RLWC 2026 Qualification Confirmed

[UTK]

https://www.intrl.sport/news/irl-board-update-details-confirmed-for-world-series-world-cups/

IRL confirms qualification structure for remaining 2 places in RLWC 2026. Will be determined by a "World-Series" of 4 nations - 1 from each region (Asia-Pacific, Europe, Americas, MEA). Competing nation will be the winner of the respective qualifying tournaments in Europe, Americas and MEA while the Cook Islands are the only eligible nation in Asia-Pacific. Top 2 nations from the World Series fill the final 2 places in RLWC 2026.

Only full members of the IRL will be eligible for Men's qualification - deadline for RLWC 2026 will be March 31 2024. Full and Affiliate members eligible for Women's and Wheelchair with the same deadline.

2026 confirmed to have concurrent Women's and Wheelchair WCs with these moving to standalone events following 2026. Women's begins in 2028 and Wheelchair in 2029.

[Barley Mow]

I thought they might have given chance for two from Europe to qualify.

What are the four likely to be?

France

Cook Islands

Jamaica/USA

South Africa/Nigeria

 

France and Cook Islands should be favourites to make the world cup.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Sounds like a half baked magic round series

[OriginalMrC]

Looks amazing, this will really bring the international game to the next level

[NRLandSL]

So one of the only 7 proper rugby league nations in the world. (Wales) Miss out on even being given a chance to qualify. International Rugby League has got to be the stupidest corporation I’ve ever seen. So much for a “World Cup” when heritage nations are getting given opportunities but one of our very few legit national teams doesn’t even get a chance to qualify, Absolutely shameful. Disgusting, I’m done with International rugby league at this point.

An embarrassment to rugby league and International sport in any code.

Edited October 8, 2023 by NRLandSL

[theswanmcr]

18 minutes ago, NRLandSL said:

So one of the only 7 proper rugby league nations in the world. (Wales) Miss out on even being given a chance to qualify. International Rugby League has got to be the stupidest cooperation I’ve ever seen. So much for a “World Cup” when heritage nations are getting given opportunities but one of our very few legit national teams doesn’t even get a chance to qualify, Absolutely shameful. Disgusting, I’m done with International rugby league at this point.

An embarrassment to rugby league and International sport in any code.

This whole thing is rubbish but Wales do get a chance to qualify - they are full members and so should take part in the European qualifying tournament (with the winner going through to the World Series bit).

[dealwithit]

It only makes sense if they’re also going to review the current membership status of all nations at the date mentioned. For example, there’s no way Scotland meet the full membership criteria. But as it stands, they can participate in the qualification and world series but nations like the USA can’t. 

[Wolford6]

Wales won't qualify with John Kear in charge.

[sam4731]

20 minutes ago, Wolford6 said:

Wales won't qualify with John Kear in charge.

Wales won't qualify with Mal Meninga in charge. 

[Wolford6]

9 minutes ago, sam4731 said:

Wales won't qualify with Mal Meninga in charge. 

You might have qualified last night if Regan Grace was back.

[Wolford6]

[Hopie]

France and Wales both have a history of failing to qualify when they were "supposed to".

[Gomersall]

So how many full member nations are there eligible to play in the qualifiers?

[Barley Mow]

1 hour ago, Gomersall said:

So how many full member nations are there eligible to play in the qualifiers?

It is more restricted than I had realised - According to the IRL website, the full members (outside of the 8 who have already qualified for the WC) are:

Europe

France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Ukraine & Wales

Asia-Pacific

Cook Islands

Americas

Jamaica

Middle East-Africa

South Africa

 

If that is correct, then three of the four for the world series are already known. Unbelievably Greece & USA won't even get the chance to enter qualification despite having made it to world cups in the past.

This also highlights why they should have a system that would allow both remaining WC places to be taken by European countries (if they prove to be the best two).

Hopefully, either the website hasn't been updated and there are currently more full members than listed, or member status will be reviewed before March - this seems particularly important outside of Europe.

