Rugby League World Cup 2017: Group draw, fixture schedule, kick-off times, results, group standings, TV coverage and squads

England are bidding to win their first ever Rugby League World Cup over the next couple of months but it will be a tall order, with hot favourites Australia on home soil.

As usual, it's expected to be a three-way battle between the Kangaroos, England and New Zealand for the title while the other competing nations out to spring a surprise or two are Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Lebanon, USA and Italy.

Here we have the fixture schedule, kick-off times, results, group standings venues, the Sky Bet odds and details of how to follow the tournament on TV.

Rugby League World Cup: Fixtures, results & standings

• To ensure every team plays three matches in the group stage, there are three inter-group matches between teams in Groups C and D. These are shown in italics and are listed twice - once under each group.
• The top three teams from Groups A and B will qualify for the quarter-finals but only the top team in Groups C and D will progress.

Group A

Australia P 3 W 3 D 0 L 0 F 104 A 10 Pts 6 PD +60
England P 3 W 2 D 0 L 1 F 69 A 34 Pts 2 PD +35
Lebanon P 3 W 1 D 0 L 2 F 39 A 81 Pts 2 PD -42
France P 3 W 0 D 0 L 3 F 30 A 117 Pts 0 PD -87

• Australia 18-4 England
  Venue: Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
  TV Channel: BBC & Premier Sports
• France 18-29 Lebanon
  Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra
  TV Channel: FreeSports
• Australia 52-6 France
  Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• England 29-10 Lebanon
  Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
  TV Channel: BBC & Premier Sports
• Australia 34-0 Lebanon
  Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• England 36-6 France
  Venue: Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
  TV Channel: BBC & Premier Sports

Group B

Tonga P 3 W 3 D 0 L 0 F 110 A 44 Pts 6 PD +66
N Zealand P 3 W 2 D 0 L 1 F 134 A 42 Pts 4 PD +92
Samoa P 3 W 0 D 1 L 2 F 38 A 82 Pts 0 PD -44
Scotland P 3 W 0 D 1 L 2 F 22 A 136 Pts 0 PD -120

• New Zealand 38-8 Samoa
  Venue: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Scotland 4-50 Tonga
  Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• New Zealand 74-6 Scotland
  Venue: Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Samoa 18-32 Tonga
  Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• New Zealand 22-28 Tonga
  Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Samoa 14-14 Scotland
  Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
  TV Channel: Premier Sports

Group C

PNG P 3 W 3 D 0 L 0 F 128 A 12 Pts 6 PD +116
Ireland P 3 W 2 D 0 L 1 F 76 A 32 Pts 4 PD +44
Wales P 3 W 0 D 0 L 3 F 18 A 156 Pts 0 PD -138

• Papua New Guinea 50-6 Wales
  Venue: Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Ireland 36-12 Italy
  Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Papua New Guinea 14-6 Ireland
  Venue: Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Fiji 72-6 Wales
  Venue: Townsville Stadium, Townsville
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Papua New Guinea 64-0 USA
  Venue: Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Ireland 34-6 Wales
  Venue: Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
  TV Channel: Premier Sports

Group D

Fiji P 3 W 3 D 0 L 0 F 168 A 28 Pts 6 PD +140
Italy P 3 W 1 D 0 L 2 F 68 A 74 Pts 2 PD -6
USA P3 W 0 D 0 L 3 F 12 A 168 Pts 0 PD -156

• Fiji 58-12 USA
  Venue: Townsville Stadium, Townsville
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Ireland 36-12 Italy
  Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Italy 46-0 USA
  Venue: Townsville Stadium, Townsville
  TV Channel: FreeSports
• Fiji 72-6 Wales
  Venue: Townsville Stadium, Townsville
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Fiji 38-10 Italy
  Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Papua New Guinea 64-0 USA
  Venue: Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
  TV Channel: Premier Sports

Quarter-finals

• Australia 46-0 Samoa
  Venue: Darwin Stadium, Darwin
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• Tonga 24-22 Lebanon
  Venue: Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• New Zealand 2-4 Fiji
  Venue: Regional Stadium, Wellington
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• England 36-6 Papua New Guinea
  Venue: Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
  TV Channel: Premier Sports & BBC

Semi-finals

• Australia 54-6 Fiji
  Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
  TV Channel: Premier Sports
• England 20-18 Tonga
  Venue: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
  TV Channel: Premier Sports & BBC One

Final

• Australia 6-0 England
  Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
  TV Channel: Premier Sports & BBC One

TV coverage

Every game will be televised live in the UK on Premier Sports with the exception of France v Lebanon and Italy v USA which will be shown on FreeSports (these are played concurrently with others being screened on Premier Sports).

