The first Rugby League World Cup was held in 1954.
The inaugural tournament took place in France from 30 October to 13 November 1954. Four teams competed: France, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. The competition was organised to mark the sport’s international development and became the first World Cup staged in either rugby code.
Matches were played in several French cities, including Paris, Toulouse, Lyon and Marseille. The final was held at the Parc des Princes in Paris, where Great Britain defeated France. The tournament attracted substantial crowds and established a recurring international championship for rugby league.
The event is sometimes confused with later World Cups because the competition was not held at a fixed four-year interval in its early decades. Australia, New Zealand and France hosted later editions, while the tournament eventually became the main global championship for national rugby league teams.