With the latest instalment of the World Cup almost upon us, and 26 different teams gearing up for the three competitions, Rugby League World is taking a look back at the last tournament, held across England back in 2022, and some of the memorable moments to come out of it.

REFEREEING HISTORY

WHEN Tonga ran out 32-6 winners over Wales in front of 7,752 fans in St Helens, a little bit of history was made. Not by any of the players, but instead by referee Kasey Badger.

Having already officiated several games in the NRL, Badger became the first woman ever to referee a men’s World Cup game that night, and in doing so earned the praise of many involved.

A week later, Belinda Sharpe followed suit by overseeing England’s game against Greece in Sheffield, with the pair also acting as touch judges throughout the tournament.

THROWING A STROP

WHILE Badger’s refereeing antics earned her praise across the game, the same cannot be said of French official Laurent Abrial, who got fans talking for an altogether different reason as England’s Wheelchair side lifted the trophy with a win over France.

After disagreeing with a decision made against France by his colleague on the pitch, Abrial made his feelings known, waving his arms in anger and gesticulating to the crowd.

Fellow officials tried to calm him down, but he remained unhappy throughout and was booed by the crowd in Manchester for his behaviour.

ENGLAND AGONY

FOR anyone other than England supporters, the semi-final between the hosts and Samoa was probably the game of the tournament.

But for England, that game spelt golden-point heartache as Stephen Crichton’s 83rd-minute drop-goal dumped them out of the competition in the worst way possible.

England had held high hopes of making the final on home soil, but instead it was Samoa who set up a date at Old Trafford, where they made their first-ever World Cup Final appearance against Australia, ultimately going down 30-10.

SUPER SINFIELD

THERE was hardly a dry eye in the house when Kevin Sinfield entered the Old Trafford field at half-time of the Australia versus New Zealand final.

Walking out of the tunnel serenaded by M People’s Heather Small singing ‘Search for the Hero’, Sinfield was given a hero’s welcome after completing his Seven in Seven Challenge, which saw him run 40 miles a day over the course of a week to continue his fundraising efforts for motor neurone disease (MND) charities.

Inspired by his friend and former team-mate, Rob Burrow, Sinfield was then told his efforts had raised over £1.3million for the cause.

A QUIET START

WHILE the tournament might have ended in style with Kevin Sinfield’s appearance at Old Trafford as Australia clinched a men’s and women’s double, it didn’t get off to the best of starts.

With the opening ceremony taking place ahead of the opening England versus Samoa group game, rock band Kaiser Chiefs were set to provide the entertainment. But after managing only one song the sound system went down, leaving them unable to finish their planned set.

Instead, frontman Ricky Wilson took to sprinting round the St James’ Park pitch to amuse the crowd and raise their spirits.

TEARFUL GOODBYE

IT IS often said that a semi-final is the worst place to lose a game, and that feeling was never seen more strongly than it was after England’s women went down 20-6 to New Zealand at that very stage.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, England coach Craig Richards broke down in tears as he announced his immediate resignation from the role.

“It will be someone else that takes the team forward – it won’t be me,” he said as his raw emotion was felt throughout the room, with Jodie Cunningham describing their dressing room as “distraught” following the announcement.

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 525 (October 2026)