The BBC will also have live coverage of every England match, one semi-final and the final.

Betting odds

Australia are heavy favourites at just 1/4 with our betting partners Sky Bet.

New Zealand come next in the market at 7/1, with England the subject of a Price Boost from 7/1 to 9/1.

Tonga have been talked up in places after securing the services of some high-profile NRL stars and they are 16/1. It's 40/1 bar.

Click here for all of Sky Bet's World Cup odds.

Prices correct as at 0840 BST on 24/10/17.

Betting tips

Our resident rugby league expert is two-time Super League-winning coach Ian Millward and he's joined us to provide this team-by-team guide to the action.

Millward, who will be acting as a TV pundit during the tournament, has a 22/1 shot among four selections for the tournament as a whole.

Click here to read his full verdict.

World Cup 2017 squads

Australia squad

• Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Penrith Panthers)
• Will Chambers (Melbourne Storm)
• Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters)
• Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
• Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
• Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos)
• Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks)
• Valentine Holmes (Cronulla Sharks)
• Ben Hunt (Brisbane Broncos)
• Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm)
• David Klemmer (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• James Maloney (Cronulla Sharks)
• Josh Mansour (Penrith Panthers)
• Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos)
• Jordan McLean (Melbourne Storm)
• Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm)
• Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
• Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm)
• Jake Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Tom Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)

Coach: Mal Meninga

More on Australia's squad announcement

England squad

• John Bateman (Wigan Warriors)
• Kevin Brown (Warrington Wolves)
• Sam Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Thomas Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)
• Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers)
• James Graham (St George Illawarra)
• Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos)
• Chris Heighington (Cronulla Sharks)
• Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves)
• Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders)
• Jonny Lomax (St Helens)
• Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants)
• Mike McMeeken (Castleford Tigers)
• Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan Warriors)
• Mark Percival (St Helens)
• Stefan Ratchford (Warrington Wolves)
• James Roby (St Helens)
• Scott Taylor (Hull)
• Alex Walmsley (St Helens)
• Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)
• Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders)
• Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• George Williams (Wigan Warriors)

Coach: Wayne Bennett

More on England's squad announcement

France squad

• Bastien Ader (Toulouse Olympique)
• Olivier Arnaud (SO Avignon XIII)
• Lucas Albert (Catalans Dragons)
• Jason Baitieri (Catalans Dragons)
• William Barthau (Toulouse Olympique)
• Guillaume Bonnet (SO Avignon XIII)
• Julian Bousquet (Catalans Dragons)
• Clement Boyer (Toulouse Olympique)
• Damien Cardace (FC Lezignan)
• Nabil Djalout (Catalans Dragons)
• Theo Fages (St Helens)
• John Boudebza (London Harlequins)
• Benjamin Garcia (Catalans Dragons)
• Maxime Herold (XIII Limouxin)
• Benjamin Jullien (Warrington Wolves)
• Mark Keirallah (Toulouse Olympique)
• Thibault Margalet (Catalans Dragons)
• Anthony Maria (Toulouse Olympique)
• Hakim Miloudi (Doncaster/Hull FC)
• Roman Navarette (Catalans Dragons)
• Eloi Pelissier (Leigh Centurions)
• Mickael Rouch (XIII Limouxin)
• Gadwin Springer (Castleford Tigers)
• Fouad Yaha (Catalans Dragons)

