Women's tournament to run in conjunction with 2017 Rugby League World Cup

A Women's Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) will run parallel to the men's tournament for the first time in 2017.

According to the RLWC organising committee, New South Wales Government funding helped get the women's tournament off the ground, with pool matches to be hosted at Cronulla's home ground from November 16.

"It has always been the Board's vision to have the Women's Rugby League World Cup played concurrently with the men's tournament and through the strong support of the NSW Government, we have been able to create what is a milestone moment for the sport," RLWC 2017 chief executive Andrew Hill said.

"It's only fitting these gifted athletes get the opportunity to showcase their skills on a global stage and we see next year's Women's Rugby League World Cup as a game charger for the sport.

"Female participation in all forms of rugby league is the fastest growing category in the game and women's international rugby league has made great strides forward in recent years."

The men will play from October 27 with games played in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, while the finals of both tournaments will be played as a double-header in Brisbane on December 2.

"To have both the women's and men's finals played on the same day, at the same venue will conclude what will be the greatest ever Rugby League World Cup," Hill said.

The Women's RLWC will feature Australia, New Zealand, England, Papua New Guinea, Canada and the winner of next month's Pacific qualifying series between Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands.

Australia's Jillaroos lost this year's stand-alone women's rugby league Test in May, going down to the New Zealand Ferns 26-16 in Newcastle.