National team appearances at Rugby League World Cups explained

This article shows all the teams that have participated in the Rugby League World Cup and the results of those teams.

Team appearances by tournament

1954–1992: group format

Legend

– Champions
– Runners-up
GS – Group stage
– Hosts

1954	1957	1960	1968	1970	1972	1975	1977	1985-88	1989-92	Total
GS	1st	2nd	1st	1st	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	10
—	—	—	—	—	—	2nd	—	—	—	1
2nd	GS	GS	2nd	GS	GS	GS	GS	GS	GS	10
1st	2nd	1st	GS	2nd	1st	—	2nd	GS	2nd	9
GS	GS	GS	GS	GS	GS	GS	GS	2nd	GS	10
—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	GS	GS	2
—	—	—	—	—	—	GS	—	—	—	1

1995–onwards: knockout format

Legend

– Champions
– Runners-up
– Semi-final
QF – Quarterfinals (knockout round of 8)
R1 – Round 1 (group stage)
– Was not invited to qualifying
– Did not qualify
– Hosts

Team	1995	2000	2008	2013	2017	2021	Total
	1st	1st	2nd	1st	1st	1st	16
	••	R1	•	R1	•	R1	3
	2nd	SF	SF	SF	2nd	SF	7
	R1	R1	SF	SF	SF	QF	6
	R1	QF	R1	QF	R1	R1	16
	••	••	••	••	•	R1	1
	••	QF	QF	R1	R1	R1	5
	••	•	••	R1	R1	R1	3
	••	••	••	•	•	R1	1
	••	R1	•	•	QF	QF	3
	SF	2nd	1st	2nd	QF	SF	16
^	••	R1	••	••	••	••	1
	R1	QF	R1	R1	QF	QF	8
	••	R1	•	•	•	•	1
	R1	QF	R1	QF	QF	2nd	6
	••	R1	R1	QF	R1	R1	5
	R1	R1	••	•	•	•	2
	R1	R1	R1	R1	SF	QF	6
	••	•	•	QF	R1	•	2
	SF	SF	•	R1	R1	R1	6

^ - Aotearoa Māori weren't a national team, but a representative side made up of players with Māori heritage.

Team appearances by continent

Continent	1995	2000	2008	2013	2017	2021	Total
Africa	1	1					2
Americas				1	1	1	3
Asia		1			1	1	3
Europe	3	6	4	6	6	7	32
Oceania	6	7	5	7	6	7	38

Team debuts

19 teams have participated in the World Cup. Between 1954 and 1972 and 1977 to 1992, England, Wales and Scotland were represented by Great Britain. From 1995 onwards Great Britain only played in test series and England, Scotland and Wales all represented themselves at major tournaments.

width=65px	Year	Nation(s)	Total	Cumulative total
1954		4	4
1957	None	0
1960	None	0
1968	None	0
1970	None	0
1972	None	0
1975		2	6
1977	None	0
1985-88		1	7
1989-92	None	0
1995		4	11
2000		6	17
2008	None	0
2013		2	19
2017	None	0
2021		2	21

Results of host nations

Only Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain have won the World Cup. England hosted the 1960 and 1970 editions of the World Cup but were represented as part of Great Britain until 1995

Year	Host nation	Finish
1954		bgcolor=silver	Runners Up
1957		bgcolor=gold	Champions
1960		Did not enter
1968		bgcolor=gold	Champions
1968		4th
1970		Did not enter
1972		3rd
1975	Multiple	N/A
1977		bgcolor=gold	Champions
1977		3rd
1985-88	Multiple	N/A
1989-92	Multiple	N/A
1995		bgcolor=silver	Runners Up
2000		bgcolor=lightblue	Semi-final
		Group stage
		bgcolor=lightgreen	Quarter-final
		bgcolor=lightgreen	Quarter-final
		bgcolor=lightgreen	Quarter-final
2008		bgcolor=silver	Runners Up
2013		bgcolor=lightblue	Semi-final
		Group stage
		bgcolor=lightgreen	Quarter-final
		Group Stage
2017		bgcolor=gold	Champions
		bgcolor=lightgreen	Quarter-final
		bgcolor=lightgreen	Quarter-final
2021		bgcolor=lightblue	Semi-final

Results of defending champions and runners-up

The defending World Cup champions and runners-up have always automatically qualified for the following event. However, just once has the champion not played in the following edition. That was in 1975, when England and Wales took Great Britain's place.

Year	Finish	Finish
1957	Runners-up	4th place
1960	Runners-up	Champions
1968	3rd Place	Champions
1970	Champions	3rd Place
1972	Runners-up	Champions
1975	Did not enter	Champions
1977	Champions	Did not enter
1985–1988	Champions	3rd Place
1989–1992	Champions	3rd Place
1995	Champions	Did not enter
2000	Champions	Semi-finals
2008	Runners-up	Champions
2013	Runners-up	Champions
2017	Champions	Quarter-finals
2021	Champions	Semi-finals

Droughts

This section is a list of droughts associated with the participation of national rugby league in Rugby League World Cups.

Longest active World Cup appearance droughts

Does not include teams that have not yet made their first appearance or teams that no longer exist. Updated until qualification of the 2021 World Cup.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "National team appearances at Rugby League World Cups".

!Team!Last appearance!WC Missed
	2000	4
	2000	4
	2017	1