Coach: Aurelien Cologni

More on France's squad announcement

Lebanon squad

• Danny Barakat (Wentworthville)
• Jamie Clark (Auburn Warriors)
• Adam Doueihi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• James Elias (West Newcastle)
• Ahmad Ellaz (Auburn Warriors)
• Robbie Farah (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Nick Kassis (Blacktown Workers)
• Andrew Kazzi (Wests Tigers)
• Anthony Layoun (Parramatta Eels)
• Michael Lichaa (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Mitchell Mamary (Wentworthville)
• Bilal Maarbani (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Tim Mannah (Parramatta Eels)
• Abbas Miski (North Sydney)
• Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)
• Ray Moujalli (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Reece Robinson (unattached)
• Travis Robinson (Newtown)
• Chris Saab (Blacktown Workers)
• Raymond Sabat (Lycans FC)
• Jaleel Seve-Derbas (Wests Tigers)
• Elias Sukkar (Wentworthville)
• Alex Twal (Wests Tigers)
• Jason Wehbe (unattached)

Coach: Brad Fittler

New Zealand squad

• Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm)
• Gerard Beale (Cronulla Sharks)
• Adam Blair (Brisbane Broncos)
• Kenneath Bromwich (Melbourne Storm)
• Addin Fonua-Blake (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Peta Hiku (Warrington Wolves)
• Shaun Johnson (New Zealand Warriors)
• Thomas Leuluai (Wigan Warriors)
• Danny Levi (Newcastle Knights)
• Isaac Liu (Sydney Roosters)
• Simon Mannering (New Zealand Warriors)
• Te Maire Martin (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Kodi Nikorima (Brisbane Broncos)
• Russell Packer (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Jordan Rapana (Canberra Raiders)
• Brad Takairangi (Parramatta Eels)
• Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders)
• Martin Taupau (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Elijah Taylor (Wests Tigers)
• Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand Warriors)
• Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters)
• Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith Panthers)
• Dean Whare (Penrith Panthers)

Coach: David Kidwell

More on New Zealand's squad announcement

Samoa squad

• Bunty Afoa (New Zealand Warriors)
• Leeson Ah Mau (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Faámanu Brown (Cronulla Sharks)
• Herman Ese’ese (Brisbane Broncos)
• Pita Godinet (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Tim Lafai (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Joey Leilua (Canberra Raiders)
• Ricky Leutele (Cronulla Sharks)
• Sam Lisone (New Zealand Warriors)
• Jarmoine Luai (Penrith Panthers)
• Suaia Matagi (Parramatta Eels)
• Peter Mata’utia (Newcastle Knights)
• Ken Maumalo (New Zealand Warriors)
• Zane Musgrave (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
• Joseph Paulo (Cronulla Sharks)
• Junior Paulo (Canberra Raiders)
• Frank Pritchard (Parramatta Eels)
• Ben Roberts (Castleford Tigers)
• Sam Tagataese (Cronulla Sharks)
• Jazz Tevaga (New Zealand Warriors)
• Young Tonumaipea (Melbourne Storm)
• Frank Winterstein (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Matthew Wright (Manly Sea Eagles)

Coach: Matt Parish

Scotland squad

• Danny Addy (Hull KR)
• Jarred Anderson (Sydney Roosters)
• James Bell (New Zealand Warriors)
• Andrew Bentley (Toulouse Olympique)
• Kane Bentley (Toulouse Olympique)
• Ryan Brierley (Toronto Wolfpack)
• Sam Brooks (Featherstone Rovers)
• Danny Brough (Huddersfield Giants)
• Luke Douglas (St Helens)
• Dale Ferguson (Huddersfield Giants)
• Ben Hellewell (London Broncos)
• Ben Kavanagh (Hull KR)
• Frankie Mariano (Featherstone Rovers)
• Kieran Moran (Hull KR)
• Callum Phillips (Workington Town)
• Matthew Russell (Warrington Wolves)
• David Scott (Batley Bulldogs)
• Lachlan Stein (Penrith Panthers)
• Lewis Tierney (Wigan Warriors)
• Oscar Thomas (Bradford Bulls)
• Shane Toal (Barrow Raiders)
• Alex Walker (London Broncos)
• Johnny Walker (Darlington Point Roosters)
• Brandan Wilkinson (Bradford Bulls)

