The IRL Rugby League World Cup was the brain-child of French Rugby League official, Paul Barriere, who promoted the idea of a world cup for rugby in the early fifties. This came to fruition in 1954 when Great Britain defeated France in Paris to become rugby’s first-ever world cup winners. From 2017, the IRL Men’s Rugby League World Cup trophy has been named in honour of Paul Barriere.
The IRL Women’s Rugby League World Cup competition was introduced in 2000 and a wheelchair competition followed in 2008. Since 2008, each competition has been played on a regular cycle and the men’s and women’s competitions include qualification phases arranged around the world in the lead up to the finals tournament.
10 teams will contest the next men’s tournament, with 8 teams each in the women’s and wheelchair events which take place in Australia and Papua New Guinea in 2026.
