The Kiwis celebrate against Toa Samoa. Photo / Photosport
The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns will get to play one match at next year’s Rugby League World Cup on home soil, with Christchurch’s new Te Kaha stadium to host a double-header on October 25.
The draw for the 2026 tournament, to be held in October and November next year, was announced on Sunday, alongside the competition structure for the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions.
All three tournaments will run alongside each other, with 14 nations and 26 teams being represented for a total of 53 matches across 31 days.
All fixtures were set to be played in Australia and Papua New Guinea, but Christchurch emerged as a surprise venue host, with the Kiwis facing the Cook Islands while the Kiwi Ferns square off against France in their round-two matches.
The announcement of playing a match at Christchurch’s new stadium, which is set to open in April, is a moment Kiwis fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is excited for.
“That will be amazing to play a game in Christchurch, let alone in a World Cup,” Nicoll-Klokstad said.
“There will be a lot of excitement and a real buzz in the air.”
It will be part of two double-headers involving the Kiwis and the Kiwi Ferns, who both play their final pool matches against Fiji and Papua New Guinea respectively on October 31 on the Gold Coast.
The Kiwis will open next year’s World Cup against the defending champions, the Kangaroos, on October 15 in Sydney, after both heavyweight nations were slotted into Pool A alongside the Cook Islands and Fiji.
Pool B features England, Samoa and Lebanon, while Pool C has Tonga, Papua New Guinea and France.
Pool A teams will each play three matches against the other teams in their group, while Pool B and C teams will each play three matches against the teams in the adjacent group.
The top two teams from Pool A will progress to the semifinals, while the top two teams from a combined table of Pool B and C will also move through.
The Kiwi Ferns have been slotted into Pool B in the women’s competition alongside Fiji, France and Papua New Guinea.
They open their campaign on October 18 against Fiji in Newcastle.
Pool A has Australia, England, Samoa and Wales. The top two sides from each group advance to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the Wheel Kiwis, who are making their World Cup debut, have Australia, Scotland and France in their pool, with the other pool featuring England, Ireland, Wales and the USA.
Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will host the final of the men’s and women’s tournaments, on Sunday, November 15. Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre will host the Wheelchair final on Friday, November 13.
Australian Rugby League (ARLC) chairman Peter V’landys says this will be the best Rugby League World Cup to date.
“Rugby League World Cup 2026 couldn’t come at a better time, on the back of record-breaking NRL and NRLW seasons, a successful Ashes series and the most exciting Pacific Championships ever,” V’landys said.
“Representing your country is the ultimate honour and doing so in a World Cup is the ultimate stage. The talent, skill, physicality, passion and raw emotion on display will be something like we have never seen before.”
Kiwis v Australia: October 15, Sydney
Kiwis v Cook Islands, October 25, Christchurch
Kiwis v Fiji, October 31, Gold Coast
Kiwi Ferns v Fiji, October 18, Newcastle
Kiwi Ferns v France, October 25, Christchurch
Kiwi Ferns v Papua New Guinea, October 31, Gold Coast
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.