Coach: Steve McCormack

More on Scotland's squad announcement

Tonga squad

• Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
• Mahe Fonua (Hull FC)
• David Fusitu’a (New Zealand Warriors)
• Siliva Havili (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Ata Hingano (New Zealand Warriors)
• Will Hopoate (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Konrad Hurrell (Gold Coast Titans)
• Michael Jennings (Parramatta Eels)
• Solomone Kata (New Zealand Warriors)
• Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
• Samisoni Langi (Leigh Centurions)
• Tuimoala Lolohea (Wests Tigers)
• Sika Manu (Hull FC)
• Manu Ma'u (Parramatta Eels)
• Sam Moa (Catalans Dragons)
• Ben Murdoch Masila (Salford Red Devils)
• Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)
• Tevita Pangai jnr (Brisbane Broncos)
• Ukuma Ta'ai (Huddersfield Giants)
• Sio Siua Taukieaho (Sydney Roosters)
• Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Peni Terepo (Parramatta Eels)
• Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
• Manu Vatuvei (Salford Red Devils).

Coach: Kristian Woolf

Papua New Guinea squad

• Paul Aiton (Catalans Dragons)
• Stanton Albert (SP PNG Hunters)
• Wellington Albert (SP PNG Hunters)
• Stargroth Amean (SP PNG Hunters)
• Kurt Baptiste (Canberra Raiders)
• Ase Boas (SP PNG Hunters)
• Watson Boas (SP PNG Hunters)
• Rod Griffin (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Lachlan Lam (Sydney Roosters)
• Garry Lo (Sheffield Eagles)
• Enock Maki (SP PNG Hunters)
• Rhys Martin (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• David Mead (Brisbane Broncos)
• Willie Minoga (SP PNG Hunters)
• Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm)
• Kato Ottio (Canberra Raiders)
• Nene MacDonald (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Moses Meninga (SP PNG Hunters)
• Luke Page (Burleigh Bears)
• Wartovo Puara Jnr (SP PNG Hunters)
• Nixon Put (SP PNG Hunters)
• James Segeyaro (Cronulla Sharks)
• Thompson Teteh (Redcliffe Dolphins)

Coach: Michael Marum

More on PNG's squad announcement

Wales squad

• Danny Ansell (Hunslet)
• Matty Barron (Newcastle Thunder)
• Gavin Bennion (Rochdale Hornets)
• Joe Burke (Oldham)
• Chester Butler (Halifax)
• Michael Channing (London Broncos)
• Courtney Davies (Gloucestershire All Golds)
• Ben Evans (London Broncos)
• Matty Fozard (Sheffield Eagles)
• Andrew Gay (South Wales Ironmen)
• Regan Grace (St Helens)
• Dalton Grant (London Broncos)
• Sam Hopkins (Leigh Centurions)
• Phil Joseph (Workington Town)
• Elliot Kear (London Broncos)
• Morgan Knowles (St Helens)
• Craig Kopczak (Salford Red Devils)
• Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions)
• Ben Morris (St Helens)
• Steve Parry (Gloucestershire All Golds)
• Josh Ralph (Tweed Head Seagulls)
• Christiaan Roets (South Wales Ironmen)
• Matty Seamark (Wynnum Manly Seagulls)
• Rhys Williams (London Broncos)

Coach: John Kear

Ireland squad

• Kyle Amor (St Helens)
• Ed Chamberlain (Widnes Vikings)
• Casey Dunne (Longhorns RL)
• Liam Finn (Wakefield Trinity)
• Scott Grix (Wakefield Trinity)
• Matty Hadden (Rochdale Hornets)
• James Hasson (Wakefield Trinity)
• Jack Higginson (Wigan Warriors)
• Will Hope (Sheffield Eagles)
• Liam Kay (Toronto Wolfpack)
• James Kelly (Sheffield Eagles)
• Joe Keyes (Bradford Bulls)
• George King (Warrington Wolves)
• Tyrone McCarthy (Salford City Reds)
• Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook (St. Helens)
• Shannon McDonnell (Camden Rams)
• Micky McIlorum (Wigan Warriors)
• Alan McMahon (Waterford Vikings)
• Michael Morgan (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Anthony Mullally (Leeds Rhinos)
• Api Pewhairangi (London Broncos)
• Joe Philbin (Warrington Wolves)
• Oliver Roberts (Huddersfield Giants)
• Brad Singleton (Leeds Rhinos)

