What channel is England v Tonga Rugby League World Cup 2026 match on? Kick-off time, TV details and live stream
England kick off their Men's Rugby League World Cup 2026 challenge against Tonga on Saturday.
It's a huge game for both sides as the new format leaves the six teams in Pool B and Pool C scrapping it out for just two semi-final spots.
Reaching the last four is the target for Brian McDermott's men, who head down under with few outside the dressing room believing they can mix it with the world's best.
They'll look to send an early message to the doubters but Tonga will come out firing as they look to boost their own hopes of reaching the knock-out stages.
Expect an explosive and physical start to the tournament for England, whose expansive style should entertain fans back home.
Radio Times has rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch England v Tonga on TV and online.
Read more: TV schedule | Meet the presenters | Why BBC has lost TV rights & free coverage speculation
England v Tonga will take place on Saturday 17 October 2026.
What time is England v Tonga kick-off?
England v Tonga will kick off at 10:05am.
Check out the Rugby League World Cup 2026 TV schedule with our comprehensive guide.
What TV channel is England v Tonga on?
The match will be shown live on Premier Sports 1.
Premier Sports has exclusive TV rights to this year's tournament, having replaced the BBC. The platform, which had the rights in 2013 and 2017, will show all 18 men's World Cup fixtures live, England matches from the women's and wheelchair tournaments, as well as the semi-finals and finals from both those tournaments.
A subscription is required and starts from £12.99 per month. Subscribers can tune in to Premier Sports on TV, online or on a variety of devices including laptops, smartphones and tablets via their app.
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How to live stream England v Tonga online
The match will be live streamed on Premier Sports Player.
Fans can tune in to watch all the action live and on the move via a range of devices, including smartphones and tablets.
Is England v Tonga on radio?
You can listen to the match on BBC Radio Sports Extra.
BBC Radio Sports Extra is available on DAB radio or you can tune into the station via most TV packages. You can also listen to BBC Radio Sports Extra online via the BBC website or BBC Sounds app.
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England v Tonga odds
In working partnership with the Radio Times, bet365 has provided the following betting odds for this event:
bet365 odds: England (6/5) v Tonga (17/25)*
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Authors
Ned is a sports writer at RadioTimes.com. He has covered a host of sports from EFL football, international cricket and golf all the way through to bike polo and triathlon.
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