'Eager to seize this chance': South Africa begins road to RLWC2026

The next instalment of the IRL Rugby League World Cup will be staged in Australia in 2026 and South Africa has a chance to qualify for the tournament via the 2025 IRL World Series.

By Daniel Roodt 

The second oldest sporting World Cup will write its next chapter when the 17th staging of the IRL Rugby League World Cup is staged in Australia and Papua New Guinea in 2026.

RLWC2026 will be a festival of world cups, with men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments held simulatenously.

From 2026 onwards the events will stand alone, with the Women’s World Cup in 2028, the Wheelchair World Cup in 2029 and the Men’s World Cup next in 2030. The men’s tournament will feature 10 teams, with eight already qualified and a further two qualifying via the 2025 IRL World Series. 

South Africa can qualify via the World Series, which will see both the winner and runner-up head to Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Cook Islands (Asia-Pacific), Jamaica (Americas) and South Africa (Middle East Africa) will be joined at the tournament by one of France, Serbia, Wales and Ukraine, who will play off for the European berth at the World Series later this year in France.

South Africa has submitted a proposal to host the 2025 IRL World Series, at a venue to be confirmed.

Chris Botes of Maxxium Sports, the bid director for the 2030 Men’s IRL World Cup bid by South Africa, said: “Hosting the IRL World Series in 2025 not only shows local supporters great rugby league, it also positions South Africa as a premier destination for sport events and can be a great advertisement of our capabilities to showcase what we can do. This is a great way to test our systems before the 2030 World Cup".

Dr Frans Erasmus, Rugby League South Africa President, said: “We are excited about the prospect of the South African Rugby League qualifying for the 2026 World Cup during the 2025 Rugby League World Series. Such an opportunity is crucial for stimulating and growing further interest in Rugby League in our sport-hungry nation. South Africa is eager to seize this chance and showcase our talent on the world stage".

South Africa’s build-up to the tournament will see the national team, the Rhinos, take on the United States later this year.

The two-match series will see the US Hawks travel to Gauteng in December. The fixtures will also feature an off-the-pitch rivalry as the two potential hosts for the 2030 World Cup go head-to-head for the first time since bidders were  announced in August. 

Both nations will only select players from their domestic competitions.

Speaking on the matches against the US Hawks, Rhinos men’s head coach, Fanie Bredenhann, said: “Having the opportunity to host the Hawks has created an exciting vibe among club coaches and players already, and they are a great help to scouting and development".