A list of men, women and wheelchair senior international rugby league matches played throughout 2026.
A † denotes a match that did not contribute to the IRL World Rankings - i.e. not a senior international match (SIM) as designated by the International Rugby League (IRL).
The season is due to include the 2026 Rugby League World Cup which is planned to be held in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand during October and November 2026.
Season overview Men + Men's international friendlies Date Home team Away team Winners 27 February 6 June 2 July 5 July 11 July 12 September 10 October 17 October + Men's international tournaments Start date Tournament Winners 17 October European Championship D 3 October European Championship C 18 October European Championship B 15 OctoberWorld Cup 17 October Celtic Cup
Women
+ Women's international friendlies Date Home team Away team Winners27 February 19 July 25 July 25 July 1 August 26 September 17 October 17 October 17 October 24 October + Women's international tournaments Start date Tournament Winners 16 OctoberWorld Cup
Wheelchair
+ Wheelchair international tours Start date Touring side Region Results [Matches] 11 July 0–2 + Wheelchair international tournaments Start date Tournament Winners 23 May Celtic Cup 30 OctoberWorld Cup
January Barrow Raiders v Scotland men
This match was a testimonial match for Barrow player, Shane Toal. He and fellow Barrow and Scotland international Max Anderson-Moore played a half for each team.
February USA v Scotland double header
This double-header was part of a triple-header which also featured a Men's U-19 between the same nations.
March Wales wheelchair v UK Armed Forces
This was part of a double-header which also featured the 'A' sides of Wales and the UK Armed Forces.
May Celtic Cup (wheelchair)
June Vanuatu men v Singapore
German Exiles v Brazil men
Played as a double-header with the Championship fixture between Keighley Cougars and Swinton Lions.
July Canada men's European summer tour
England men v Papua New Guinea A proposed mid-season game between and did not occur following the RFL's U-turn decision to use the spare week in the UK domestic calendar (4/5 July) to retain Magic Weekend for 2026 as a sole loop fixture. Magic Weekend had previously been set to be removed following Super League's expansion to 14 teams and the subsequent removal of loop fixtures (which included Magic Weekend) from the competition.
New Zealand at the NRL Wheelchair Championship
10 to 12 July finished 4th: Lost 6–28 against New South Wales Lost 12–40 against North Queensland Won 28–0 against Affiliated States Won 44–0 against Victoria Lost 6–16 against Australian Capital Territory Lost 14–24 against Queensland
France wheelchair v Ireland
Brazil men v University of Oxford
Ghana men v University of Cambridge
Canada women's European summer tour
NB: Match played to Australia's 70 minute rule for women's rugby league per request of Wales.
France women v England
Played as a double-header with the men's Super League fixture between Toulouse Olympique and Catalans Dragons.
NB: Match played to Australia's 70 minute rule for women's rugby league per request of both teams.
August France women v Nigeria
Played as a double-header with the men's Super League fixture between Catalans Dragons and Wakefield Trinity.
NB: Match played to Australia's 70 minute rule for women's rugby league per request of France.
September Griffin Cup
Malta women v Lebanon in Australia
October Men's European Championships
Euro B
Euro C
Euro D
Cook Islands women v Tonga in Australia
Canada men v Jamaica
Greece women v Jamaica
Netherlands women v Scotland
Wales men v the United States
Celtic Cup (men's)
Greece women v the Netherlands
Men's World Cup
Group A
Group B and C
Semi Finals
Final
Women's World Cup
NB: All matches played to Australia's 70 minute rule for women's rugby league.
Group A
Group B
Semi Finals
Final
Wheelchair World Cup
Group A
Group B
Ranking Semi Finals
Semi Finals
7th-place play-offs
5th-place play-offs
3rd-place play-off
Final
Notes
References