England vs Tonga Rugby League World Cup 2026
Can Tonga finally beat England, or will Shaun Wane’s side keep their perfect record against Mate Ma’a Tonga?
England have won every Test between the two nations, but the 2017 World Cup semi-final went down to the last play.
England vs Tonga is on Saturday 17 October 2026 at HBF Park in Perth, kicking off at 5:05pm local time (8:05pm Sydney, 10:05am UK, 10:05pm Tonga).
It’s the first match for both teams, and the result could decide who tops the combined Pools B and C table and grabs a semi-final spot.
Below, you’ll find the kick-off time in every country, both official team lists, the head-to-head record, our prediction and how to watch.
We’ll add any late team changes before kick-off, then the result and a short match report straight after full-time.
Quick Answer: England vs Tonga Rugby League World Cup 2026
- Date: Saturday 17 October 2026
- Kick-off: 5:05pm Perth, 8:05pm Sydney, 10:05am UK
- Venue: HBF Park, Perth
- Head to head: England have won all six Tests against Tonga
- Last meeting: England won the 2023 series 3-0
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
What Time Is England vs Tonga?
England vs Tonga kicks off at 5:05pm Perth time on Saturday 17 October.
| Where you are | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Perth | 5:05pm Saturday |
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra | 8:05pm Saturday |
| Brisbane | 7:05pm Saturday |
| New Zealand | 10:05pm Saturday |
| Tonga | 10:05pm Saturday |
| UK | 10:05am Saturday |
It’s a Saturday morning match for fans in the UK, and a late Saturday night kick-off in Tonga.
England Women play Wales at the same ground earlier in the day, so it’s a full afternoon of rugby league in Perth.
England vs Tonga Team Lists
Both teams were named on Tuesday 13 October. Here are the official 17s, as published on NRL.com.
| 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 |
Coaches can still make late changes, so the final teams are confirmed about an hour before kick-off.
Both coaches have picked strong sides, with plenty of NRL and Super League experience across the park.
See every other Round 1 side on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 team lists page.
England: The Big Selection Calls
AJ Brimson starts at fullback, with Herbie Farnworth and Hugo Savala in the centres.
George Williams and Harry Smith form the halves, with Brad O’Neill at hooker.
Victor Radley starts at lock, and Junior Nsemba brings big-hitting power on the edge.
Jez Litten, Luke Thompson, Ethan Havard and Sam Walters make up a strong bench.
Tonga: The Big Selection Calls
Isaiya Katoa and Latu Fainu form a young halves pairing, with Lehi Hopoate at fullback.
Addin Fonua-Blake and Jason Taumalolo start together up front, giving Tonga a huge pack.
Haumole Olakau’atu and Siua Wong start in the second row, with Tyson Frizell at lock.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Jojo Fifita bring tries on the wings.
England vs Tonga Head to Head
England have won all six Tests against Tonga, including two in the 2006 Federation Shield.
| Year | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Third Test, Leeds | England won |
| 2023 | Second Test, Huddersfield | England won |
| 2023 | First Test, St Helens | England won |
| 2017 | World Cup semi-final, Auckland | England 20-18 Tonga |
At the 2017 World Cup semi-final in Auckland, England won 20-18 after Tonga scored three late tries and almost stole the win.
In 2023, Tonga toured England and lost all three Tests, in St Helens, Huddersfield and Leeds.
Tonga did beat Great Britain 14-6 in 2019, but that counts as a Lions match, not an England Test.
England vs Tonga Prediction
England start as slight favourites, thanks to their record and a settled spine around Williams and Smith.
But Tonga have one of the best forward packs at the tournament, and Perth is a neutral ground.
Our pick is England by four to eight points. A Tonga upset would not surprise anyone.
The winner takes a big step towards a top-two finish in the combined table and a semi-final place.
Where Is England vs Tonga 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 is home to Perth Glory in football and the Western Force in rugby union.
It’s an easy walk from Perth’s main train stations, so most fans don’t need to drive.
England and Tonga both have big expat communities in Western Australia, so expect a loud crowd.
What Channel Is England vs Tonga On?
England vs Tonga 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)
In Australia, you can stream it free on 7plus with a free account.
Travelling from the UK 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 Tonga Tickets
Tickets for England vs Tonga start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
Your ticket also covers England Women vs Wales, earlier the same day.
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 Tonga Result
The match hasn’t been played yet. It kicks off on Saturday 17 October.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| England v Tonga, 17 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
14 October 2026: Page published with kick-off times, both official team lists, the head-to-head record and our prediction.
Next update: any late changes to either 17 in the hour before kick-off.
After full-time on 17 October, we’ll add the score and a short match report.
England vs Tonga: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about England vs Tonga.
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 Tonga rugby league?
5:05pm Perth time on Saturday 17 October 2026.
That’s 10:05am in the UK and 8:05pm in Sydney.
In Tonga, the match kicks off at 10:05pm.
Where is England vs Tonga being played?
At HBF Park in Perth, Western Australia.
It’s the first match of the tournament for both teams.
England Women play Wales at the same ground earlier that day.
Have Tonga ever beaten England in rugby league?
No. England have won all six Tests between the two teams.
The closest was the 2017 World Cup semi-final, which England won 20-18.
Tonga did beat Great Britain 14-6 in 2019.
What channel is England vs Tonga on in the UK?
Premier Sports shows the match live in the UK and Ireland.
It’s a subscription channel.
Kick-off is 10:05am UK time on Saturday 17 October.
Conclusion
England vs Tonga in Perth on 17 October is one of the biggest matches of the opening round.
England have history on their side, but Tonga’s pack makes this a genuine contest.
Bookmark this page for team changes and the result.
Follow both teams on our England next game and Tonga next game pages, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
