How Much Are Rugby League World Cup 2026 Players Paid?

Did you know some Rugby League World Cup 2026 players earn 47 times more than others for playing in the same tournament?

Player pay has become one of the biggest talking points of this World Cup, especially among the Pacific nations.

Most players at the Rugby League World Cup 2026 earn AU$850 per match, while each Kangaroos player reportedly gets a flat AU$40,000 for the tournament.

A player from any other team that reaches the final would earn AU$4,250 in match fees, still only around a tenth of what a Kangaroo receives.

Below, you’ll find how much every team’s players get paid, why Australia earns more, and what we know about prize money.

We’ll update this page if the organisers release new pay or prize money figures during the tournament.

How Much Do Rugby League World Cup Players Get Paid?

Every player at the Rugby League World Cup 2026 gets a standard fee of AU$850 per match.

Teams play one match a week, so it works out at about AU$850 a week. The same fee applies to the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments.

The International Rugby League says this match fee is a first for the World Cup, funded by the Australian hosts.

National federations can pay their players more on top of this, if they can afford to.

How Much Do the Kangaroos Get Paid at the World Cup?

Each Kangaroos player reportedly receives a flat AU$40,000 for the 2026 World Cup, whether Australia win it or not.

The figure was agreed between the Australian Rugby League Commission and the Rugby League Players’ Association.

It was first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald in August 2026. The International Rugby League hasn’t confirmed the amount.

At the 2017 World Cup, Kangaroos players reportedly earned AU$20,000 each, plus a AU$50,000 bonus for winning the trophy.

How Much Do Pacific Players Get Paid?

Players from the Cook Islands, Fiji, PNG, Samoa and Tonga earn the standard AU$850 per match.

That means AU$2,550 for the three pool matches. Each extra match in the semi-finals and final adds another AU$850.

A Pacific player whose team reaches the final would earn AU$4,250 in total. That’s still about a tenth of a Kangaroo’s payment.

Fiji’s rugby league board has said it will discuss the pay gap, according to RNZ.

Why Do Australian Players Earn So Much More?

The Kangaroos’ payment comes from a separate deal between Australia’s governing body and its players’ union, not from the tournament itself.

The hosts pay match fees, travel, meals and hotels for every other nation through the local organising committee.

Australian players are also used to much bigger pay. A State of Origin player earns AU$30,000 per appearance under the NRL’s pay deal.

Most Pacific federations simply don’t have the money to match that.

Is There Prize Money at the Rugby League World Cup 2026?

The organisers haven’t published prize money amounts for the Rugby League World Cup 2026.

Reports say that half of any prize money a team earns is shared equally among its squad, no matter how many matches each player plays.

That means every squad member gets the same share, including players who don’t make the 17.

We’ll add the prize money figures here as soon as they’re announced by the organisers during the tournament.

How Much Do Women and Wheelchair Players Get Paid?

Players in the women’s and wheelchair World Cups get the same AU$850 match fee as the men.

That makes it one of the fairest parts of this year’s pay structure.

The Jillaroos’ payment has reportedly increased since the last World Cup, but the exact figure hasn’t been published.

See every women’s fixture in our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide, and the wheelchair event in our Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.

Rugby League World Cup Pay Compared

Here’s how World Cup pay compares with other big rugby league matches, based on reported figures.

Who	Pay
Kangaroos at the World Cup	AU$40,000 per player (flat)
Other World Cup players	AU$850 per match
Reaching the World Cup final	AU$4,250 in total
State of Origin	AU$30,000 per game
Pacific Championships	AU$3,000 per game

A Pacific Championships match pays more than three times the World Cup match fee.

That’s one reason many players and federations want World Cup pay reviewed well before the next tournament.

Many of these players play in the NRL week to week. See who’s here in our NRL players at the World Cup guide.

Will World Cup Pay Go Up in the Future?

Higher World Cup payments are expected to come up when the NRL and its players negotiate their next pay deal.

Fiji’s federation has said it will discuss the gap, and Pacific teams draw some of the biggest crowds and TV audiences.

The new match fee is a first step, but the gap between Australia and everyone else is still huge, at around 47 times.

For official tournament news, visit rlwc2026.com.

Rugby League World Cup Player Pay: FAQ

Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about player pay at this World Cup.

Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.

For full details, see the sections above.

How much do Rugby League World Cup players get paid?

Most players get AU$850 per match.

Each Kangaroos player reportedly gets a flat AU$40,000.

Players whose team reaches the final earn AU$4,250 in match fees.

How much do the Kangaroos get paid for the World Cup?

Each Kangaroo reportedly gets AU$40,000 for the tournament.

The payment is the same whether Australia win or lose.

It was agreed between the ARLC and the players’ association.

Do women get paid the same at the Rugby League World Cup?

Yes. Women’s players get the same AU$850 match fee as the men.

The wheelchair players get the same fee too.

The Jillaroos’ payment has reportedly increased since 2022.

Is there prize money at the Rugby League World Cup 2026?

The prize money amounts haven’t been made public.

Reports say half of any prize money is shared equally among the squad.

We’ll update this page if figures are released.

Conclusion

Most players at the Rugby League World Cup 2026 earn AU$850 per match, with flights, meals and hotels covered.

Each Kangaroos player reportedly receives a flat AU$40,000, around 47 times the standard match fee.

The new equal match fee for men, women and wheelchair players is a step forward, but the pay gap remains a big talking point.

Follow Australia’s campaign on our Kangaroos next game page, and bookmark this page for any updates.