Rugby League World Rankings 2026: Latest IRL Rankings
Who is the best rugby league team in the world right now, and where does your nation sit going into the World Cup?
The International Rugby League (IRL) ranks every men’s, women’s and wheelchair nation, based on results over the last four seasons.
Australia are number 1 in the latest Rugby League World Rankings for men and women, with New Zealand second and England third. England top the wheelchair rankings.
These rankings came out on 20 August 2026, using results up to 31 July, just before the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
Below, you’ll find the full men’s, women’s and wheelchair tables, how the rankings work and how the World Cup could change them.
We’ll update this page as soon as the IRL publishes its first rankings after the World Cup.
Quick Answer: Rugby League World Rankings 2026
- Men’s No.1: Australia (New Zealand 2nd, England 3rd)
- Women’s No.1: Australia (New Zealand 2nd, England 3rd)
- Wheelchair No.1: England (France 2nd, Ireland 3rd)
- Latest update: 20 August 2026, with results up to 31 July
- Based on: results from the current season and the three before it
- Next update: expected after the World Cup final on 15 November
What Are the Latest Rugby League World Rankings?
The latest IRL World Rankings came out on 20 August 2026 and cover results up to 31 July 2026.
Australia lead both the men’s and women’s rankings, while England lead the wheelchair rankings.
In total, 57 men’s nations, 28 women’s nations and 10 wheelchair nations are ranked.
They’re the last rankings before the Rugby League World Cup 2026, so they give a good picture of each team’s form going into the tournament.
Men’s Rugby League World Rankings 2026
Here’s the men’s top 20, as published by the IRL in August 2026.
| Rank | Team | At the World Cup? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | Yes |
| 2 | New Zealand | Yes |
| 3 | England | Yes |
| 4 | Samoa | Yes |
| 5 | Tonga | Yes |
| 6 | PNG | Yes |
| 7 | Fiji | Yes |
| 8 | Cook Islands | Yes |
| 9 | Netherlands | No |
| 10 | Ukraine | No |
| 11 | France | Yes |
| 12 | Serbia | No |
| 13 | Wales | No |
| 14 | Ireland | No |
| 15 | Greece | No |
| 16 | Malta | No |
| 17 | Canada | No |
| 18 | Italy | No |
| 19 | Jamaica | No |
| 20 | Scotland | No |
Nine of the ten World Cup teams are in the top 11. France are 11th, just behind the Netherlands and Ukraine.
Lebanon are the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup, in 23rd place.
The Cook Islands have climbed to 8th, while France have dropped from 8th in November 2025.
Australia were also number 1 in the November 2025 and December 2024 rankings.
Women’s Rugby League World Rankings 2026
Here’s the women’s top 12. Twenty-eight nations are ranked in total.
| Rank | Team | At the World Cup? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | Yes |
| 2 | New Zealand | Yes |
| 3 | England | Yes |
| 4 | France | Yes |
| 5 | Samoa | Yes |
| 6 | PNG | Yes |
| 7 | Canada | No |
| 8 | Ireland | No |
| 9 | Wales | Yes |
| 10 | Nigeria | No |
| 11 | Cook Islands | No |
| 12 | Fiji | Yes |
Australia have a big lead, and New Zealand sit well clear of third-placed England.
All eight Women’s World Cup teams are in the top 12. Wales are 9th and Fiji are 12th.
Canada, Ireland, Nigeria and the Cook Islands are all ranked in the top 11, but they aren’t at this World Cup. See every game in our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.
Wheelchair Rugby League World Rankings 2026
Ten nations are ranked in wheelchair rugby league.
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | England |
| 2 | France |
| 3 | Ireland |
| 4 | Australia |
| 5 | Wales |
| 6 | Scotland |
| 7 | Spain |
| 8 | USA |
| 9 | New Zealand |
| 10 | Italy |
England are number 1, with France second and Ireland third. Australia, the hosts, are fourth.
The Wheelchair World Cup starts on Friday 30 October at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, and the final is on 13 November.
The opening games are Ireland vs USA and England vs Wales, on the same night.
See the teams and schedule in our Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.
Who Is Number 1 in Rugby League?
Australia are number 1 in men’s rugby league. The Kangaroos also won the last World Cup, which was played in England in 2022.
The Jillaroos are number 1 in women’s rugby league, and they’ve won the last three Women’s World Cups.
England’s wheelchair team are number 1, after beating France in the last Wheelchair World Cup final.
New Zealand are second in both the men’s and women’s rankings, ahead of England in both.
How Do the IRL World Rankings Work?
The rankings are based on each nation’s results over the current season and the three seasons before it, as NRL.com explains.
Every match earns points based on the result, the winning or losing margin, and the strength of the opposition.
Recent matches count for more, and bigger matches count most. World Cup games carry the most weight, then World Cup qualifiers, regional championships and one-off Tests.
Only official senior Tests between IRL members count.
How Will the World Cup Change the Rankings?
World Cup matches carry the most weight, so this tournament will have the biggest effect on the next rankings.
A deep run could lift Samoa, Tonga or PNG closer to England in third place.
Upsets count for more too. A low-ranked team beating a top-five side gains far more than a favourite winning as expected.
France and Lebanon have the most to gain, as both start outside the top ten. See our pick in who will win the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
When Are the Rugby League World Rankings Updated?
The IRL updates the rankings a few times a year, usually around the middle and the end of the year.
Recent updates came out in December 2024, mid-2025, November 2025 and August 2026.
The next update is expected after the World Cup final in Brisbane on 15 November 2026, but the IRL hasn’t confirmed a date.
We’ll add the new men’s, women’s and wheelchair tables here as soon as they’re out.
Rugby League World Rankings: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about the rugby league world rankings.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For the full tables, see the sections above.
Who is the best rugby league team in the world?
Australia are the best, according to the IRL World Rankings.
They’re number 1 for both men and women.
The Kangaroos also won the last men’s World Cup.
Where are England ranked in rugby league?
England’s men are 3rd in the world.
England’s women are also 3rd.
England’s wheelchair team are number 1.
Where are the Kiwis ranked in rugby league?
The Kiwis are 2nd in the men’s rankings.
The Kiwi Ferns are 2nd in the women’s rankings.
New Zealand are 9th in wheelchair rugby league.
How are rugby league world rankings calculated?
They use results from the last four seasons.
Each match counts the result, margin and strength of the opposition.
World Cup games carry the most weight.
Conclusion
Australia are number 1 in the latest Rugby League World Rankings for men and women, with New Zealand second and England third.
England lead the wheelchair rankings, ahead of France and Ireland.
The World Cup carries the most weight in the rankings, so the next update could look very different, especially for the Pacific nations.
See every nation at the tournament on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 teams page, and bookmark this page for the next update.
