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Rugby League World Cup
IT’S TIME!
The delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup will kick o in October and is set to be the sport’s “biggest and best” tournament ever
The pandemic-delayed Rugby League World Cup 2021 will finally take place from 15 October to 19 November 2022 – and excitement for the tournament is building up nicely. Tournament organisers recently celebrated the event’s “50 days to go” milestone by recording the best weekend of ticket sales since October 2020, when the tickets first went on sale.
It’s been a long and patient wait for rugby league fans, as the tournament – originally scheduled to be held in
The event will see the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments being held simultaneously
October and November 2021 – finally gets underway at Newcastle’s St James’ Park on 15 October with England vs. Samoa.
Mick Hogan, Revenue Director for RLWC2021, said: “The sizeable increase in ticket sales is a sign that momentum is really starting to build, as we expected it would.
“We knew that RLWC2021 was going to be a record-breaking tournament for many reasons. To see so many ticket categories and entire stands now sold out, still over six weeks out from the start, validates our belief that this will be the fastest selling tournament ever.
“Hitting the 50 days to go countdown was key for us. The National Lottery Trophies Tour also commenced visiting towns and cities across the country.”
A festival of rugby
The men’s tournament will consist of 16 teams, an increase of two from the last two tournaments. The 2021 (or 2022) edition will be the fifth time that England
This year’s world cup will feature a record total of 61 games
will host the Rugby League World Cup: it was last held on these shores as recently as 2013. This time around, however, the event will be fundamentally different – and much, much bigger.
As well as the two extra teams in the men’s tournament, 2022 will mark the first time that the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments will be staged in the same place at the same time. Alongside the on-pitch sporting entertainment, there will also be a significant entertainment and cultural aspect to the tournament.
Funded by Arts Council England, The Rugby League World Cup Cultural Festival will bring together audiences of sport and art to showcase the history and atmosphere of the sport. Taking place in four of the tournament host cities – Newcastle, Hull, Leeds and Manchester - the festival will amplify the strapline of ‘The Power of Together’, celebrating inclusivity and positive social impact.
Jon Dutton, chief executive of the Rugby League World Cup 2021, says: “The opening weekend of the tournament is set to be a true festival of rugby league and will provide real momentum for 61 matches which will culminate with all three finals being held in Manchester over the 18 and 19 November.
“We saw with the Women’s Euro’s how the country really got behind the tournament after England’s women got off to such a great start. With all three England teams in with a great chance of progressing to their respective finals at RWLC 2021, the tournament will only get more exciting as we build towards that finals weekend in Manchester.”
In addition to the six weeks of on-field sporting action and the accompanying cultural and entertainment events, the World Cup will look to strengthen the position of rugby league in England. The aim is to use the tournament as a catalyst to develop the game and “engage with the widest possible audience”. ●
