After five years between tournaments, the Rugby League World Cup returns on Sunday AEST with host nation England facing a stacked Samoan side.
The World Cup was meant to take place this time last year, however Australia and New Zealand withdraw due to Covid, which saw the tournament moved to 2022.
The format for this edition is four groups of four teams, with the top two teams of each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
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Fifita hattrick leads Tonga to huge win | 00:38
Both Greece (Group A) and Jamaica (Group C) will be making their World Cup debuts and the Cooks Islands return after failing to qualify in 2017.
Australia are favourites to take win the tournament for the third time straight, the depth of their rivals means it’s no formality.
New Zealand, Tonga and England all sit ahead of Australia in the world rankings, with Samoa also tipped as contenders after a host of NRL stars joined their ranks.
Read below for our 2021 Rugby League World Cup Ultimate Guide.
GROUPS
Group A: England, France, Greece, Samoa
Group B: Australia, Fiji, Italy, Scotland
Group C: Ireland, Jamaica, Lebanon, New Zealand
Group D: Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Wales, Tonga
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FIXTURES
Group A
Sunday 00:30 (AEDT) October 16: England vs Samoa, St James’ Park, Newcastle
Tuesday 05:30 (AEDT) October 17: France vs Greece, Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
Sunday 03:00 (AEDT) October 23: England vs France, University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton
Monday 03:00 (AEDT) October 24: Samoa vs Greece, Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
Sunday 00:30 (AEDT) October 30: England vs Greece, Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Monday 04:00 (AEDT) October 31: Samoa vs France, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Group B
Sunday 05:30 (AEDT) October 16: Australia vs Fiji, Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Monday 00:30 (AEDT) October 17: Scotland vs Italy, Kingston Park, Newcastle
Saturday 05:30 (AEDT) October 22: Australia vs Scotland, Conventry Building Society Arena, Conventry
Sunday 00:30 (AEDT) October 23: Fiji vs Italy, Kingston Park, Newcastle
Sunday 03:00 (AEDT) October 30: Fiji vs Scotland, Kingston Park, Newcastle
Sunday 05:30 (AEDT) October 30: Australia vs Italy, Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Group C
Monday 03:00 (AEDT) October 17: Jamaica vs Ireland, Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Monday 05:30 (AEDT) October 17: New Zealand vs Lebanon, Halliwell Stadium, Warrington
Sunday 05:30 (AEDT) October 23: New Zealand vs Jamaica, MKM Stadium, Hull
Monday 00:30 (AEDT) October 25: Lebanon vs Ireland, Leigh Sports Village, Leigh
Saturday 05:30 (AEDT) October 29: New Zealand vs Ireland, Headingley Stadium Leeds
Sunday 23:00 (AEDT October 30: Lebanon vs Jamaica, Leigh Sports Village, Leigh
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WORLD CUP: The key DCE advantage ‘working against’ Cleary
Fittler’s 105kg son crushes QLD bodies | 00:55
Group D
Wednesday 05:30 (AEDT) October 19: Tonga vs Papua New Guinea, Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Thursday 05:30 (AEDT) October 20: Wales vs Cook Islands, Leigh Sports Village, Leigh
Tuesday 05:30 (AEDT) October 25: Tonga vs Wales, Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Wednesday 05:30 (AEDT) October 26: Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Monday 01:30 (AEDT) October 31: Tonga vs Cook Islands, Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough
Tuesday 06:30 (AEDT) November 1: Papua New Guinea vs Wales, Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
SQUADS
GROUP A
