Rugby League World finally set to go

The “biggest and best” Rugby League World Cup is finally set to get under way after being postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Rugby League World Cup Trophies, 2022.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Hosts England face Samoa at Newcastle’s St James’ Park in the opening game.

For the first time, the women’s and wheelchair World Cups will also take place alongside the men’s competition.

“This is international rugby league’s moment to shine,” said the tournament’s chief executive Jon Dutton.

The event was set to begin last October but was put back by a year after the withdrawal of champions Australia, and New Zealand citing “player welfare and safety concerns” related to Covid-19.

At the time, Dutton said there had been some “really disappointing behaviour”, but 12 months on he was in a more upbeat mood with the first game just five days away.

Speaking at the tournament’s launch, he said: “We are about to stage the biggest tournament in the sport’s 127-year history.

“We welcome the sport’s greatest contemporary athletes and the most diverse playing population to have ever assembled in the sport.

“It is fundamentally important that we succeed – it means more people will engage with the sport, there will be more visibility across the globe and more opportunities will be provided by these special moments.

“Together we have the greatest opportunity to create new history that will pave the way for amazing athletes to show the world their talents.”

England last hosted the World Cup in 2013 and an idea to bring the tournament back to the country was first conceived two years later.

A total of 61 matches will be played across 21 venues in the three tournaments.

The last World Cup took place in Australia in 2017, when the hosts edged out England 6-0 in a tight an nervy final.

Jesse Bromwich
Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

This time, the men’s and women’s finals take place in a double-header at Old Trafford on 19 November, while the wheelchair final will be at Manchester Central on the previous day.

New Zealand has a stellar Rugby League World Cup record, the highpoint coming in 2008 when they defeated hosts Australia in the final to lift the Paul Barrière Trophy for the first time.

While the pandemic has curtailed the international game in recent years, the Kiwis did win their first game in just over two-and-a-half years last time out with a win over Tonga.

“This tournament is just massive for the sport in New Zealand, we’ve had the Warriors playing in Australia for two years and we’ve been denied our international team because of the pandemic,” said Kiwis coach Michael Maguire.

“When I found out this tournament was being postponed for a year it really hurt, the whole group was just shattered by it. It was the right decision but it’s probably made us even more hungry for it.

“That game against Tonga told me what it meant, the streets were packed, the noise was incredible, the atmosphere was the closest I’ve come to experiencing what you get over here in England.

“We’ve got the best players in the world on this Kiwi team and we want to achieve that success together. The more time we spend together the more our expectations increase, the limit of what we can achieve is sky high really. There is a real focus in this group, you can see what they want and that’s great as a coach.

“We know that the competition is intense – Samoa, Tonga, Australia and England, they’ll have something to say about it. There will also be a team that surprises us. They will be a bolt from somewhere that no-one is even thinking of at the moment, so you have to make sure you turn up and be ready.

“We’ve got confidence and belief but we’re more than aware of the challenge that awaits us too.”

Kiwis pool games:

Mon 17th Oct 7:30am, Kiwis vs Lebanon, Warrington

Sun 23rd Oct 7:30am, Kiwis vs Jamaica, Hull

Sat 29th Oct 7:30am, Kiwis vs Ireland, Leeds

Kiwi Ferns pool games:

Thurs 3rd Nov 5am, Kiwi Ferns vs France, York

Mon 7th Nov 5am, Kiwi Ferns vs Cook Islands, York

Fri 11th Nov 7:30am, Kiwi Ferns vs Australia, York

-RNZ/BBC