Edited October 7, 2023 by Barley Mow

[theswanmcr]

59 minutes ago, Gomersall said:

So how many full member nations are there eligible to play in the qualifiers?

There's 18 full members according to this https://www.intrl.sport/member-nations/

With those already qualified that leaves...
Americas: Jamaica
Asia-Pacific: Cook Islands
Europe: France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia
MEA: South Africa

There'll need to be some seriously quick form-filling going on by the likes of Brazil, Ghana, USA etc by March 2023 to actually create qualifiers outside of Europe.
 

[theswanmcr]

10 minutes ago, Barley Mow said:

It is more restricted than I had realised - According to the IRL website, the full members (outside of the 8 who have already qualified for the WC) are:

Europe

France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Ukraine & Wales

Asia-Pacific

Cook Islands

Americas

Jamaica

Middle East-Africa

South Africa

 

If that is correct, then three of the four for the world series are already known. Unbelievably Greece & USA won't even get the chance to enter qualification despite having made it to world cups in the past.

This also highlights why they should have a system that would allow both remaining WC places to be taken by European countries (if they prove to be the best two).

Hopefully, either the website hasn't been updated and there are currently more full members than listed, or member status will be reviewed before March - this seems particularly important outside of Europe.

You beat me to it trawling through the IntRL website  Looks like we got the same countries and shows how crazy this currently is.

Edited October 7, 2023 by theswanmcr

[Damien]

So despite having the vast majority of teams already the Asia-Pacific region has the chance for another team to qualify. So much for a 'World' Cup.

[sam4731]

4 hours ago, Damien said:

So despite having the vast majority of teams already the Asia-Pacific region has the chance for another team to qualify. So much for a 'World' Cup.

Not just a chance but the best chance.

[welshmagpie]

I’ve just had a look at the criteria for ‘full  members’ with the IRL. 

In short:

- Minimum of 3 year business plan.

- Minimum of 3 years of accounts.

- Two pitches adaptable for rugby league with proof they’re in use.

- Minimum of 250 registered players (if population over 500,000 - 150 players otherwise)

- Minimum of 4 clubs

- Each club must have 1 senior and 1 junior side (U15-U19)

- Population > 500k: 6-team comp min. 1 round (5 games per team). Population < 500k: 4-team comp min. 2 rounds (6 games per team).

- U15-U19 comp:
Population > 500k: 4-team comp minimum 2 round (6 games per team). Population < 500k: 4-team comp minimum 1 round (3 games per team)

- Minimum of 6 L1 coaches and 8 L1 match officials 

 

[sam4731]

9 minutes ago, welshmagpie said:

I’ve just had a look at the criteria for ‘full  members’ with the IRL. 

In short:

- Minimum of 3 year business plan.

- Minimum of 3 years of accounts.

- Two pitches adaptable for rugby league with proof they’re in use.

- Minimum of 250 registered players (if population over 500,000 - 150 players otherwise)

- Minimum of 4 clubs

- Each club must have 1 senior and 1 junior side (U15-U19)

- Population > 500k: 6-team comp min. 1 round (5 games per team). Population < 500k: 4-team comp min. 2 rounds (6 games per team).

- U15-U19 comp:
Population > 500k: 4-team comp minimum 2 round (6 games per team). Population < 500k: 4-team comp minimum 1 round (3 games per team)

- Minimum of 6 L1 coaches and 8 L1 match officials 

 

Sorry for the laziness but does anyone know how far away the affiliate countries are away from achieving these standards?

[welshmagpie]

34 minutes ago, sam4731 said:

Sorry for the laziness but does anyone know how far away the affiliate countries are away from achieving these standards?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_International_Rugby_League_members
 

Using this list. Ghana and Czechia closest I’d reckon? Most fall down on the junior element of the criteria. 

[Henson Park Old Firm]

This would have a been a better qualifying option.

[corkonian77]

Those are extremely low standards

[eal]

Does Scotland have 250 registered players?

[Pulga]

And here I was hoping the "World Series" was going to be for nations below the World Cup. It's just a qualifier.

The IRL needs to be burnt to the ground. 90% of nations see no benefit rom them.