The rugby league world cup is finally here, with 16 nations set to battle it out to become champions. Australia beat England in the 2017 instalment of the tournament, but will have their work cut out this time around with the meteoric rises of teams such as Tonga and Samoa.
The RLWC is set to be the most exciting and competitive edition ever, with a host of other nations also set to make their debut appearances in the tournament hosted in England.
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The host nation automatically qualifies along with seven other countries
Over five years ago it was announced that England would host the 2021 RLWC and were granted automatic qualification. (The Covid pandemic forced the tournament to be rescheduled for 2022.)
Shortly afterwards, it was devised that all eight teams who made the quarter finals of the previous World Cup would also be granted automatic qualification.
Those nations were Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Lebanon.
There were no European nations – other than the hosts England – who were granted automatic placement into the tournament.
Who else qualified for the RLWC?
In 2018, France and Wales qualified from the European Championship, while Ireland and Scotland dropped down into the play-offs.
Ireland qualified at the second time of asking as they advanced, along with Italy, to the World Cup. Spain was eliminated after losing both of their fixtures in the group.
Meanwhile, Scotland and Greece qualified for the World Cup in the other group, with Serbia the nation to miss out.
In the Americas group, Jamaica eventually ran out winners after defeating the United States in a play-off match.
The US team were given another shot to qualify when they played against the Cook Islands in a play-off match to decide who the final team would be to qualify for the World Cup.
However, they were beaten 38-16 which gave the Cook Islands the last remaining spot.
Which nations will make their debut RLWC appearances?
Jamaica and Greece will make their first ever appearances in a rugby league world cup after advancing through their respective qualifying stages.
Full list of teams competing in the Rugby League World Cup
- Australia
- Cook Islands
- England
- Fiji
- France
- Greece
- Ireland
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Lebanon
- New Zealand
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Scotland
- Tonga
- Wales
