Okay, the opening match is France vs. someone they can actually beat—probably a minnow—so the locals can feel good. But the real banger is Week 2. Australia vs. England. That’s the heavyweight punch-up. Two nations who hate losing to each other almost as much as they hate losing to anyone else. I’m already practicing my couch-jumping moves.
Then, on November 8th, we get Samoa vs. Tonga. If you’ve never seen a Pacific Islands derby, strap in. It’s less a game and more a family reunion where everyone forgot to bring the potato salad. Expect haka-offs, 40-meter tries, and at least one player crying. Beautiful.
2026 Rugby League World Cup fixtures announced | NRL.com
The quarterfinals start November 15th, and by then, we’ll have injuries, upsets, and that one guy who played through a broken hand. Classic rugby league drama. You thought your Monday mornings were rough? Try being a winger facing a 120kg prop at full speed.
The Women’s and Wheelchair Stuff (Don’t Skip This Part)
Oh, and the Women’s World Cup runs alongside it, with its own schedule. Matches are in the same cities, often double-headers. That means you watch the women’s team dismantle opponents, and then the men’s team tries to match the energy. Spoiler alert: they usually don’t. The women’s final is November 14th. Mark it. They play faster than my Wi-Fi during a Zoom call.
Also, the Wheelchair Rugby League tournament is happening. Because those players are tougher than anyone who’s ever complained about a paper cut. The schedule’s tight, but you catch them in the afternoon slots. You’ll watch one game and immediately question your own life choices. “Why am I not doing push-ups right now?” Good question.