Coach: Mark Aston

Fiji squad

• Kane Evans (Sydney Roosters)
• Salesi Faingaa (Parramatta Eels)
• Jarryd Hayne (Gold Coast Titans)
• Tui Kamikamica (Melbourne Storm/SC Falcons)
• Villiame Kikau (Penrith Panthers)
• Apisai Koroisau (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Joe Lovadua (St George-Illawarra Dragons)
• Henry Raiwalui (Mounties RLFC)
• Taane Milne (St George-Illawarra Dragons/Illawarra RLFC)
• Sitiveni Moceidreke (South Sydney Rabbitohs/North Sydney Bears)
• Marcelo Montoya (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Kevin Naiqama (Wests Tigers)
• Ben Nakubuwai (Gold Coast Titans/Tweed Heads Seagulls)
• Mikaele Ravalawa (Canberra Raiders)
• Junior Roqica (London Broncos)
• Jacob Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
• Ashton Sims (Warrington Wolves)
• Korbin Sims (Brisbane Broncos)
• Pio Seci (Nabua Broncos)
• James Storer (Port Kembla Blacks)
• Akuila Uate (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Eloni Vunakece (Sydney Roosters/ Wyong Roos)
• Suliasi Vunivalu (Melbourne Storm)
• Brayden Wiliame (Catalans Dragons)

Coach: Mick Potter

USA squad

• Jonathan Taylor Alley (Central Florida Warriors)
• Ryan Burroughs (Toronto Wolfpack)
• Charles ‘CJ' Cortalano (White Plains Wombats)
• Joseph Eichner (Toronto Wolfpack)
• Bureta Faraimo (New Zealand Warriors)
• Gabriel Farley (Philadelphia Fight)
• Kristian Freed (White Plains Wombats)
• Daniel Howard (Wentworthville Magpies)
• Stephen Howard (Mounties)
• Martwain Johnston (Delaware Black Foxes)
• Andrew Kneisly (Philadelphia Fight)
• Corey Makelim (Mounties)
• Fotukava ‘Hiko' Malu (Atlanta Rhinos)
• David Marando (Belrose Eagles)
• Nicholas Newlin (Atlanta Rhinos)
• Mark Offerdahl (London Broncos)
• Edward Pettybourne (Tweed Heads Seagulls)
• Joshua Rice (New York Knights)
• Matthew Shipway (South Newcastle)
• Samuel Tochtermann-Talbott (Tweed Heads Seagulls)
• David Ulch (Tampa Mayhem)
• Taioalo Junior Vaivai (Illawarra Wests Devils)
• Matthew Walsh (White Plains Wombats)

Coach: Brian McDermott

Italy squad

• Daniel Alvaro (Parramatta Eels)
• Mirco Bergamasco (Leoni Veneti)
• Nathan Brown (Parramatta Eels)
• Christophe Calegari (Palau XIII Broncos)
• Terry Campese (Queanbeyan Blues)
• Justin Castellaro (Northern Pride)
• Gioele Celerino (Saluzzo NWR/Tully Tigers)
• Chris Centrone (Wyong Roos)
• Mason Cerruto (Penrith Panthers/St Marys)
• Ryan Ghietti (Northern Pride)
• Gavin Hiscox (Central Queensland Capras)
• Jack Johns (Newcastle Knights)
• Richard Lepori (Oldham)
• Josh Mantellato (Wyong Roos)
• Mark Minichiello (Hull FC)
• Nathan Milone (Wests Tigers)
• Joel Riethmuller (Northern Pride)
• Brenden Santi (Sydney Roosters/Wyong Roos)
• James Tedesco (Wests Tigers)
• Joe Tramontana (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Jayden Walker (Cronulla Sharks)
• Colin Wilkie (Northern Pride)
• Shannon Wakeman (Huddersfield Giants)

Coach: Cameron Ciraldo