Rugby League World Cup Winners: Every Champion & Final

Australia have won the Rugby League World Cup 12 times from the 16 tournaments held since the first in France in 1954, including the last three.

Australia have won the Rugby League World Cup 12 times from the 16 tournaments held since the first in France in 1954, including the last three. Great Britain won three titles and New Zealand one, in 2008. The 2026 tournament in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea is the 17th edition, and the final is at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 15 November.

Below is every men’s winner and final, titles by nation, the main tournament records, and the women’s and wheelchair honour rolls. Tips for this year’s tournament are on our Rugby League World Cup hub.

Rugby League World Cup Winners List

Year	Host	Winner	Runner-up	Final
2021 (played 2022)	England	Australia	Samoa	Australia 30-10 Samoa, Old Trafford
2017	Australia, New Zealand, PNG	Australia	England	Australia 6-0 England, Suncorp Stadium
2013	England and Wales	Australia	New Zealand	Australia 34-2 New Zealand, Old Trafford
2008	Australia	New Zealand	Australia	New Zealand 34-20 Australia, Suncorp Stadium
2000	England	Australia	New Zealand	Australia 40-12 New Zealand, Old Trafford
1995	England and Wales	Australia	England	Australia 16-8 England, Wembley
1989-92	No fixed host	Australia	Great Britain	Australia 10-6 Great Britain, Wembley
1985-88	No fixed host	Australia	New Zealand	Australia 25-12 New Zealand, Eden Park
1977	Australia and New Zealand	Australia	Great Britain	Australia 13-12 Great Britain, Sydney Cricket Ground
1975	Multiple	Australia	England	No final: Australia topped the table
1972	France	Great Britain	Australia	10-10 after extra time in Lyon; Great Britain won on group position
1970	England	Australia	Great Britain	Australia 12-7 Great Britain, Headingley
1968	Australia and New Zealand	Australia	France	Australia 20-2 France, Sydney Cricket Ground
1960	England	Great Britain	Australia	No final: Great Britain topped the table
1957	Australia	Australia	Great Britain	No final: Australia topped the table
1954	France	Great Britain	France	Great Britain 16-12 France, Parc des Princes

Titles by Nation

Nation	Titles	Years won	Runner-up
Australia	12	1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2017, 2021	3
Great Britain	3	1954, 1960, 1972	4
New Zealand	1	2008	3
England	0	–	3
France	0	–	2
Samoa	0	–	1

Rugby League World Cup History

The first World Cup was held in France in 1954 and won by Great Britain, who beat France 16-12 in the final in Paris. The early tournaments were small round robins, and three of them, in 1957, 1960 and 1975, were decided on the table without a final. In 1972 the final in Lyon finished 10-10 after extra time and Great Britain took the title on their better group position, the last time they won it.

Australia have dominated since. They won six titles in a row between 1975 and 2000, a run New Zealand ended with a 34-20 win in the 2008 final in Brisbane, and they have won the last three. Australia have played in every men’s final except the first.

There has never been a fixed cycle. Gaps have ranged from two years to eight, the 2000 tournament was delayed by the Super League war, 2013 moved to avoid the London Olympics, and the 2021 tournament was played in England in 2022 after the pandemic. The 2025 edition was moved to Australia in 2026 when France withdrew as host, and the men’s tournament is now on a four-year cycle. The next World Cup is planned for 2030, with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair events together again; the host has not been announced.

Rugby League World Cup Records

• Most titles: Australia, 12.
• Most consecutive titles: Australia, six (1975 to 2000).
• Biggest winning margin in a final: 32 points, Australia 34-2 New Zealand in 2013.
• Lowest-scoring final: Australia 6-0 England in 2017.
• Biggest win in any World Cup match: Australia 110-4 Russia in 2000.
• Most tries in a tournament: 12, Valentine Holmes (2017) and Josh Addo-Carr (2021).
• Most tries in a match: six, Valentine Holmes against Fiji in the 2017 quarter-final.
• Record crowd: 74,468 at the 2013 final at Old Trafford, also the record for any international rugby league match.

Women’s Rugby League World Cup Winners

New Zealand won the first three Women’s World Cups and Australia the last three, beating New Zealand in each of those finals. More on this year’s tournament is on our Women’s Rugby League World Cup page.

Year	Host	Winner	Runner-up	Final
2021 (played 2022)	England	Australia	New Zealand	Australia 54-4 New Zealand, Old Trafford
2017	Australia	Australia	New Zealand	Australia 23-16 New Zealand, Suncorp Stadium
2013	England	Australia	New Zealand	Australia 22-12 New Zealand, Headingley
2008	Australia	New Zealand	Australia	New Zealand 34-0 Australia, Suncorp Stadium
2003	New Zealand	New Zealand	New Zealand Māori	New Zealand 58-0 New Zealand Māori, North Harbour Stadium
2000	England	New Zealand	Great Britain	New Zealand 26-4 Great Britain, Warrington

Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup Winners

England and France have two titles each. England are the defending champions going into this year’s tournament in Wollongong.

Year	Host	Winner	Runner-up	Final
2021 (played 2022)	England	England	France	England 28-24 France, Manchester
2017	France	France	England	France 38-34 England, Perpignan
2013	England	France	England	France 42-40 England, Gillingham
2008	Australia	England	Australia	England 44-12 Australia, Sydney

Backing a nation to add its name to this list? Our best rugby league betting sites all price the tournament winner market.

Rugby League World Cup Winners FAQs

Who has won the most Rugby League World Cups?

Australia, with 12 men’s titles from the 16 tournaments held between 1954 and 2022. Great Britain have won three and New Zealand one.

Who won the last Rugby League World Cup?

Australia, who beat Samoa 30-10 in the final at Old Trafford in November 2022. The tournament was the 2021 edition, delayed a year by the pandemic.

Has New Zealand ever won the Rugby League World Cup?

Once, in 2008, when they beat Australia 34-20 in the final at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

How often is the Rugby League World Cup held?

There has never been a fixed cycle, but the men’s tournament is now on a four-year cycle. The 2025 edition moved to 2026, and the next one is planned for 2030, with the host not yet announced.

Who has won the most Women’s Rugby League World Cups?

Australia and New Zealand have three each. The Jillaroos have won the last three, in 2013, 2017 and 2021.

More Rugby League World Cup Coverage

• Rugby League World Cup hub: draw and tips
• Schedule and TV guide
• Results and ladder
• Squads
• The 2026 final
• Women’s World Cup

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