Australia and New Zealand will face off in a trans-Tasman double-header on the first night of the World Cup of Nines in Parramatta.
The NRL has released the draw for the October competition with the men’s and women’s teams from the trans-Tasman rivals to face off on October 18.
It means fans at Bankwest Stadium will potentially see a star-studded Australian line-up including the likes of Kalyn Ponga, James Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic take on a Kiwis team with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Benji Marshall.
England’s men’s and women’s teams will also be in action on the opening night against Wales and Papua New Guinea respectively.
On day two, Pacific Island rivals Tonga and Samoa will go head-to-head in a nine-hour feast of rugby league which will wrap up with the women’s and men’s finals.
In total, the 12 teams in the men’s competition and four in the women’s draw will play 28 matches across the two days.
Single-day tickets will go on sale for the Nines for NRL club members on Monday with general sales to start on Wednesday.
Two-day tickets are already on sale.
RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP OF NINES DRAW
Friday, October 18
6.20pm – France v Lebanon
6.45pm – England v Papua New Guinea (women’s)
7.10pm – England v Wales
7.35pm – Tonga v Cook Islands
8.10pm – Samoa v Fiji
8.35pm – Australia v New Zealand (women’s)
9pm – Australia v New Zealand
9.25pm – Papua New Guinea v United States
Saturday, October 19
11.30am – New Zealand v Papua New Guinea (women’s)
11.55am – France v Wales
12.20pm – England v Lebanon
12.45pm – Samoa v Cook Islands
1.10pm – Tonga v Fiji
1.45pm – New Zealand v Papua New Guinea
2.10pm – Australia v United States
2.35pm – Australia v England (women’s)
3pm – Lebanon v Wales
3.25pm – England v France
4pm – Fiji v Cook Islands
4.25pm – Tonga v Samoa
4.50pm – New Zealand v United States
5.15pm – Australia v Papua New Guinea
5.40pm – Australia v Papua New Guinea (women’s)
6.05pm – New Zealand v England (women’s)
6.55pm – Men’s semi-final
7.20pm – Men’s semi-final
7.45pm – Women’s final
9pm – Men’s final