England's men's and women's rugby league teams have been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup, marking the first time in tournament history that neither side reaches the semi-finals.
The men's team, coached by Brian McDermott, won their final group match 34-12 against Papua New Guinea but needed a larger margin to advance. Their elimination will be confirmed unless Tonga beats Samoa by more than 46 points. The women's team lost 24-6 to Samoa in a decisive match.
McDermott had only six months to prepare after replacing Shaun Wane, with limited training sessions due to travel issues. The team faced a difficult opener against Tonga, losing 30-12. Injuries to key forwards like Matty Lees, Mike McMeeken, and Morgan Knowles further weakened the squad.
Women's coach Stuart Barrow fielded a youthful squad with 11 players aged 23 or under, many balancing full-time jobs. They suffered a 78-0 loss to Australia and lacked competitive matches against top southern hemisphere teams. Barrow called for greater investment in the women's game to match the growth of the NRLW.
Both coaches highlighted structural issues: the men's game lags behind the NRL, while the women's game needs more funding and a better international calendar. McDermott said the team made progress in difficult circumstances, but the tournament format and preparation left them chasing unrealistic winning margins.
