England Opens Rugby League World Cup Against Tonga in Perth

TechRadar reported that England have reached the semi-finals or final in each of their seven World Cup campaigns. They lost to Samoa in the semi-finals on home soil four years ago and were beaten by Australia in the 2017 final, the last time the tournament was held Down Under. McDermott has left Mikey Lewis out of the squad, preferred Harry Smith at half-back, placed Jack Welsby on the bench, started NRL player AJ Brimson at full-back and given Wigan Warriors winger Zach Eckersley his international debut.

Tonga enter the match ranked fifth in the world. They lost 20-18 to England in the 2017 semi-final after a last-gasp try was controversially ruled out, which remains their best World Cup performance. Their squad includes half-back Isaiya Katoa and Tyson Frizell, who is representing a third nation at the World Cup after playing for Wales in 2013 and Australia four years later. Tonga have lost all six previous meetings with England.

The tournament format places England in Group B, whose three teams face the three sides in Group C and vice versa. England’s next two games are against France and Papua New Guinea, while Tonga will face Lebanon and Samoa, TechRadar reported.

Every match of the men’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 is being shown live on the free-to-air Seven Network and 7Plus in Australia, including England vs Tonga, according to the report. The 7mate channel will also carry live coverage on Australian television at no cost, and 7Plus viewers need to create an account using a valid Australian postcode. In the United States, Premier Sports is showing all 18 men’s matches, with a full tournament pass priced at $25. UK viewers can watch on Premier Sports 1, which costs £18.99 on a rolling monthly basis or £150 for a year if paid upfront, and can be added to Sky TV, Virgin Media or Prime Video plans. In New Zealand, Sky Sport NZ is carrying the match on Sky Sport 2, with access through satellite TV or a live stream; Sky Sport Now subscriptions start at NZ$29.99 per day or NZ$59.99 per month. Premier Sports also holds rights in Canada, the report said.

TechRadar said viewers outside their home country can use a VPN to access their usual stream and recommended NordVPN, which it said is available at up to 75% off with three extra months free.