BBC has lost coverage of another international sporting event, with the Rugby League World Cup 2026 moving off free-to-air TV and behind a paywall.
This year’s tournament in Australia, which runs from Wednesday 15 October to Sunday 15 November, will be shown live on Premier Sports, who have picked up the broadcast rights.
BBC has been the traditional home of the Rugby League World Cup for UK viewers, and showed all 61 games four years ago, but did not bid for the rights this time.
Australia are the defending champions of the men’s and women’s tournament, while England are the holders of the wheelchair tournament. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
That means no free-to-air coverage, so to catch the action from down under, fans will need to sign up for a Premier Sports subscription, which starts at £12.99 per month.
Premier Sports will show all 18 men’s World Cup matches live, England matches from the women’s and wheelchair tournaments, as well as the semi-finals and finals from both those tournaments.
“We are delighted to be bringing the Rugby League World Cup back to Premier Sports viewers, having previously broadcast the tournament in 2013 and 2017,” said CEO of Premier Sports Richard Sweeney.
“This is one of the major events in the international sporting calendar and we are looking forward to showing every match from the men’s tournament live, alongside extensive coverage of the IRL Women’s and Wheelchair tournaments.”
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The news follows the BBC losing coverage of the Commonwealth Games, which marked the end of a 72-year broadcast partnership, earlier this summer, and has been met by opposition.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has urged International Rugby League, the sport’s governing body, to do a deal that sees at least some games from the tournament on free-to-air TV in the UK.
She said: “Rugby league is a source of pride and identity that brings communities together across the country.
“As a fan myself, I wholeheartedly share fans’ disappointment that the upcoming World Cup will not be on free-to-air television. I urge the International Rugby League to work with UK free-to-air broadcasters, so the millions of fans can follow the tournament.”
Premier Sports has exclusive live broadcast rights for the Rugby League World Cup 2026, which begins on 15 October. Subscriptions start at £12.99 per month.
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