Rugby League World Cup 2026 starts on Channel 7: opening-week times by city – The Kangaroos meet New Zealand on Thursday, 15 October as the Rugby League World Cup 2026 begins, with Channel 7, 7mate and 7plus carrying the opening game live. Seven has now confirmed the first week’s market-by-market channel and coverage times, including earlier afternoon starts for Perth viewers.
For fans planning around the opener, the key distinction is between pre-game coverage and the match broadcast. Sydney and Melbourne get pre-game at 7.00pm AEDT and the match broadcast from 7.30pm. Brisbane starts on 7mate at 6.00pm AEST, Adelaide at 6.30pm ACDT and Perth at 4.00pm AWST. All three markets also have a live 7plus stream.
This one-day-to-go update adds the precise channel placement to TV Central’s full Rugby League World Cup 2026 viewing guide. The tournament runs through to 15 November, with 53 men’s, women’s and wheelchair matches available live and free.
Australia v New Zealand: Thursday, 15 October
| Market | Pre-game | Match broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney and Melbourne | 7.00pm on Channel 7 and 7plus | 7.30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus |
| Brisbane | 6.00pm on 7mate and 7plus | 6.30pm on 7mate and 7plus; from 6.55pm on Channel 7 and 7plus |
| Adelaide | 6.30pm on 7mate and 7plus | 7.00pm on Channel 7 and 7plus |
| Perth | 4.00pm on 7mate and 7plus | 4.30pm on 7mate and 7plus |
These are Seven’s coverage start times, not a separate claim about kick-off. The broadcast is listed as continuing into post-match analysis at 10.00pm AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne, 9.00pm AEST in Brisbane, 9.30pm ACDT in Adelaide and 7.00pm AWST in Perth.
Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has chosen Reece Walsh ahead of James Tedesco at fullback. Jack Bostock is set for a Test debut on one wing, with Tom Trbojevic on the other. The Kiwis’ side features Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai, while Jahrome Hughes returns at halfback for his first Test since 2023 and Kodi Nikorima lines up at five-eighth.
Opening weekend: every match and local coverage start
Seven’s opening-week schedule below covers the principal live match windows. All times are local to the listed market. Channel placement varies, so 7plus is the consistent streaming option across Australia.
| Day and match | Sydney/Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide | Perth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Oct: Samoa v France (men) | 5.00pm pre-game; 5.30pm match | 4.00pm pre-game; 4.30pm match | 4.30pm pre-game; 5.00pm match | 2.00pm pre-game; 2.30pm match |
| Fri 16 Oct: Australia v Samoa (women) | 7.45pm | 6.45pm | 7.15pm | 4.45pm |
| Sat 17 Oct: PNG v France (women) | 1.00pm | 12 noon | 12.30pm | 10.00am |
| Sat 17 Oct: PNG v Lebanon (men) | 3.00pm | 2.00pm | 2.30pm | 12 noon |
| Sat 17 Oct: England v Wales (women) | 5.15pm | 4.15pm | 4.45pm | 2.15pm |
| Sat 17 Oct: England v Tonga (men) | 7.30pm | 6.30pm | 7.00pm | 4.30pm |
| Sun 18 Oct: New Zealand v Fiji (women) | 1.00pm pre-game; 1.30pm match | 12 noon pre-game; 12.30pm match | 12.30pm pre-game; 1.00pm match | 10.00am pre-game; 10.30am match |
| Sun 18 Oct: Fiji v Cook Islands (men) | 3.30pm | 2.30pm | 3.00pm | 12.30pm |
On Saturday, the first two fixtures are on 7mate and 7plus in all four markets. England v Wales stays on 7mate and 7plus in the eastern markets, while Perth switches to Channel 7 from 3.00pm AWST. England v Tonga begins on Channel 7 in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth; Brisbane begins on 7mate before Channel 7 joins at 6.55pm AEST. Sunday’s games are on Channel 7 and 7plus in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, but on 7mate and 7plus in Perth.
Jillaroos debut and Seven’s opening-night team
Australia’s women open against Fetu Samoa at CommBank Stadium on Friday night. Jocelyn Kelleher is set to make her Jillaroos debut alongside Tarryn Aiken in the halves after the pair’s Roosters NRLW premiership. Jaime Chapman returns to Test football, and Shaylee Bent is set for her first Jillaroos appearance since the 2022 World Cup.
Mel McLaughlin and Matt White host Thursday’s opener. Andrew Voss calls the match, with Luke Keary and premiership-winning coach Trent Robinson providing expert analysis. Ryan Papenhuyzen contributes out-of-play analysis; Shaun Johnson and Jelisa Apps report from the sideline. David Riccio covers breaking news, while Emma Freedman reports on the stadium atmosphere.
For the Jillaroos match, McLaughlin and Voss are joined by Emma Verran and Brett Kimmorley in commentary, with Shontelle Stowers and Apps on the sideline. Robinson, also an assistant coach for France at the tournament, and injured Jillaroos player Yasmin Meakes provide out-of-play analysis after the Samoa-France men’s game.
The women’s and men’s tournaments continue through the weekend. The wheelchair competition begins on Friday, 30 October. Seven will also offer Triple M’s alternative commentary for 11 matches on 7plus, although the broadcaster has not identified all 11 fixtures in this opening-week schedule.
The Agenda Setters: Rugby League returns on Monday, 19 October with Corey Parker, Keary, Aaron Woods and Riccio reviewing the early tournament stories. Sydney and Brisbane get a 7.30pm 7mate/7plus screening, followed by an 11.00pm Channel 7/7plus screening; Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth are listed for 11.00pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Watch Channel 7’s World Cup preview
For the full five-week schedule and Australian fixture conversions, read TV Central’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide. The official public World Cup draw has the latest fixtures and venues.