight after full-time.
Quick Answer: England vs France Rugby League World Cup 2026
- Date: Saturday 24 October 2026
- Kick-off: 2:35pm Perth, 5:35pm Sydney, 7:35am UK, 8:35am France
- Venue: HBF Park, Perth
- Last World Cup meeting: England 42-18 France, 2022
- Double-header: Australia vs England women follows
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
What Time Is England vs France?
England vs France kicks off at 2:35pm Perth time on Saturday 24 October.
| Where you are | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Perth | 2:35pm Saturday |
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra | 5:35pm Saturday |
| Brisbane | 4:35pm Saturday |
| New Zealand | 7:35pm Saturday |
| France | 8:35am Saturday |
| UK | 7:35am Saturday |
It’s an early Saturday start for fans in the UK and France, with breakfast-time kick-offs in both countries.
Australia vs England in the women’s World Cup follows at 6:05pm Perth time.
England vs France Team Lists
Round 2 teams haven’t been named yet. Coaches usually name their 17 on the Tuesday of match week, around 20 October.
| No. | England | France |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AJ Brimson | Arthur Mourgue |
| 2 | Dominic Young | Benjamin Laguerre |
| 3 | Hugo Savala | Latrell Siegwalt |
| 4 | Herbie Farnworth | Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet |
| 5 | Zach Eckersley | Leo Darrelatour |
| 6 | George Williams | Cesar Rouge |
| 7 | Harry Smith | Theo Fages |
| 8 | Max King | Romain Navarrete |
| 9 | Brad O’Neill | Benjamin Garcia |
| 10 | Morgan Knowles | Lambert Belmas |
| 11 | Junior Nsemba | Arthur Romano |
| 12 | Kai Pearce-Paul | Mathieu Jussaume |
| 13 | Victor Radley | Julian Bousquet |
| 14 | Jez Litten | Amir Bourouh |
| 15 | Luke Thompson | Tiaki Chan |
| 16 | Ethan Havard | Jordan Dezaria |
| 17 | Sam Walters | Mathieu Cozza |
Until then, here’s how England and France lined up in Round 1, as published on NRL.com.
Expect a few changes on both sides, depending on Round 1 results and injuries.
See every side as soon as it’s named on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 team lists page.
England Players to Watch
George Williams and Harry Smith run England’s attack from the halves.
AJ Brimson started at fullback in Round 1, with Herbie Farnworth in the centres.
Victor Radley and Junior Nsemba lead a strong, mobile pack.
France Players to Watch
Captain Benjamin Garcia started at hooker in Round 1.
Arthur Mourgue, Cesar Rouge and Theo Fages give France a settled spine.
South Sydney’s Lattrell Siegwalt is France’s only NRL-based player.
England vs France Head to Head
England and France are European rugby league’s oldest rivals, with Tests going back to 1934.
| Year | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | World Cup pool match, Bolton | England 42-18 France |
At the 2022 World Cup, England beat France 42-18 in Bolton on their way to the semi-finals.
England have won the large majority of recent meetings, including regular mid-season Tests.
France’s best results against England came decades ago, but they’ve improved fast thanks to Catalans and Toulouse.
England vs France Prediction
England start as clear favourites, with more NRL experience and a stronger squad.
France know most of England’s Super League players well, which helps them stay organised.
Our pick is England by 14 to 20 points.
The result could shape the race for the two semi-final places from the combined table.
Where Is England vs France Being Played?
The match is at HBF Park, a rectangular stadium on the edge of the Perth city centre.
It holds around 20,000 fans and also hosts England vs Tonga in Round 1.
It’s an easy walk from Perth’s main train stations.
It’s England’s second game in Perth, so they’ll have had time to settle in Western Australia.
What Channel Is England vs France On?
England vs France is live in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
- Australia: Free on the Seven Network and 7plus
- New Zealand: Sky Sport
- UK and Ireland: Premier Sports (subscription)
France’s World Cup broadcaster hasn’t been confirmed yet. We’ll add it here once it’s announced.
Travelling from the UK or France to watch? A VPN like NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
For other countries, see our how to watch the Rugby League World Cup guide.
England vs France Tickets
Tickets for England vs France start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
Your ticket also covers Australia vs England in the women’s World Cup.
Buy only from Ticketmaster, as resale tickets from other sites may not be valid.
Flying in for the match? An Australia eSIM from Airalo keeps your phone working from the moment you land.
England vs France Result
The match hasn’t been played yet. It kicks off on Saturday 24 October.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| England v France, 24 October 2026 | To be played |
We’ll add the score and a short match report straight after full-time.
Every score from the tournament also goes on our results page.
Match Updates
15 October 2026: Page published with kick-off times, Round 1 teams, the head-to-head record and our prediction.
Next update: both Round 2 team lists, expected around Tuesday 20 October.
After full-time on 24 October, we’ll add the score and a short match report.
England vs France: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about England vs France.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the sections above.
What time is England vs France rugby league?
2:35pm Perth time on Saturday 24 October 2026.
That’s 7:35am in the UK and 8:35am in France.
In Sydney, it kicks off at 5:35pm.
Where is England vs France being played?
At HBF Park in Perth, Western Australia.
It’s a double-header with Australia vs England women.
The stadium holds around 20,000 fans.
What was the score when England last played France at a World Cup?
England won 42-18 at the 2022 World Cup in Bolton.
England went on to reach the semi-finals.
France were knocked out in the group stage.
What channel is England vs France on in the UK?
Premier Sports shows the match live in the UK and Ireland.
It’s a subscription channel.
Kick-off is 7:35am UK time on Saturday 24 October.
Conclusion
England vs France in Perth on 24 October is a big Round 2 match in the race for the semi-finals.
England are favourites, but France will be well drilled and hard to break down.
Bookmark this page for the team lists and the result.
Follow both teams on our England next game and France next game pages, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
