Seven secures 2026 Rugby League World Cup | Television tonight

Seven announced yesterday that it has acquired exclusive Australian rights to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup Can be seen live from October 15, 2026.

Seven will show international rugby competition with 18 men’s, 15 women’s and 20 wheelchair matches over four weeks.

Hosted by Australia, it will feature 26 teams from around the world, including England, Tonga and Samoa. There will also be four matches played in Papua New Guinea and two matches in New Zealand.

The action starts with a match between Australia and New Zealand at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Jeff Howard, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Seven West Media, said: “Seven is proud to be the unrivaled home of Australian sport. Rugby League World Cup is a major world-class event and hosting it on home soil makes it even more special. It’s exactly the kind of premium sports content Seven is known and committed to – live, free and exclusive to all Australians.

“Thank you to the Australian Rugby League Commission, Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo for championing this deal, and we look forward to delivering this excellent event to the Australian public in 2026 in a way that only Seven can do.”

Peter V’landys, Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, said: “Expanding the international game has been a key focus of the Commission and nothing compares to the passion, excitement and sheer intensity of a Rugby League World Cup. Big hits, brilliant athleticism and epic finishes: this World Cup has it all and more.

“With all men’s, women’s and wheelchairs Rugby League World Cup matches available live and free across Australia, this partnership will give every Australian unprecedented access to the biggest matches on the Rugby League calendar.”

Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League, Andrew Abdo, added: “International rugby league is the ultimate stage and representing your country is the ultimate honour.

“Within a year the 2026 Rugby League World Cup will deliver the most competitive international tournament in the history of the game. We’re excited to partner with the Seven Network to bring every match live and free across Australia.

Seven will also be extended The Agenda Setters brand to Rugby League, with a new panel show from the first round of the NRL season and continues until the end of Rlwc2026.

Seven Network Director of Sport Chris Jones said: “To broadcast Rlwc2026 to Australians across the country builds on our commitment to delivering exceptional live and free sports programming 365 days a year on Seven and 7plus Sport.

“With every game exclusive to Seven and 7plus Sport, the tournament will be part of an epic sporting resource, alongside Australia’s best thoroughbred racing and record-breaking Supercars Championship coverage.

“We can’t wait to expand Seven’s sports offering to the… NRL season. The agenda setters: Rugby League will do exactly what the name suggests and be at the forefront of news and opinion from the start NRL season through the end of the season Rugby League World Cup,” he said.

“With an unbeatable 2026 sporting calendar starting with the Summer of Cricket, the 2026 AFL season, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the Supercars Championship and now thee Rugby League World Cupthere is something for every Australian on Seven and 7plus Sport.”

Renee Quirk, Seven’s Commercial Director of Sports, said: “World-class events on home soil have historically delivered exceptional viewing results for Seven and we are pleased to add RLWC2026 to our extensive live and free-to-air sports offering.

“With the historic success of the Kangaroos and Jillaroos at past World Cups, combined with the passion of fans on Australian shores and in neighboring countries, we can’t wait to deliver every heart-stopping moment to living rooms across the country – live, free and exclusively on Seven and 7plus Sport.”

Seven’s coverage of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup runs from October 15 to November 15, 2026 on Seven and 7plus Sport.