England: Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons), Andy Ackers (Salford Red Devils), Joe Batchelor (St Helens), John Bateman (Wigan Warriors), Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Mike Cooper (Wigan Warriors), Herbie Farnworth (Brisbane Broncos), Ryan Hall (Hull KR), Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants), Morgan Knowles (St Helens), Matty Lees (St Helens), Tommy Makinson (St Helens), Michael McIlorum (Catalans Dragons), Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons), Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos), Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan Warriors), Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters), Marc Sneyd (Salford Red Devils), Luke Thompson (Canterbury Bulldogs), Kallum Watkins (Salford Red Devils), Jack Welsby (St Helens), Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders), George Williams (Warrington Wolves), Dom Young (Newcastle Knights), Shaun Wane (Coach)
Samoa: Josh Aloiai (Manly Sea Eagles), Fa’amanu Brown (Wests Tigers), Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers), Mat Feagai (St George Illawarra Dragons), Braden Hamlin-Uele (Cronulla Sharks), Chanel Harris-Tavita (New Zealand Warriors), Royce Hunt (Cronulla Sharks), Oregon Kaufusi (Parramatta Eels), Luciano Leilua (Wests Tigers), Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers), Danny Levi (Huddersfield Giants), Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers), Taylan May (Penrith Panthers), Tyrone May (Catalans Dragons), Anthony Milford (Newcastle Knights), Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders), Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels), Jaydn Su’A (St George Illawarra Dragons), Joseph Suaalii (Sydney Roosters), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (North Queensland Cowboys), Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers), Martin Taupau (Manly Sea Eagles), Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers), Kelma Tuilagi (Wests Tigers), Matt Parish (Coach)
Greece: Jordan Meads (Sunshine Coast), Lachlan Ilias (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Stefanos Bastas (Coventry Bears), Nikolaos Bosmos (Rhodes Knights), Terry Constantinou (Sunbury Tigers), Aris Dardamanis (Aris Eagles), Nick Flocas (Ipswich Jets), Myles Gal (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Jake Kambos (Wests Magpies), Kosta Katsidonis (Rhodes Knights), Greg Koutsimporgiorgos (Aris Eagles), Billy Magoulias (Newtown Jets), Peter Mamouzelos (South Sydney Rabbitohs), John Mitsias (Wests Magpies), Nick Mougios (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Thodoris Nianiakas (Woolston Rovers), Ionnis Nake, Chaise Robinson (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Ionnis Rousoglou (Aris Eagles), Sebastian Sell (Mittagong Lions), Liam Sui Tin, Vasili Tsikrikas (Canterbury Bulldogs), Robert Tuliatu (London Broncos), Adam Vrahnos (London Broncos), Mitchell Zampetides (Wests Magpies), Steve Georgallis (Coach)
France: Lambert Belmas (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Alrix Da Costa (Dragons Catalans), Jordan Dezaria (Dragons Catalans), Morgan Escaré (Salford Red Devils), Benjamin Garcia(Dragons Catalans), Tony Gigot (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Mickaël Goudemand (Dragons Catalans), Benjamin Jullien (Dragons Catalans), Matthieu Laguerre (Dragons Catalans), Samisoni Langi (Dragons Catalans), Corentin Le Cam (Dragons Catalans), Paul Marcon (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Anthony Marion (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Arthur Mourgue (Dragons Catalans), Eloi Pelissier (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Maxime Puech (Albi RL XIII), Arthur Romano (Dragons Catalans), César Rougé (Dragons Catalans), Justin Sangaré (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Paul Séguier (Dragons Catalans), Gadwin Springer (Featherstone Rovers), Maxime Stefani (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Louis Jouffret (Halifax Panthers), Fouad Yaha (Dragons Catalans), Laurent Frayssinous (Coach)
GROUP B
