NZ to put hand up to host World Cup

Kiwis captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak leads the haka, during the rugby league Test match between Kiwis and Tonga in June.
Photo: Photosport

France has pulled out of hosting the 2025 Rugby League World Cup leaving the door open for a potential trans-Tasman tournament.

French organisers cited financial reasons for its withdrawal saying they were unable to meet financial criteria set out by the French government, leaving the event at risk of a deficit.

The tournament was to be staged during October and November 2025.

The International Rugby League board says it will now consider other options for the 2025 tournament, with the board due to meet in July.

However, as CEO of NZ Rugby League Greg Peters said, it may create an opportunity in Australasia.

“We are very disappointed and saddened that what was an ambitious project in France in 2025 is not going to happen, we admire and respect the amount of work that the French organising committee put in to try and make it happen, but now we need to to change direction and look for alternatives.”

He said NZRL is excited about what that might present for New Zealand.

Peters said a New Zealand/Australia co-hosted tournament could be an incredibly unique event.

Australia and New Zealand co-hosted the 2017 edition along with Papua New Guinea.

“We’re certainly interested in and having a look was the Australians the ARLC and ourselves and working also with our Pacific and Indigenous communities on both sides of the Tasman to try create something that could be really special down in this part of the world.”

The 2025 tournament in France was to consist of four versions of the World Cup format; men’s, women’s, wheelchair and youth.

England held the event in 2022, with Australia being crowned the men’s and women’s champions and the hosts claiming the wheelchair title.