Rugby League Extends World Cup Heritage Eligibility
International Rugby League board unanimously lets players use great-grandparents to qualify for Rugby League World Cup teams.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Other Sports
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The International Rugby League board unanimously voted to extend heritage eligibility for the Rugby League World Cup from grandparents to great-grandparents. The stated aim is to future-proof the tournament.
Why it matters
Many families from smaller Pacific nations are migrating to Australia or New Zealand, so birthplace heritage may no longer stay in those nations. The change is intended to keep Pacific nations competitive for players born in Australia and New Zealand.
The rule change moves heritage eligibility from grandparents to great-grandparents, widening the pool of players for nations such as Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Lebanon. The number of eligible players affected has not been reported.
The players
Karmichael Hunt
Former Australian international rugby league player who now coaches the Cook Islands and was a major advocate for the eligibility change.
International Rugby League
The international governing body for rugby league that unanimously approved extending the heritage eligibility rule.
The details
Players were previously restricted to using parents and grandparents for heritage eligibility. Former Australian international Karmichael Hunt, now Cook Islands coach, lobbied for the change, expressing concern that the Cook Islands could run out of players.
Timeline
November 8, 2026: The International Rugby League board unanimously voted on the rule change.
2030: The Rugby League World Cup is reportedly being considered for hosting in Hawaii and Utah.
Season Trajectory
The change extends the existing rule that limited Rugby League World Cup eligibility to parents and grandparents, widening the pool for Pacific nations. It responds to migration of Pacific families to Australia and New Zealand, which has weakened birthplace-based ties to those islands.
Fans of Pacific nations may see rosters change as players with more distant family ties become eligible. Players with great-grandparents born in Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands, or Lebanon may now qualify to represent those nations.
The takeaway
Heritage rules in international sport are being adjusted as migration reshapes where players are born and raised. Fans should watch how the change affects national squads ahead of the 2030 tournament.
What happens next
The Rugby League World Cup could be hosted in Hawaii and Utah in 2030, pending confirmation.
Further reading
For more on international competitions and rule changes, explore Other Sports.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 7NEWS.
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