Rugby League World Cup: Who are the current RLWC champions?

The postponed 2021 Rugby League World Cup has provided some gripping moments in the past few weeks — and the best is perhaps yet to come.

Australia edged New Zealand in the first semi-final to secure their spot at next week's showpiece at Old Trafford in Manchester. They will face Samoa in the decider, who defeated host nation England in London. 

Who are the current RLWC champions?

The reigning Rugby League World Cup champions are Australia, who claimed a record-extending 11th title when they defeated England in a taut 6-0 encounter on home soil at Brisbane's Lang Park in December 2017.

Sydney Roosters second-row Boyd Cordner scored the only try of the game for the hosts, a quarter-hour into the first half, while Leeds Rhinos centre Kallum Watkins was famously ankle-tapped with a clear field ahead in the second half as the visitors sought to strike back.

It remains the lowest-scoring Rugby League World Cup Final in history, and saw the Kangaroos defend the crown they had won in the previous tournament, in 2013, when they defeated New Zealand in a 2-34 demolition job at Old Trafford.

Who are the favourites to win the RLWC?

Despite slipping to fourth in the world rankings — in part due to a serious dearth of international action over the past few years — Australia were the odds-on favourites to defend their title before the tournament began.

World number one New Zealand were a close second behind the Kangaroos, before England rounded out the top three, with Samoa and Tonga — both littered with NRL superstars among their ranks — close behind.

Who has won the Rugby League World Cup before?

⁽¹⁾: No final was played. Champions were decided by round-robin group stage result.
⁽²⁾: After extra-time. Great Britain were crowned champions by virtue of a better group stage result.