Australia has been announced as the hosts for the 2017 Festival of Rugby League World Cups.

The event, which features four sub-tournaments, will take place in the lead up to the main Men’s & Women’s World Cups which will be hosted between Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

The event is set to run between July 7 to 16 with the host city to be announced in early 2016.

The Universities, Defence Force, Police Force and Wheelchair Rugby League’s will each hold their respective World Cups as part of the overall Festival.

The Universities tournament will represent the ninth World Cup event held for Tertiary Students. Started in 1986, the Universities Rugby League World Cup has involved University students from over 19 nations over the years.

The Defence Force, Police Force and Wheelchair tournaments will each be the third iteration of their respective World Cups.

Winners for each of the respective previous World Cups are listed below:

Universities World Cup:

1986: Winners: New Zealand – Runners Up: Australia

1989: Winners: Australia – Runners Up: England

1992: Winners: Australia – Runners Up: Tonga

1996: Winners: Australia – Runners Up: Samoa

1999: Winners: New Zealand – Runners Up: England

2005: Winners: New Zealand – Runners Up: Australia

2008: Winners: Australia – Runners Up: England

2013: Winners: Australia – Runners Up: England

Police Force World Cup:

2008: Winners: Fiji – Runners Up: New Zealand

2013: Winners: Australia – Runners Up: Fiji

Armed Forces World Cup:

2008: Winners: Great Britain – Runners Up: Australia

2013: Winners: Australia – Runners Up: New Zealand

Wheelchair World Cup:

2008: Winners: England – Runners Up: Australia

2013: Winners: France – Runners Up: England