Cairns, Darwin and Hamilton in New Zealand were the big winners, with the North Queensland city to host three preliminary games and the Northern Territory will be a quarter final venue.

However, New South Wales has been widely snubbed, with Wollongong, Newcastle and regional areas missing out competely and Allianz Stadium hosting the Australia-Lebanon game.

Waikato Stadium will host two pool games, as part of a schedule which will see New Zealand host seven World Cup games. Papua New Guinea will play two games at Port Morseby.

Australia has been grouped in Pool A, with England, France and Lebanon. 

The tournament will kick off in October next year, starting with Australia taking on England at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

The final, as well as a semi-final game, will be played in Brisbane.