International rugby league in 2026

International rugby league in 2026
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A list of men, women and wheelchair senior international rugby league matches played throughout 2026.

A † denotes a match that did not contribute to the IRL World Rankings - i.e. not a senior international match (SIM) as designated by the International Rugby League (IRL).[a]

The season is due to include the 2026 Rugby League World Cup which is planned to be held in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand during October and November 2026.

January

Barrow Raiders v Scotland men

10 January 2026
15:00 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Barrow Raiders 74–6†  Scotland
Tries: Robson, Toal (2), Broadbent (2), Ritson (2), Johnston, Bulman, Cresswell (3), Archer
Goals: B. Walker 3/4, Broadbent 1/1, Archer 7/8
1st: 44–0
2nd: 30–6
Report
Tries: Grierson
Goals: Duncan (1/1)
Craven Park, Barrow-in-Furness
Attendance: 1,004
Referee: Carl Hughes (England)
Team details
Barrow Raiders Position Scotland
Name Number Number Name
Luke Cresswell 1 1 Max Anderson-Moore
Luke Broadbent 2 2 Cam Cullen
Curtis Teare 3 3 Shaun Callan
Shane Toal 4 4 Jacob Grierson
Tee Ritson 5 5 Andrew Brown
Brad Walker 6 6 George Shannon
Ryan Johnston 7 7 Lewis Clarke
Tom Walker 8 8 Connor Terrill
Josh Wood 9 9 Jordan Duncan
Joe Bullock 10 10 Kieran Moran
Ellis Robson 11 11 Seth Clapham
Matty Costello 12 12 Gregor Cowan
Ryan King 13 13 Ollie Maher
Greg Richards 14 14 Tom Murray
Charlie Emslie 15 15 Joey Clarkson
Alex Bishop 16 16 Ben Sykes
Andrew Bulman 17 17 Lucas-Anderson-Moore
Trent Ruddy 18 18 Kris Illingworth
Seth Woodend 19 19 Shane Toal
Dan Knott 20
Fin Dutton-Rosconie 21
Stevie Watson 22
Ellis Archer 23
Paul Creary
Coach
Adam Houston

This match was a testimonial match for Barrow player, Shane Toal. He and fellow Barrow and Scotland international Max Anderson-Moore played a half for each team.[2]

February

USA v Scotland double header

Women's
27 February 2026
18:00 PT (UTC-08:00)
United States  14–26  Scotland
Tries: Tone, Granby, Asumang
Goals: Fish (1/3)
1st: 0–10
2nd: 14–16
Report
Tries: Grey, Smart, Stewart, Simpson (2)
Goals: Stewart (3/5)
Team details
United States Position Scotland
Name Number Number Name
Brittany Royes 1 1 Rebecca Smart
Sydney Pua 2 2 Raphaella Aquilina
Mia Blocher 3 3 Steph Gray
Brandice Neal 4 4 Enya Lackie
Josephine Asumang 5 5 Olivia Barnard
Teree Okabe 6 6 Emma Whelsford
Tiana Granby 7 7 Isabel Glover
Afi Tone 8 8 Robyn Price
Nicole Fisch 9 9 Cerys Gregory
Kadie Sandford 10 10 Georgia Briggs
Jeanna Beard 11 11 Sammi Simpson
ShaMarica Scott 12 12 Ciorstadia Ainsworth
Sarah Anderson 13 13 Nicole Stewart
Paris Hart 14 14 Morgan Pearson
Isabel Henderson 15 15 Grace Field
Salataima Mamea 16 16 Betti Ginnelly
Maiah Alofaituli 17 17 Rebecca White
Taylor White 18
Troy Clarkson
Coach
Gareth Nicholson



Men's
27 February 2026
20:15 PT (UTC-08:00)
United States  28–20  Scotland
Tries: Hlanguyo, Vidot, Delaney, Piggins, Bryce
Goals: Tupuola (0/1), Granby (4/4)
1st: 10–12
2nd: 18–8
Report
Tries: Clarke, Anderson-Moore, Carter, Brown
Goals: Punton (2/4)
Coronado High School, Henderson
Attendance: 748
Referee: Cody Kuxmann
Team details
United States Position Scotland
Name Number Number Name
Ryan Burroughs 1 1 Pete Burns
Shingirai Hlanguyo 2 2 Brett Carter
Jason Martin 3 3 Andrew Brown
David Washington 4 4 Jacob Grierson
Esteban Tupuola 5 5 Max Anderson-Moore
Celcius Tarawhiti 6 6 Lewis Clarke
Peter Lupton 7 7 Luke Punton
Tevita Bryce 8 8 Connor Terrill
Jace Delaney 9 9 Ross Whitmore
Matt Finnesy 10 10 Ben Morris
Daniel Vidot 11 11 George Shannon
Wes Piggins 12 12 Dan Turland
Joe Eichner 13 13 Kieran Moran
Fatai Makavaha 14 14 Jordan Duncan
Kyle Granby 15 15 Joe Kirkup
Tyler Sisley 16 16 Niall Hall
Anson Jiang 17 17 Tom Murray
18 Corrie Dicks
Adam Woolnough
Coach
Adam Houston


This double-header was part of a triple-header which also featured a Men's U-19 between the same nations.[3]

