“It’s a joke”: Rugby League World Cup format blasted by exiled nations

Scotland winger Lachlan Walmsley and Italian forward Ryan King have criticized the reduced format of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. The tournament was cut from 16 to 10 nations, excluding teams such as Scotland, Italy, Wales, and Ireland. Walmsley labeled the setup a "joke" on social media following England's 82-0 victory over France, arguing that the exclusion of developing nations has damaged international rugby league.

King agreed with Walmsley, noting that the shortened competition deprives emerging players of crucial opportunities on the world stage. Their frustration followed a round of lopsided scorelines, including New Zealand defeating the Cook Islands 82-16 and Samoa beating Papua New Guinea 64-6. England coach Brian McDermott also expressed dissatisfaction with the three-team pool system, noting it leaves teams with little margin for error.