Rugby League World Cup 2030 to be staged in Pacific-USA

International Rugby League has announced that the men's and women's 2030 Rugby League World Cup will be hosted across the Pacific and the United States. The tournament will adopt a 'Magic Round' format across five locations, moving to a new host city each week. Additionally, the IRL board endorsed elevating Tonga and Samoa to Men's Tier 1 status following their strong performances on and off the field.

The tournament will expand to 12 men's teams and 10 women's teams, while France is set to host the Wheelchair World Cup concurrently. International eligibility rules have also been broadened to include players with a great-grandparent born in a nation, following a submission from the Cook Islands.