March

Wales wheelchair v UK Armed Forces

14 March 2026
14:00 GMT (UTC+00:00)
Wales  42–24† UK Armed Forces
Tries: Turner (2, 8), Williams (6, 10, 14, 21, 26)
Goals: Preece 7/7
1st: 42–0
2nd: 0–24
Report
Tries: Simpson-Hill (52, 73), Wells (58, 64)
Goals: Sampher 4/4
Wrexham University Sports Centre, Wrexham
Referee: Kim Abel, Ewan Clibbens

This was part of a double-header which also featured the 'A' sides of Wales and the UK Armed Forces.[4]

University of Cambridge v Brazil men

28 March 2026
16:30 GMT (UTC+00:00)
University of Cambridge R.L.F.C. –†  Brazil
Preview
The Mumford Pitch

May

Poland men v Brazil

3 May 2026
12:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
Poland   Brazil
Preview

Celtic Cup



July

Brazil v Dead Pelicans double header

Women
4 July 2026
13:00
Brazil  –† Dead Pelicans
Preview
Carmo de Minas Municipal Stadium

Men
4 July 2026
15:00
Brazil  –† Dead Pelicans
Preview
Carmo de Minas Municipal Stadium

England men v Papua New Guinea

A proposed mid-season game between England and Papua New Guinea[5][6] did not occur following the RFL's U-turn decision to use the spare week in the UK domestic calendar (4/5 July) to retain Magic Weekend for 2026 as a sole loop fixture.[7] Magic Weekend had previously been set to be removed following Super League's expansion to 14 teams and the subsequent removal of loop fixtures (which included Magic Weekend) from the competition.[8]

Brazil v University of Oxford double header

Women
11 July 2026
13:00
Brazil  –† University of Oxford R.L.F.C.
Preview
Water Park

Men
11 July 2026
15:00
Brazil  –† University of Oxford R.L.F.C.
Preview
Water Park

UK German Exiles v Brazil men

12 July 2026[b]
12:00
UK German Exiles –†  Brazil[c]
Preview

Ghana men v University of Cambridge

~6-13 July 2026
Ghana  –† University of Cambridge R.L.F.C.
Preview
TBA, Ghana

France women v England

25/26 July 2025
TBC
France  v  England
Preview
France

August

Brazil men v Lancaster University

3 August 2026
15:00
Brazil  –† Lancaster University R.L.F.C.
Preview
Water Park

October

Men's European Championships

[9]

Euro B
Euro C
Euro D

Men's World Cup

Group A


25 October 2026
19:05 AEST (UTC+10:00)
Australia  v  Fiji
Report (NRL)

Group B and C



Semi Finals

7 November 2026
20:05 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
Pool A runners-up v Pool B & C winner
Report (NRL)

8 November 2026
20:05 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
Pool A winner v Pool B & C runners-up
Report (NRL)

Final

15 November 2026
18:35 AEST (UTC+10:00)
First semi-final winner v Second semi-final winner
Report (NRL)

Women's World Cup

Group A



23 October 2026
17:50 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
Samoa  v  Wales
Draw



Group B





31 October 2026
12:35 AEST (UTC+10:00)
Fiji  v  France
Draw

Semi Finals

7 November 2026
17:55 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
Group B Winner v Group A Runner Up
Source

8 November 2026
17:55 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
Group A Winner v Group B Runner Up
Source

Final

15 November 2026
15:15 AEST (UTC+10:00)
First semi-final winner v Second semi-final winner
Source

Wheelchair World Cup

Group A






Group B






Ranking Semi Finals

9 November 2026
Group B 3rd place v Group A 4th place
Source

9 November 2026
Group A 3rd place v Group B 4th place
Source

Semi Finals

10 November 2026
Group B Winner v Group A Runner Up
Source

10 November 2026
Group A Winner v Group B Runner Up
Source

7th-place play-offs

12 November 2026
First ranking semi-final loser v Second ranking semi-final loser
Source

5th-place play-offs

12 November 2026
First ranking semi-final winner v Second ranking semi-final winner
Source

3rd-place play-off

13 November 2026
First semi-final loser v Second semi-final loser
Source

Final

13 November 2026
First semi-final winner v Second semi-final winner
Source

Notes

  1. ^ IRL defines a SIM as "any match in which a player represents a national federation, where such match has been sanctioned and recognised by IRL and the relevant national federations as a match played between senior national teams, which are national teams of a member national federation playing in a match for world rankings points."[1]
  2. ^ Originally scheduled for 7 June
  3. ^ European based players
  4. ^ Match will be a double-header with the Tonga v Samoa fixture.[10]
  5. ^ Match will be a double-header with the Lebanon v France fixture.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Why SIMS - not tests". International Rugby League. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Shane Toal scores testimonial double as Barrow Raiders thrash Scotland". Total RL. 10 January 2026. Archived from the original on 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  3. ^ https://www.intrl.sport/article/502/usa-hawks-to-face-scotland-bravehearts-in-historic-triple-header-in-las-vegas-2026
  4. ^ https://wrl.wales/wales-wheelchair-a-secure-massive-win-over-armed-forces
  5. ^ https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/england-png-mid-season-test-1502300
  6. ^ https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/papua-new-guinea-offer-england-mid-season-test-ahead-of-2026-world-cup
  7. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/25/undercooked-england-not-play-for-year-rugby-league-world-cup
  8. ^ https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/magic-weekend-future-update-as-big-decision-on-possible-format-reached-for-2026
  9. ^ https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/2590/erl-chair-hails-relaunched-euro-champs
  10. ^ a b https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/11/23/2026-rugby-league-world-cup-fixtures-announced/