The next Rugby League World Cup will take place in the southern hemisphere in 2026, the sport’s international governing body has announced.
The tournament had been due to take place in France in 2025 but the prospective hosts pulled out in May citing a failure to achieve financial guarantees.
In addition, the IRL announced a resumption of the Ashes series with England’s men’s and women’s teams travelling to Australia in 2025, and return visits from New Zealand and Australia in 2027 and 2028 respectively.
The International Rugby League (IRL) said a precise decision on the hosting rights for the next World Cup will be announced later this year.
The revised tournament will feature a reduced field of 10 men’s teams, as well as eight-team women’s and wheelchair World Cups respectively.
IRL chairman Troy Grant said the organisation has received two separate bids to host the new tournament, presumed to be from Australia and New Zealand, which will be backed by government guarantees.
Grant said: “We will have an expedited bid process and the host will be identified before the year’s end, once the board has completed its due diligence of those bids.”
Women Reggae Warriors squad named for America’s Women’s World Series Qualifiers in Jacksonville
Jamaica has named a 19-woman squad for the upcoming America’s Women’s World Series Qualifiers set for November 6-9 in Jacksonville.
The Women Reggae Warriors, currently ranked 22nd in the world, will take on the USA in the semi-finals on November 6 at the University of North Florida before the winner takes on world number seven Canada in the final on November 9.
Brazil were originally supposed to be a part of the tournament but withdrew in June due to funding and logistical issues.
The winner of the final will advance to the 2025 World Series for a chance to advance to the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Women Reggae Warriors squad: Alicia Richards, Aniya Smith, Chevelle Clarke, Darcey Price, Debisha Scarlett, Dejonaye Cole, Elyse Royal, Gianna Noble-Cunningham, Kamoya Forrest, Kaya-Jo Laing, Mackayla McCalla, Makeda Lewis, Moesha Bogle, Shanice Stewart, Shanique Smith, Sherine Johnson, Shoya Gordon, Tarja Richards, Veronica Blair.
Newcastle United's Isaac Hayden to switch allegiance to Jamaica, reports suggest
Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden is set to switch his international allegiance to Jamaica from England, according to a report from TEAMtalk. The 29-year-old midfielder, who has represented England from U16 to U21 levels, has never earned a senior cap for the Three Lions, making him eligible for the switch under FIFA regulations.
Hayden, who qualifies for Jamaica through his father, has agreed to join Steve McClaren’s Reggae Boyz as they aim to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in North America. The paperwork for his switch is reportedly being finalized ahead of Jamaica's November international fixtures.
This decision is part of McClaren’s strategy to boost Jamaica’s squad by incorporating English-born talents. Hayden, who joined Newcastle from Arsenal in 2016 and has made 171 appearances for the club, will be a key addition as the Reggae Boyz push for World Cup qualification. However, Hayden's future at Newcastle remains uncertain, with the midfielder not currently part of Eddie Howe’s first-team plans and spending last season on loan at Standard Liege and Queens Park Rangers.
Hayden’s decision to represent Jamaica follows his comments last year about not wanting to take the place of someone in Jamaica’s squad, but after over a year of consideration, he has now committed to the switch. This move comes after McClaren’s successful recruitment of other English-born players, including former Manchester United star Mason Greenwood, who is also reportedly switching allegiances to Jamaica.
As Hayden prepares to don the Jamaican colors, fans eagerly await how his experience and skill will contribute to the Reggae Boyz's journey toward the 2026 World Cup.
Reggae Warriors fall to Wales in rain-soaked Rugby League international
Jamaica's Reggae Warriors suffered a narrow 22-16 defeat to Wales in a rain-drenched international rugby league encounter on Tuesday at The Gnoll in Neath. Despite leading 10-0 early in the match, Jamaica couldn’t hold off a determined Welsh side that rallied in the second half to secure the victory in front of 1,300 fans.
Jamaica, fielding a new-look squad with eight debutants, got off to a dream start. Ben Jones-Bishop opened the scoring in the fifth minute, slipping through the Welsh defense after a missed tackle. Just minutes later, Alex Young, brother of England international Dom Young, pounced on a loose ball following Kieran Rush’s precise kick to double the lead for the Reggae Warriors.
With a 10-0 advantage, Jamaica appeared to be in control, but Wales adapted to the worsening conditions. Rhys Williams, Wales' record-cap holder, sparked the Welsh comeback just before halftime, scoring a crucial try after running onto a kick from captain Elliot Kear.
The second half saw Wales take advantage of the wet conditions and gain momentum. Debutants Huw Worthington and Max Clarke both crossed the try line, giving Wales the lead for the first time in the match. A strong performance from Gil Dudson, named man of the match, and a try from Matty Fozard stretched the Welsh lead, sealing the comeback victory.
Jamaica struggled to find their rhythm in the second half, especially after losing playmaker Kieran Rush to injury early in the period. Despite a late try from Joshua Hudson-Lett, Jamaica couldn’t close the gap, leaving the final score at 22-16 in favor of Wales.
For Jamaica, the match provided valuable experience for a squad featuring many new players, including the only non-UK-based player, Alex Young of the Sydney Roosters. Despite the loss, the Reggae Warriors showed promise and will look to build on their performance in future fixtures.
Match Summary
Wales (4) 22
Tries: Williams, Worthington, Clarke, Dudson, Fozard
Conversions: Fozard
Jamaica (10) 16
Tries: Jones-Bishop, Young, Hudson-Lett
Conversions: Carter
Penalty: Rush
The defeat marks another step in Jamaica’s journey to establish themselves on the international rugby league stage as they continue to gain experience against quality opposition.
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