The 2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup European qualification tournament was an international rugby league tournament held in October 2024 to decide the nation that qualifies for the 2025 World Series and in-turn, potentially qualify for the 2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup.
Background
The tournament took place in October 2024 and was open to all full member nations as of 15 March 2024. The winner of the tournament advanced to the World Series in 2025.
On 14 March 2024, Ireland, Italy, and Scotland had their membership downgraded to affiliate members due to non-compliance with the membership policy, and as a result were no longer eligible to participate in the World Cup qualification process.
Seeding and format Teams played semi-finals and a final. The semi-finals were based on IRL Rank with highest-ranked playing lowest-ranked and second-highest playing second-lowest. The losing semi-finalists contested a third place playoff; this had no bearing on World Cup qualification, but did count for world ranking points.
The four eligible nations to compete in the tournament were confirmed to be participating on 25 July 2024; France, Serbia, Ukraine and Wales.
IRL Men's World Rankings – EuropeTeam8281119121713151415151416141713199207217226246256324343353363382401450460470480530540550560References:
Venues The venues selected for the tournament were: Carcassonne Saint-Estève Stade Albert Domec Stade Municipal Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 6,000
Squads On 16 October 2024, the squads were announced for the four nations competing in the tournament.
France Player Club Jayson Goffin Albi Nittim Pedrero Albi Romain Franco Bradford Bulls Lucas Albert Carcassonne Vincent Albert Carcassonne Clément Boyer Carcassonne Nolan Lopez-Buttignol Carcassonne Guillermo Aispuro Bichet Catalans Dragons Alrix Da Costa Catalans Dragons Théo Fages Catalans Dragons Matthieu Laguerre Catalans Dragons Clement Martin Catalans Dragons Arthur Mourgue Catalans Dragons Romain Navarrete Catalans Dragons Arthur Romano Catalans Dragons César Rougé Catalans Dragons Thomas Lacans Featherstone Rovers Louis Jouffret Halifax Panthers Hugo Salabio Huddersfield Giants Mickaël Goudemand Leeds Rhinos Justin Sangaré Leeds Rhinos Ugo Tison London Broncos Hakim Miloudi Pia Florian Vailhen Pia Lambert Belmas Toulouse Olympique Benjamin Laguerre Toulouse Olympique Anthony Marion Toulouse Olympique Éloi Pélissier Toulouse Olympique Maxime Stefani Toulouse Olympique Mathieu Cozza Wakefield Trinity Tiaki Chan Wigan Warriors
Serbia
Player ClubNicholas O'Meley Burleigh BearsNick Cotric Catalans DragonsAndrej Mora Dorcol TigersDavid Nofoaluma Glebe Dirty RedsSasha Popovic Glebe Dirty RedsJake O’Meley Lakes United SeagullsIlija Cotric MountiesJesse Soric New Zealand Warriors ReservesAleksandar Pavlovic Partisan BelgradeDjordje Krnjeta Partisan BelgradeDzavid Jasari Partisan BelgradeEnis Bibic Partisan BelgradeStrahinja Stoiljkovic Partisan BelgradeJordan Grant Penrith PanthersStefan Arsic Radnicki NisMarko Jankovic Red Star BelgradeMilos Calic Red Star BelgradeNikola Djuric Red Star BelgradeRajko Trifunovic Red Star BelgradeVojislav Dedic Red Star BelgradeVuk Strbac Red Star BelgradeJoshua Coric St George Illawarra Dragons Reserves
Ukraine
Player ClubTim Knight Caloundra SharksDaniel Janissen Cardiff CobrasJonah Ngaronoa Glebe Dirty RedsYevhen Checheta Kharkiv LegionYevhen Davydov Kharkiv LegionAnatolii Hrankovskyi Kharkiv LegionVolodymyr Karpenko Kharkiv LegionVitalii Puchkov Kharkiv LegionDmytro Semerenko Kharkiv LegionOleksandr Shcherbyna Kharkiv LegionOleksandr Skorbach Kharkiv LegionOleksandr Syvykoz Kharkiv LegionMykhailo Troian Kharkiv LegionYevhenii Trusov Kharkiv LegionVolodymyr Voitov Kharkiv LegionValentyn Korchak Lviv TigersOstap Kozak Lviv TigersVictor Tereszko Queanbeyan BluesDanylo Vedler Rivne GiantsBrock Jurkans Singleton GreyhoundsTigris Polata Southern Suburbs MagpiesTom Mencinsky Sydney University RLFC
Wales Player ClubBailey Antrobus York KnightsHarry Boots CornwallSam Bowring Midlands HurricanesMike Butt Widnes VikingsMax Clarke Barrow RaidersJoe Coope-Franklin Salford Red DevilsConnor Davies Halifax PanthersCurtis Davies Dewsbury RamsGil Dudson Warrington WolvesWill Evans WhitehavenBen Evans North Wales CrusadersJude Ferreira HunsletMatty Fozard Widnes VikingsCharlie Glover Salford Red DevilsElliot Kear (C) Batley BulldogsBen Lane St. HelensRhodri Lloyd Widnes VikingsJosh Ralph St. George Illawarra Dragons ReservesOwen Restall Dewsbury RamsLuis Roberts Leeds RhinosAshton Robinson Leeds RhinosMatt Ross CornwallAnthony Walker Swinton LionsBilly Walkley Keighley CougarsRhys Williams Swinton LionsHuw Worthington Whitehaven
Fixtures Bracket
Semi-finals
Wales head coach, John Kear, did not travel to France with the squad, after being admitted to hospital the preceding weekend. In his absence the team was coached by assistant coach, Mark Moxon.
Third-place playoff
The third-place playoff formed part of the tournament but had no bearing on qualification.
Final
References