Australia at the Rugby League World Cup
Every Rugby League World Cup appearance on record for Australia, aggregated from our full tournament archive.
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
Australia at the Rugby League World Cup: 16 appearances, 12 titles (1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1985-88, 1989-92, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2017, 2021).
Also confirmed for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
About Australia in rugby league
Known as the Kangaroos, Australia is by far the most successful nation in World Cup history, with 12 titles from 16 tournaments — no other country has won more than three. The Kangaroos reached every World Cup final between 1975 and 2017 (splitting into separate England/Wales/GB/NZ eras aside), a run of dominance rivalled by very few teams in any sport, and their green-and-gold jersey is one of international rugby league's most recognisable symbols. Australia's only World Cup final defeats in the tournament's history came in 1960, 1972 and 2008, and the Kangaroos have won every World Cup they have entered since 2013, extending their record further ahead of every other nation. Their depth of NRL-contracted talent means Australia enters almost every tournament as the outright favourite regardless of host nation, and the Kangaroos jersey is regarded by many players as rugby league's most prestigious international honour.
Sources
| Tournament | Host | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 Rugby League World Cup | France | Competed |
| 1957 Rugby League World Cup | Australia | Champion |
| 1960 Rugby League World Cup | Great Britain | Runner-up |
| 1968 Rugby League World Cup | Australia & New Zealand | Champion |
| 1970 Rugby League World Cup | England | Champion |
| 1972 Rugby League World Cup | France | Runner-up |
| 1975 Rugby League World Cup | No single host — matches played across Australia, England, France, New Zealand and Wales | Champion |
| 1977 Rugby League World Cup | Australia & New Zealand | Champion |
| 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup | Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, France & Papua New Guinea | Champion |
| 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup | Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand, France & Papua New Guinea | Champion |
| 1995 Rugby League World Cup | England & Wales | Champion |
| 2000 Rugby League World Cup | England, France, Ireland, Scotland & Wales | Champion |
| 2008 Rugby League World Cup | Australia | Runner-up |
| 2013 Rugby League World Cup | England, Wales, France & Ireland | Champion |
| 2017 Rugby League World Cup | Australia, New Zealand & Papua New Guinea | Champion |
| 2021 Rugby League World Cup | England | Champion |
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