Rugby League World Cup draws massive crowds and high TV ratings

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup saw significant engagement during a recent blockbuster weekend, with stadium attendances exceeding 120,000 across Australia and New Zealand. High-stakes double-headers featuring both men’s and women’s tournaments drove the crowds, notably at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, which hosted 41,108 spectators for the Australia versus Fiji match.

Other major attendance figures included 26,800 fans at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch for the New Zealand men’s match against the Cook Islands and the Kiwis’ women’s match against France. Friday night matches between Tonga and Lebanon, alongside Samoa and Wales, drew 25,065 supporters.

Television viewership also reached significant levels. The men’s Rugby League World Cup match between Tonga and Lebanon led Friday entertainment and sport, achieving a Total TV National Reach of 2,396,000 and a national average audience of 881,000.