National team appearances at Rugby League World Cups

This article shows all the teams that have participated in the Rugby League World Cup and the results of those teams.

Team appearances by tournament

1954-92: Group format
Legend
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • GS – Group Stage
  •    – Hosts
Team 1954 1957 1960
1968		 1970 1972 1975
1977		 1985-88 1989-92 Total
 AustraliaGS1st2nd1st1st2nd1st1st1st1st10
 England——————2nd———1
 France2ndGSGS2ndGSGSGSGSGSGS10
 Great Britain1st2nd1stGS2nd1st—2ndGS2nd9
 New ZealandGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGS2ndGS10
 Papua New Guinea————————GSGS2
 Wales——————GS———1

1995-Onwards: Knockout format
Legend
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • SF – Semi final
  • QF – Quarterfinals (knockout round of 8)
  • R1 – Round 1 (Group Stage)
  •  ••  – Was not invited to qualifying
  •  •  – Did not qualify
  •    – Hosts
Team
1995

2000
2008



2013


2017
2021		 Total
 Australia 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st Q 16
 Cook Islands •• R1 • R1 • Q 3
 England 2nd SF SF SF 2nd Q 7
 Fiji R1 R1 SF SF SF Q 6
 France R1 QF R1 QF R1 Q 15
 Greece •• •• •• •• • Q 1
 Ireland •• QF QF R1 R1 Q 4
 Italy •• • •• R1 R1 Q 2
 Jamaica •• •• •• • • Q 1
 Lebanon •• R1 • • QF Q 3
 New Zealand SF 2nd 1st 2nd QF Q 16
 Aotearoa Māori^ •• R1 •• •• •• •• 1
 Papua New Guinea R1 QF R1 R1 QF Q 8
 Russia •• R1 • • • • 1
 Samoa R1 QF R1 QF QF Q 6
 Scotland •• R1 R1 QF R1 Q 4
 South Africa R1 R1 •• • • • 2
 Tonga R1 R1 R1 R1 SF Q 6
 United States •• • • QF R1 • 2
 Wales SF SF • R1 R1 Q 5

^ - Aotearoa Māori weren't a national team, but a representative side made up of players with Māori heritage.

Team appearances by continent
Continent
1995

2000
2008

2013


2017
2021		 Total
Africa 1 1 2
Americas 1 1 1 3
Asia 1 1 1 3
Europe 3 6 4 6 6 7 32
Oceania 6 7 5 7 6 7 38

Team debuts

19 teams have participated in the World Cup. Between 1954 and 1972 and 1977 to 1992, England, Wales and Scotland were represented by Great Britain. From 1995 onwards Great Britain only played in test series and England, Scotland and Wales all represented themselves at major tournaments.

Year Nation(s) Total Cumulative Total
1954  Great Britain
 France
 Australia
 New Zealand		 4 4
1957 None 0
1960 None 0
1968 None 0
1970 None 0
1972 None 0
1975  Wales
 England		 2 6
1977 None 0
1985-88  Papua New Guinea 1 7
1989-92 None 0
1995  Fiji
 South Africa
 Tonga
 Samoa		 4 11
2000  Cook Islands
 Lebanon
 Ireland
 Russia
 Scotland
 Aotearoa Māori		 6 17
2008 None 0
2013  Italy
 United States		 2 19
2017 None 0
2021  Greece
 Jamaica		 2 21

Results of host nations

Only Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain have won the World Cup. England hosted the 1960 and 1970 editions of the World Cup but were represented as part of Great Britain until 1995

Year Host nation Finish
1954  France Runners Up
1957  Australia Champions
1960  England Did not enter
1968  Australia Champions
 New Zealand 4th
1970  England Did not enter
1972  France 3rd
1975 Multiple N/A
1977  Australia Champions
 New Zealand 3rd
1985-88 Multiple N/A
1989-92 Multiple N/A
1995  England Runners Up
2000  England Semi Final
 Scotland Group Stage
 Wales Quarter Final
 Ireland Quarter Final
 France Quarter Final
2008  Australia Runners Up
2013  England Semi Final
 Wales Group Stage
2017  Australia Champions
 New Zealand Quarter Final
 Papua New Guinea Quarter Final
2021  England

Results of defending champions and runners-up

The defending World Cup champions and runners-up have always automatically qualified for the following event. However, just once has the champion not played in the following edition. That was in 1975, when England and Wales took Great Britain's place.

Year Defending champions Finish Defending runners-up Finish
1957  Great Britain Runners-up  France 4th place
1960  Australia Runners-up  Great Britain Champions
1968  Great Britain 3rd Place  Australia Champions
1970  Australia Champions  France 3rd Place
1972  Australia Runners-up  Great Britain Champions
1975  Great Britain Did not enter  Australia Champions
1977  Australia Champions  England Did not enter
1985–1988  Australia Champions  Great Britain 3rd Place
1989–1992  Australia Champions  New Zealand 3rd Place
1995  Australia Champions  Great Britain Did not enter
2000  Australia Champions  England Semi Finals
2008  Australia Runners-up  New Zealand Champions
2013  New Zealand Runners-up  Australia Champions
2017  Australia Champions  New Zealand Quarter Finals
2021  Australia  England

Droughts

This section is a list of droughts associated with the participation of national rugby league in Rugby League World Cups.

Longest active World Cup appearance droughts

Does not include teams that have not yet made their first appearance or teams that no longer exist. Updated until qualification of the 2021 World Cup.

Team Last appearance WC Missed
 South Africa 2000 4
 Russia 2000 4
 United States 2017 1

See also

References
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