International rugby league in 2026

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International rugby league in 2026
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A list of men, women and wheelchair senior international rugby league matches played throughout 2026.

Contents

A † denotes a match that did not contribute to the IRL World Rankings - i.e. not a senior international match (SIM) as designated by the International Rugby League (IRL). [a]

January

Barrow Raiders v Scotland men

February

USA v Scotland double header

Women's
United States  Flag of the United States.svgvFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Preview
Men's
United States  Flag of the United States.svgvFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Preview

This double-header is part of a triple-header which will also feature a Men's U-19 between the same nations. [2]

Late Spring / Early Summer

Celtic Cup

July

England men v Papua New Guinea

A proposed mid-season game between England and Papua New Guinea [3] [4] did not occur following the RFL's U-turn decision to use the spare week in the UK domestic calendar to retain Magic Weekend for 2026. [5] An event previously believed to have been removed following Super League's expansion to 14 teams and the subsequent removal of loop fixtures from the competition. [6]

October

Men's European Championships

[7]

Euro B
Euro C
Euro D

Men's World Cup

Group A

Group B and C

Semi Finals

7 November 2026
20:05 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
Pool A runners-upvPool B & C winner
Report (NRL)
8 November 2026
20:05 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
Pool A winnervPool B & C runners-up
Report (NRL)

Final

15 November 2026
18:35 AEST (UTC+10:00)
First semi-final winnervSecond semi-final winner
Report (NRL)

Women's World Cup

Group A

Group B

Semi Finals

7 November 2026
17:55 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
Group B WinnervGroup A Runner Up
Source
8 November 2026
17:55 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
Group A WinnervGroup B Runner Up
Source

Final

15 November 2026
15:15 AEST (UTC+10:00)
First semi-final winnervSecond semi-final winner
Source

Wheelchair World Cup

Group A

Group B

Semi Finals

Group B WinnervGroup A Runner Up
Source
Group A WinnervGroup B Runner Up
Source

Final

First semi-final winnervSecond semi-final winner
Source

Notes

  1. ↑ IRL defines a SIM as "any match in which a player represents a national federation, where such match has been sanctioned and recognised by IRL and the relevant national federations as a match played between senior national teams, which are national teams of a member national federation playing in a match for world rankings points." [1]
  2. ↑ Match will be a double-header with the Tonga v Samoa fixture. [8]
  3. ↑ Match will be a double-header with the Lebanon v France fixture. [8]

References

  1. ↑ "Why SIMS - not tests". International Rugby League. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  2. ↑ https://www.intrl.sport/article/502/usa-hawks-to-face-scotland-bravehearts-in-historic-triple-header-in-las-vegas-2026
  3. ↑ https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/england-png-mid-season-test-1502300
  4. ↑ https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/papua-new-guinea-offer-england-mid-season-test-ahead-of-2026-world-cup
  5. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/25/undercooked-england-not-play-for-year-rugby-league-world-cup
  6. ↑ https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/magic-weekend-future-update-as-big-decision-on-possible-format-reached-for-2026
  7. ↑ https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/2590/erl-chair-hails-relaunched-euro-champs
  8. 1 2 https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/11/23/2026-rugby-league-world-cup-fixtures-announced/
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