Channel Seven will fork out close to $12 million to secure the exclusive rights to the Rugby League World Cup in Australia in 2026. With the NRL set to begin negotiations for the sport’s next broadcast cycle in the coming months, Channel Seven has signalled its intention to be at the table by committing itself to the largest broadcast deal in international rugby league history. The NRL has been in negotiations with broadcasters for months and Seven West Media has picked up the rights to the tournament despite interest from DAZN and Nine Entertainment Co, the publisher of this masthead. Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality said Nine were not willing to pay such a high fee for the rights in the off-season and preferred to save its money for when it heads to the negotiating table for the NRL and State of Origin rights from 2028.