AMERICAS RLWCQ DRAW REVISED AFTER REMOVAL OF BRAZIL

18 Jun 2024

Canada, Jamaica and the United States will play in a revised women’s Americas Rugby League World Cup Qualifying tournament in November, following the removal of Brazil.

The USA will host Jamaica at North Florida University on November 6, as previously scheduled, with the winner to meet Canada in a play-off for the Americas berth at next year’s World Series on November 9.

On match day 1, Canada will play a friendly against USA Pioneers, who will play the loser of USA-Jamaica on match day 2.

The World Series, featuring a team from the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Middle East Africa, will determine the final place at RLWC2026 in the Southern Hemisphere.

The European RLWCQ tournament is currently underway, with Asia-Pacific and MEA qualifying matches to be played later this year.

The next two RLWC2026 finalists will be known on June 22, at the conclusion of the first phase of the European competition, with the current group leaders, France and Wales, in pole position to join Australia, England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, who have already qualified.

Brazil made their World Cup debut in England in 2022 and had committed to the Americas RLWCQ tournament last year.

However, the Confederacao Brasileira de Rugby League has been unable to confirm travel and other logistics around the tournament in Florida.

International Rugby League secretary general Danny Kazandjian said: "It is a shame that CBRL’s women’s programme has not benefitted from the world cup appearance.

"The pressure to undertake this qualification campaign, on what is still a very young organisation, was just too much, especially after the loss of an important sponsor.

"IRL has reached out to CBRL’s board of directors to work with them on strategy development, which we hope will include the cultivation of a Brazilian women’s competition, which is essential for sustainable growth.

"Canada, Jamaica and the USA are all experiencing growth in their domestic women’s programmes, and those clubs and competitions will ultimately lead to a bigger sport in their countries and stronger national teams.”