Next year, in a first for the sport, the Women's Rugby League World Cup will be held in conjunction with the men's tournament.

It is a far-cry from the nearly empty suburban grounds at which the Jillaroos played in the past.

Jillaroos skipper Ruan Sims said she could not quite believe the rapid growth of the sport.

"We are pioneering the sport of women's rugby league. We are creating pathways that never existed," she said.

At the last World Cup, New Zealand skipper Serena Fiso had to outlay her own cash for the honour of representing her country at the tournament.

The Kiwi Ferns beat Australia in this year's trans-Tasman Test in Newcastle. ( AAP: Dan Himbrechts )

She said this new development would help boost the sport on an international stage.

"The World Cup is where the best players from the best teams compete, and to know that the men and the women are going to be together to do that it is just such a great feeling," Fiso said.

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.

"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 changer for the sport," RLWC 2017 chief executive Andrew Hill said.

"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."

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.

"It shows that we are truly valued within the rugby league community and women's sport and rugby league is a force to be reckoned with," Sims said.

Women's participation is the fastest growing sector of the NRL and Sims said that would encourage more females into the sport.

"I'd love to see a women's national rugby league competition where every NRL club has a female side and nines would be the best way for this to start but I'd love to see it develop into a full 13 a side competition," Sims added.