Australia, New Zealand back in rugby showcase

Article posted by Coliseum, November 19^th, 2021

Image: Rugby League World Cup

The Rugby League World Cup is set to take place in 2022 after Australia and New Zealand signed participation agreements.

The ‘YorkshireLive’ stated that the two nations withdrew from this year’s proposed event, forcing the tournament to be pushed back 12 months.

The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league tournament contested by the top men’s national teams. The tournament is administered by the International Rugby League and was first held in France in 1954, which was the first World Cup held for any form of rugby football.

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The 2021 Rugby League World Cup was supposed to be the 16^th staging of the Rugby League World Cup and will now be held in England (UK) in 2022.

Earlier, this year’s Rugby League World Cup – scheduled to be held in England – was forced to be postponed until 2022 after the withdrawal of champions Australia and New Zealand over the rise of Delta variant cases in the United Kingdom.

The two countries pulled out of the tournament citing “player welfare and safety concerns” related to COVID-19.

The ‘YorkshireLive’ further stated that the two powerhouses have now confirmed their entry into next year’s competition alongside every other competing nation in what is huge news for organizers as they work towards a record-breaking World Cup next year.

The announcement comes after planners revealed a revised schedule for next year’s event will be released on November 19^th. The 53,394-capacity Anfield Stadium in England will no longer host games due to planned redevelopment work while the 11,000-capacity M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool (UK) will no longer host wheelchair games. However, only five matches have been affected and new venues will be revealed on November 19^th.

For fans who had previously bought tickets, they will be honored. Those who had purchased for the Liverpool games will be contacted.

In further good news, the BBC will continue to show all 61 games from the tournament as planned.

Exulted the Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) Chief Executive Jon Dutton, “For everyone involved in this trailblazing tournament, the decision of Australia and New Zealand to join back is a very important and exciting milestone on our journey to 2022. We have suffered a setback, but since that moment in August we have dedicated all our energy towards rebuilding. A huge amount of work has gone in behind the scenes and thanks to so many people we have the opportunity to deliver a bigger and better tournament next Autumn.”

Venue changes

The ‘Manchester United’ stated that the road to the rescheduled Rugby League World Cup 2021 begins this week as tournament organizers confirm the 61-match schedule will be revealed in full on November 19^th at 09:00 GMT.

The tournament will kick off at the 52,305-capacity St James’ Park, Newcastle (UK) on October 15^th, 2022 when England’s men take on the Samoa national rugby union team (a small island country in the Central South Pacific Ocean) and will culminate in spectacular fashion at the 76,000-capacity Old Trafford (UK) on November 19^th, 2022 with the men’s and women’s double-header final.

The ‘Manchester United’ further stated that in a unique and busy year of international sport and events, only five Rugby League World Cup 2021 fixtures (on four matchdays) have been affected during the rescheduling of 61 matches staged at 21 iconic venues, across 18 host towns and Cities. These changes are the switching of two fixtures between existing venues and the movement of two events to alternative venues.

All 32 teams across the 21 competing nations participating in the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments have fully committed to the tournament in 2022.

General admission tickets and hospitality for all 61 matches will be back on sale from 09:00 GMT on November 19^th in line with the full schedule reveal.

For all the latest tournament news and ticket information, register your details at https://www.rlwc2021.com/signup.

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