Australia: Josh Addo-Carr (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Matt Burton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Parramatta Eels), Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers), Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters), Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys), Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans), Campbell Graham (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm), Valentine Holmes (North Queensland Cowboys), Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons), Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers), Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm), Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys), Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys), James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders), Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers), Mal Meninga (Coach)
Fiji: Waqa Blake (Parramatta Eels), Tui Kamikamica (Melbourne Storm), Vuate Karawalevu (Sydney Roosters), Viliame Kikau (Penrith Panthers), Apisai Koroisau (Penrith Panthers), Lamar Manuel Liolevave (Tweed Seagulls), Joe Lovodua (Hull FC), Isaac Lumelume (Canterbury Bulldogs), Netane Masima (Wests Magpies), Laitia Moceidreke (North Queensland Cowboys), Sitiveni Moceidreke (London Broncos), Taane Milne (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Marcelo Montoya (NZ Warriors), Kevin Naiqama (Sydney Roosters), Ben Nakubuwai (Leigh Centurions), Jason Qareqare (Castleford Tigers), Mikaele Ravalawa (St George Illawarra Dragons), Taniela Sadrugu (NQ Cowboys), Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights), Jacob Saifiti (Newcastle Knights), Pio Seci (Manly Sea Eagles), Korbin Sims (Hull KR), Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra Dragons), Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels), Penioni Tagituimua (Canterbury Bulldogs), Sunia Turuva (Penrith Panthers), Joseph Vakacereivalu (Redcliffe Dolphins), Semi Valemei (Canberra Raiders), King Vuniyayawa (Salford Reds), Ratu Inoke Vasuturaga (Kinoya Eagles), Brandon Wakeham (Canterbury Bulldogs), Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters), Joe Rabele (Coach)
Scotland: Charlie Emslie (Barrow Raiders), Shane Toal (Barrow Raiders), Keiran Buchanan (Batley Bulldogs), Logan Bayliss-Brow (Brisbane Broncos), Bailey Hayward (Caterbury Bulldogs), Davey Dixon (Dewsbury Rams), Dale Ferguson (Dewsbury Rams), Lewis Clarke (Edinburgh Eagles), Ben Hellewell (Featherstone Rovers), Lachlan Walmsley (Halifax Panthers), Kane Linnett (Hull KR), Calum Gahan (London Broncos), Alex Walker (London Broncos), Kyle Schneider (Mackay Cutters), Euan Aitken (New Zealand Warriors), Luke Bain (Parramatta Eels), Ryan Brierley (Salford Red Devils), Sam Luckley (Salford Red Devils), Bayley Liu (Sheffield Eagles), James Bell (St Helens), Matty Russell (Toulouse), Liam Hood (Wakefield), Guy Graham (Whitehaven RLFC), Jack Teanby (York City Knights), Nathan Graham (Coach)
Italy: Giordano Arena (Catania Bulls), Daniel Atkinson (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Simone Boscolo (RC Salon XIII), Nathan Brown (Parramatta Eels), Jack Campagnolo (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Gieolo Celerino (Racing Saint Gaudens), Jack Colovatti (Parramatta Eels), Luke Hodge (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles), Anton Iaria (Barrow Raiders), Cooper Johns (Melbourne Storm), Ryan King (Whitehaven), Richard Lepori (Swinton Lions), Jake Maizen (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Luca Moretti (Parramatta Eels), Ethan Natoli (Newtown Jets), Ippolito Occhialini (Lignano Sharks), Rinaldo Palumbo (London Broncos), Dean Parata (London Broncos), Kyle Pickering (Cronulla Sharks), Luke Polselli (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Alex Rojatto (Lignano Sharks), Brendan Santi (Keighley Cougars), Alec Susino (Penrith Panthers), Nicholas Tilburg (Wentworthville), Joseph Tramontana (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles), Leo Epifania (Coach)
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COWBOYS: Resurgent Cowboys shock NRL order but roster holes emerge in cruel end
SHARKS: Cronulla’s dual game pays off; major flaw exposed in finals disaster
RAIDERS: $1m call looms as charging Raiders run out of steam but window ‘still open’
