After an eight-year absence, the Rugby League World Cup will return next year in Australia.

Comprising of 10 teams divided into three pools, organisers are hoping to avoid a repeat of the one-sided contests which marred the 2000 tournament.

Australia will be red-hot favourites to win their 10th World Cup, but England and New Zealand will also fancy their chances.

England will kick off proceedings against Papua New Guinea on 25 October in Townsville. Four weeks later, the 18th and final game of the tournament will see things decided in the final at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Group A:Australia, England, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
Group B:France, Fiji, Scotland
Group C:Tonga, Ireland, Samoa

25 October:

England v Papua New Guinea
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville

26 October:

Scotland v France
Canberra Stadium

Australia v New Zealand (preceded by opening ceremony)
Sydney Football Stadium

27 October:

Tonga v Ireland
Parramatta Stadium

31 October:

Samoa v Tonga
CUA Stadium, Penrith

1 November:

Fiji v France
WIN Stadium, Wollongong

New Zealand v Papua New Guinea
Skilled Stadium, Gold Coast

2 November:

Australia v England
Telstra Dome, Melbourne

5 November:

Scotland v Fiji
Bluetongue Stadium, Central Coast

Ireland v Samoa
Parramatta Stadium

8 November:

England v New Zealand
Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle

Group B runners-up v Group C runners-up*
Browne Park, Rockhampton
(* ranking play-off)

9 November:

Papua New Guinea v Australia
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville

Group B third-placed team v Group C third-placed team*
CUA Stadium, Penrith
(* ranking play-off)

10 November:

Group B winners v Group C winners*
Skilled Stadium, Gold Coast
(* semi-final qualifier)

15 November:

Group A runners-up v Group A third-placed team*
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
(* semi-final 1)

16 November:

Group A winners v winners of semi-final qualifier*
Sydney Football Stadium
(* semi-final 2)

22 November:

Winners of semi-final 1 v winners of semi-final 2*
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
(* final)