LONDON: Old Trafford, also known as the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ and the home ground of Premier League’s Manchester United, has been selected to host the men’s and women’s Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) 2021 finals. It will mark the first instance of the ground hosting non-football matches.
Similarly, Arsenal’s home venue, the Emirates Stadium in London will host one of the men’s semifinal matches. Their opening ceremony will take place in Newcastle at St. James’ Park.
Tournament organisers have met the UK government’s set target of hosting at least 80% of the tournament in the Northern Powerhouse; Doncaster, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York are amongst the Northern towns and cities making up the final list.
Leeds will host several fixtures, including a men’s semi-final and two women’s fixtures across Elland Road and Emerald Headingley Stadium. In addition to the Wheelchair final, Liverpool’s M&S Arena will also host the women’s opening ceremony and a marquee men’s quarter final at Anfield.
York will host multiple games in the women’s World Cup including both semi-finals. With new venues and an increased profile, RLWC2021 will also be the biggest ever tournament for a wheelchair rugby league, with London’s Copper Box Arena hosting England’s group at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Set to be the most inclusive rugby league event ever, RLWC2021 will see the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments played concurrently for the first time.
Speaking about the announcement, RLWC 2021 CEO Jon Dutton said: “I would like to congratulate all of our chosen hosts who have worked so hard in submitting such compelling bids. Each and every host now has the opportunity to galvanise and inspire their respective communities ahead of the competing nations arriving in England. With all three tournaments running concurrently, RLWC2021 will give the chance for people across the country to engage in a variety of ways and really look forward to October and November 2021. This was an incredibly tough process given the large number of interested parties and the impressive nature of their bids. With so many competitive bids, we’re confident that our chosen hosts will help play a role in delivering the greatest, and most inclusive, Rugby League World Cup of all time.”
UK Sports Minister Mims Davies added: “The UK is renowned for putting on some of the biggest and best sporting events in the world and the Rugby League World Cup 2021 will be no exception. This tournament will provide a stage for the world’s best players in the men’s, women’s and wheelchair game to shine in cities and towns across the country. It is an exceptional opportunity to grow the sport. We are investing £25 million ($32.7 million) to help put on a fantastic event, reach new fans and improve facilities, so the tournament leaves a real legacy.”
The draw for the RLWC2021 will take place on 27 November 2019.
