The Rugby League World Cup 2017 announced the draw for the tournament to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand and Papua New Guinea on Tuesday.

Melbourne Rectangular Stadium will host a blockbuster opening match of the RLWC2017, when the home nation – the Kangaroos – begin their campaign under lights against England on Friday, October 27. 

The World Cup Final will be decided at Brisbane Stadium on Saturday December 2, as the two finalists battle it out for the right to hold aloft the Paul Barrière trophy and claim the title of World Champions. 

With 11 teams already confirmed, the final three teams will come from the European Qualifying Tournament to be played in October and November this year. 

The pool structure reflects that of the successful 2013 Tournament. The composition of the pools for RLWC2017 were shaped by a number of considerations, including the final placings from the 2013 World Cup and current world rankings 

Pool A: Australia, England, France, Lebanon 
Pool B: New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, Tonga 
Pool C: Papua New Guinea,  European Qualifier 1, European Qualifier 2 
Pool D: Fiji, USA, European Qualifier 3