Together again: 2030 World Cup to retain RLWC26 format

The International Rugby League (IRL) has confirmed that the Men's, Women's, and Wheelchair World Cups will run concurrently in 2030, similar to the format introduced at RLWC26.

During a board meeting on Tuesday, the IRL decided to stick with the RLWC26 model for the upcoming tournament, which will be held in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. This decision ensures that all three competitions will take place simultaneously.

In 2023, the IRL Board had initially planned to separate the tournaments and began an Invitation to Tender (ITT) process for the Women's Rugby League World Cup 2028, Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2029, and Men's Rugby League World Cup 2030.

The IRL has received 13 bids for these three events and is currently in the process of evaluating them.