Fifita hattrick leads Tonga to huge win | 00:38
GROUP C
New Zealand: Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm), Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), Kenny Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), Dylan Brown (Parramatta Eels), James Fisher-Harris (Penrith Panthers), Kieran Foran (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles), Peta Hiku (North Queensland Cowboys), Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm), Sebastian Kris (Canberra Raiders), Moses Leota (Penrith Panthers), Isaac Liu (Gold Coast Titans), Joseph Manu (Sydney Roosters), Jeremy Marshall-King (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla Sharks), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Canberra Raiders), Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sharks), Marata Niukore (Parramatta Eels), Isaiah Papali’i (Parramatta Eels), Jordan Rapana (Canberra Raiders), Brandon Smith (Melbourne Storm), Scott Sorensen (Penrith Panthers), Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (New Zealand Warriors), Michael Maguire (Coach)
Ireland: James Bentley (Leeds), Keanan Brand (Leigh), Liam Byrne (Wigan), Ed Chamberlain (Leigh), Josh Cook (Canterbury Bulldogs), Frankie Halton (Hull KR), James Hasson (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jaimin Jolliffe (Gold Coast Titans), Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters), Joe Keyes (Halifax), Toby King (Warrington), George King (Hull KR), Ben Mathiou (Featherstone), James McDonnell (Wigan), Ronan Michael (York), Robbie Mulhern (Warrington), Richie Myler (Leeds), Dan Norman (St Helens), Henry O’Kane (Wests Tigers), Harry Rushton (Huddersfield), Innes Senior (Huddersfield), Louis Senior (Hull KR), Michael Ward (Batley), Ged Corcoran (Coach)
Lebanon: Jalal Bazzaz (Wests Illawarra), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Hanna El-Nachar (Penrith Panthers), Toufic El-Hajj (American University of Beirut), Elie El-Zakhem (Parramatta Eels), Atef Hamdan (Wolves, Lebanon), Kayne Kalache (Newtown Jets), Andrew Kazzi (Western Suburbs Magpies), Jacob Kiraz (Canterbury Bulldogs)Bilaal Maarbani (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles), Anthony Layoun (St Marys Saints), Josh Mansour (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Josh Maree (Wentworthville United), Tony Maroun (Ryde-Eastwood Hawks), Abbas Miski (Wigan Warriors), Brandon Morkos (Canberra Raiders), Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels), Jaxson Rahme (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Khalil Rahme (Mt Pritchard Mounties), Khaled Rajab (Canterbury Bulldogs), Reece Robinson, James Roumanos (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles), Mikey Tannous (Wests Tigers), Charbel Tasipale (Newtown Jets), Michael Cheika (Coach)
Jamaica: Jordan Andrade, Mo Agoro (Keighley Cougars), Chevaughn Bailey (Duhaney Park Red Sharks), Joe Brown (Workington Town), Jy-Mel Coleman, Joel Farrell (Sheffield Eagles), Ashton Golding (Huddersfield Giants), Bradley Ho (Keighley Cougars), Greg Johnson (Batley Bulldogs), Aaron Jones-Bishop (Cornwall RLFC), Ben Jones-Bishop (Sheffield Eagles), Michael Lawrence (Huddersfield Giants), Abevia McDonald (London Skolars), Khamisi McKain (Duhaney Park Red Sharks), Jacob Ogden (York City Knights), Ross Peltier (Dewsbury Rams), Kieran Rush (Huddersfield Giants), Andrew Simpson (Duhaney Park Red Sharks), Marvin Thompson (Duhaney Park Red Sharks), Keenen Tomlinson (Dewsbury Rams), Renaldo Wade (Duhaney Park Red Sharks), AJ Wallace (Bradford Bulls), James Woodburn-Hall (Halifax Panthers), Alex Young (Workington Town), Romeo Monteith (Coach)
SEASON REVIEWS
ROOSTERS: Robbo switch woke sleeping giant as extent of cap crunch laid bare
STORM: The $1.3m Munster question as scrambling Storm hit eight-year low
BRONCOS: $1 million elephant in the room as finals disaster exposes divide
DRAGONS: $800k call holds key for Dragons as awkward issue hits tipping point
SEA EAGLES: How Manly’s season came unstuck — and why it’s not Des’ fault
