The public broadcaster will have free-to-air rights for all 31 matches of the tournament, which will take place in England. 

It means an agreement which already includes the rights to this year's World Cup in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea has been extended for another four years.

At least 16 matches in 2021 will be shown live on BBC One or BBC Two, with the remaining games available online or via the red button service.

Rugby League World Cup 2021 bid lead, Jon Dutton, said: "We are pleased that the BBC will show all 31 games throughout the 2021 World Cup live. 

"This is a very significant moment for the sport and will enable visibility and profile for the tournament like never before. 

"We look forward to working with the BBC to create excitement not just for the tournament but also across many platforms in the build up to the World Cup."

David Collier, the chief executive of the Rugby League International Federation, added: "All supporters of the sport will be thrilled with this extended coverage of rugby league’s premier event and the continuity that the BBC can provide over a range of platforms including network, radio, red button, streaming and online will provide the most extensive coverage of a Rugby League World Cup in the sport’s history."

England won the rights for the 2021 tournament after defeating a joint bid from the United States and Canada.

The North American effort was later provisionally awarded the rights to the 2025 World Cup.

"This is the biggest international event in the rugby league calendar and we're delighted to have secured the rights to it, building on our extensive portfolio of the sport and this year's World Cup down under," said Barbara Slater, the director of BBC Sport.

"Securing comprehensive rights for Rugby League World Cup 2021 in England means we will once again bring audiences to the heart of the action via first-class coverage on the international stage, and unprecedented coverage of the event will be available on the BBC."