National team appearances at Rugby League World Cups

Last updated

This article shows all the teams that have participated in the Rugby League World Cup and the results of those teams.

Contents

Team appearances by tournament

1954–1992: group format

Legend
Team Flag of France.svg 1954 Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1957 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1960 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1968
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1970 Flag of France.svg 1972 1975 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1977
1985-88 1989-92 Total
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia GS1st2nd1st1st2nd1st1st1st1st10
Flag of England.svg  England 2nd1
Flag of France.svg  France 2ndGSGS2ndGSGSGSGSGSGS10
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1st2nd1stGS2nd1st2ndGS2nd9
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand GSGSGSGSGSGSGSGS2ndGS10
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea GSGS2
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales GS1

1995–onwards: knockout format

Legend
Team Flag of England.svg
1995
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of France.svg
Flag of Ireland.svg
2000
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
2008
Flag of England.svg
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Flag of France.svg
Flag of Ireland.svg
2013
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
2017
Flag of England.svg
2021
Total
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1st1st2nd1st1st1st16
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands ••R1R1R13
Flag of England.svg  England 2ndSFSFSF2ndSF7
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji R1R1SFSFSFQF6
Flag of France.svg  France R1QFR1QFR1R116
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece ••••••••R11
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland ••QFQFR1R1R15
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy ••••R1R1R13
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica ••••••R11
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon ••R1QFQF3
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand SF2nd1st2ndQFSF16
Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg  Aotearoa Māori^••R1••••••••1
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea R1QFR1R1QFQF8
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia ••R11
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa R1QFR1QFQF2nd6
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland ••R1R1QFR1R15
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa R1R1••2
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga R1R1R1R1SFQF6
Flag of the United States.svg  United States ••QFR12
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales SFSFR1R1R16

^ - Aotearoa Māori weren't a national team, but a representative side made up of players with Māori heritage.

Team appearances by continent

Continent Flag of England.svg
1995
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of France.svg
Flag of Ireland.svg
2000
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
2008
Flag of England.svg
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Flag of France.svg
Flag of Ireland.svg
2013
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg
2017
Flag of England.svg
2021
Total
Africa112
Americas1113
Asia1113
Europe36466732
Oceania67576738

Team debuts

19 teams have participated in the World Cup. Between 1954 and 1972 and 1977 to 1992, England, Wales and Scotland were represented by Great Britain. From 1995 onwards Great Britain only played in test series and England, Scotland and Wales all represented themselves at major tournaments.

YearNation(s)TotalCumulative total
1954 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
44
1957 None0
1960 None0
1968 None0
1970 None0
1972 None0
1975 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Flag of England.svg  England
26
1977 None0
1985-88 Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 17
1989-92 None0
1995 Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
411
2000 Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg  Aotearoa Māori
617
2008 None0
2013 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
219
2017 None0
2021 Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
221

Results of host nations

Only Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain have won the World Cup. England hosted the 1960 and 1970 editions of the World Cup but were represented as part of Great Britain until 1995

YearHost nationFinish
1954 Flag of France.svg  France Runners Up
1957 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Champions
1960 Flag of England.svg  England Did not enter
1968 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Champions
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 4th
1970 Flag of England.svg  England Did not enter
1972 Flag of France.svg  France 3rd
1975 MultipleN/A
1977 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Champions
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3rd
1985-88 MultipleN/A
1989-92 MultipleN/A
1995 Flag of England.svg  England Runners Up
2000 Flag of England.svg  England Semi-final
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Group stage
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Quarter-final
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland Quarter-final
Flag of France.svg  France Quarter-final
2008 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Runners Up
2013 Flag of England.svg  England Semi-final
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Group stage
Flag of France.svg  France Quarter-final
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland Group Stage
2017 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Champions
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Quarter-final
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Quarter-final
2021 Flag of England.svg  England Semi-final

Results of defending champions and runners-up

The defending World Cup champions and runners-up have always automatically qualified for the following event. However, just once has the champion not played in the following edition. That was in 1975, when England and Wales took Great Britain's place.

YearDefending championsFinishDefending runners-upFinish
1957 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Runners-upFlag of France.svg  France 4th place
1960 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Runners-upFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Champions
1968 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 3rd PlaceFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Champions
1970 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia ChampionsFlag of France.svg  France 3rd Place
1972 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Runners-upFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Champions
1975 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Did not enterFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Champions
1977 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia ChampionsFlag of England.svg  England Did not enter
1985–1988 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia ChampionsFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 3rd Place
1989–1992 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia ChampionsFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3rd Place
1995 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia ChampionsFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Did not enter
2000 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia ChampionsFlag of England.svg  England Semi-finals
2008 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Runners-upFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Champions
2013 Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Runners-upFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Champions
2017 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia ChampionsFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Quarter-finals
2021 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia ChampionsFlag of England.svg  England Semi-finals

Droughts

This section is a list of droughts associated with the participation of national rugby league in Rugby League World Cups.

Longest active World Cup appearance droughts

Does not include teams that have not yet made their first appearance or teams that no longer exist. Updated until qualification of the 2021 World Cup.

TeamLast appearanceWC Missed
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2000 4
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 2000 4
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2017 1

See also

References