Punches thrown in police footy brawl | 00:34
GROUP D
Tonga: Talatau Junior Amone (St George Illawarra Dragons), David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans), Addin Fonua-Blake (New Zealand Warriors), Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans), Siliva Havili (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Will Hopoate (St Helens), Konrad Hurrell (St Helens), Isaiya Katoa (Penrith Panthers), Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks), Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm), Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Toluta’u Koula (Manly Sea Eagles), Tui Lolohea (Huddersfield), Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers), Ben Murdoch-Masila (New Zealand Warriors), Tesi Niu (Brisbane Broncos), Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Sea Eagles), Will Penisini (Parramatta Eels), Moses Suli (St George Illawarra Dragons), Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla Sharks), Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters), Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys), Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters), Kristian Woolf (Coach)
Papua New Guinea: Wellington Albert (London Broncos), Jacob Alick (Gold Coast Titans). Keven Appo (PNG Hunters), Watson Boas, Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm), Edene Gebbie (Townsville Blackhawks), Edwin Ipape (Leigh Centurions), Zev John (Central Queensland Capras), Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Lachlan Lam (Leigh Centurions), Kyle Laybutt (Townsville Blackhawks), Nene Macdonald (Leigh Centurions), Rhyse Martin (Leeds Rhinos), Sylvester Namo (PNG Hunters), Jimmy Ngutlik (Western Suburbs Magpies), Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm), Nixon Putt (Central Queensland Capras), Daniel Russell (Brisbane Tigers), Jeremiah Simbiken (Redcliffe Dolphins), Rodrick Tai (PNG Hunters), Sherwin Tanabi (PNG Hunters), Wesser Tenza (PNG Hunters), Emmanuel Waine (PNG Hunters), Mckenzie Yei (Central Queensland Capras), Stanley Tepend (Coach)
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Wales: Caleb Aekins (Leigh Centurions), Bailey Antrobus (York City Knights), Gavin Bennion (Rochdale Hornets), Joe Burke (West Wales Raiders), Chester Butler (Bradford Bulls), Mike Butt (Swinton Lions), Connor Davies (Workington Town), Curtis Davies (Whitehaven), Rhys Evans (Bradford Bulls), Will Evans (Whitehaven), Kyle Evans (Wakefield Trinity), Ben Evans (Bradford Bulls), Dan Fleming (Featherstone Rovers), Matty Fozard (Widnes Vikings), Dalton Grant (London Broncos), Tom Hopkins (Barrow Raiders), Elliot Kear (Bradford Bulls), Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions), James Olds (Valley Diehards), Ollie Olds (Valley Diehards), Josh Ralph (Mounties), Luis Roberts (Leigh Centurions), Anthony Walker (Bradford Bulls), Rhys Williams (Salford Red Devils), John Kear (Coach)
Cook Islands: Tevin Arona (Auckland), Tinirau Arona (Wakefield Trinity), Geoff Daniela (St Marys Saints), Johnathon Ford (Featherstone Rovers), Anthony Gelling (Auckland), Kayal Iro (Cronulla Sharks), Makahesi Makatoa (Parramatta Eels), Esan Marsters (Huddersfield Giants), Steven Marsters (Thirroul Butchers), Davvy Moale (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Tepai Moeroa (Melbourne Storm), Dylan Napa (Catalans Dragons), Rua Ngatikaura (Wests Tigers), Moses Noovao-McGreal (Norths Devils), Pride Pettersen-Robati (New Zealand Warriors), Dominique Peyroux (Toulouse Olympique), Brendan Piakura (Brisbane Broncos), Reuben Porter (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Vincent Rennie (Newtown Jets), Reubenn Rennie (Newtown Jets), Brad Takairangi (Hull Kingston Rovers), Aaron Teroi (CQ Capras), Zane Tetevano (Leeds Rhinos), Paul Ulberg (London Broncos), Tony Iro (Coach)
TAB WORLD CUP ODDS:
Australia: $1.50
New Zealand: $4
Samoa: $10
Tonga: $13
England: $15
Fiji: $151
Papua New Guinea: $301
France: $501
Ireland: $501
Cook Islands: $501
Italy: $501
Lebanon: $501
Scotland: $501
Greece: $751
Wales: $751
Jamaica: $1001
