JAMAICA HAVE been drawn against New Zealand, Lebanon and Ireland when they make their Rugby League World Cup debut next year in England.

Hosts England have been drawn alongside Samoa, France and Greece in the group stage of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

England will play Samoa in the opening match of the tournament at St James’ Park, Newcastle on 23 October. The Duke of Sussex, Jason Robinson and Dame Katherine Grainger conducted Thursday’s draw at Buckingham Palace.

Known as the Reggae Warriors, Jamaica will make their bow having failed to qualify on two occasions previously in 2013 and 2017. They will become the second nation from the Americas region to play in the World Cup after United States first took part in 2013

The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle event in international rugby league. Like no other form of the game, players compete with the pride of their nation at the heart of every performance. 

In 2021 more teams than ever will compete to be crowned Rugby League World Cup champions with four pools of four nations competing in 17 stadia across England.

All quarter finalists from the preceding World Cup (RLWC2017) automatically qualified to compete. The remaining eight nations were decided by a qualification process based on global regions determined by International Rugby League .