With the next instalment of the International Rugby League (IRL) World Cup set to kick off in Australia in 2026, South Africa stands a chance to qualify for the tournament via the 2025 IRL World Series, Cape {town} Etc reports.
2026 will define not only South Africa’s momentum in the build-up to hosting the event in 2030 but also the future of rugby league worldwide as a whole.
Also read: IRL Rugby League: SA bids to host next World Cups
The World Cup event will ‘write its next chapter’ when the 17th staging of the Rugby League World Cup will be played in Australia and Papua New Guinea in 2026.
The 2026 World Cup will be in the format of a festival of world cups with men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments.
From 2026 onwards, the events will become more standalone with the Women’s World Cup in 2028, the Wheelchair World Cup in 2029 and the Men’s World Cup next in 2030.
The men’s tournament is set to feature 12 teams, with 10 teams that have already qualified and a further two qualifying via the 2025 IRL World Series.
South Africa can qualify via the World Series Pathway, where both the winner and runner-up will head to Australia and Papua New Guinea.
South Africa will be up against the Cook Islands, Jamaica, France, Serbia, Wales and Ukraine.
The final qualifier for the World Series will be determined in the European Qualifying Tournament, which will take place later this year in France.
South Africa has submitted a proposal in the meantime for the 2025 IRL World Series to be hosted by South Africa, at a venue to be confirmed.
‘Hosting the IRL World Series in 2025 not only shows local supporters great rugby league, it also positions South Africa as a premier destination for sport events and can be a great advertisement of our capabilities to showcase what we can do,’ said Chris Botes, bid director for the 2030 Men’s IRL World Cup bid by South Africa.
‘This is a great way to test our systems before the 2030 World Cup,’ Botes added.
‘We are excited about the prospect of the South African Rugby League qualifying for the 2026 World Cup during the 2025 Rugby League World Series,’ said Dr Frans Erasmus, Rugby League South Africa President.
‘Such an opportunity is crucial for stimulating and growing further interest in Rugby League in our sport-hungry nation. South Africa is eager to seize this chance and showcase our talent on the world stage,’ Erasmus added.
South Africa’s build-up to the tournament will see the national team, the Rhinos, take on the United States team. This series will see the US travel to South Africa for two matches in December in Gauteng.
The fixtures will also feature an ‘off-the-pitch rivalry’ as the two potential hosts for the 2030 World Cup are going head-to-head for the first time since the bids were announced in August.
‘Having the opportunity to host the Hawks has created an exciting vibe among club coaches and players already, and they are a great help to scouting and development,’ said Fanie Bredenhann, Rhinos men’s head coach.
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