If it's about growing the game and attendances why not have half the tournament in NZ and Aus, and play some games in Fiji, Tonga, PNG etc to develop their game too.

Well I mentioned that by playing games in France we are supporting RL there and helping to prevent it being overwhelmed by RU. Why might that be a connection with them hosting the WC in 2021? You've actually got an American RL badge on your avatar so I'm assuming that you're well versed in the concept of supporting the growth of our sport.



Another reason why World Cups are held in such a way is that logistically it makes sense to have all the locations in reasonable proximity to each other (not always the case) and promotes the game in that area. Surely you can see the benefit then of hosting games it the south of France.

If it was called the 'UK, Ireland & France World Cup' can I suggest that you wouldn't be complaining about it? Is that what's really bothering you? The fact that the original bid is mis-labelled as if the RFL have cheated the rest of the world out of holding the World Cup by misrepresentation? Is that really that big a deal or are you annoyed at the fact that the games aren't in 'heartland' areas and if so would you prefer it to be the 'M62 World Cup'? I think you need to tell us what it is you want because it isn't clear from your posts.

Because logistically that's a non-starter. I'm surprised you didn't realise that for yourself. It's hardly rocket surgery.

Naturally, I'm delighted with the decision to give Bristol a game. It was a very strong bid; now the West and South West will see some real strides in development structures. The plan is to have more schools comps, expand the amateur leagues, get the Filton College RL academy (in partnership with Leeds) to SL academy standard in the next couple of years, and prepare the Sonics for entry into the third tier. This is exactly the shot in the arm we wanted.

Also a big selling point for the Sonics, the city's football clubs, RU club sports partnerships and tourist board etc. who were all behind the bid is that it's the first RL international to be held in the city in over a century. Definitely the right time as there's an increasing appetite for the sport in this region. We may only have a minnows group game but it's one that wouldn't have attracted a crowd in the heartlands so the chance to promote it in this region is quite an opportunity.

Very surprised that Doncaster didn't get anything but as folk are saying it could be chosen for a semi. Glad with the decision to take a couple of games to France, not so sure about Ireland as I'm not sure the time is right but would love to be proved wrong.

What's really impressive is the range of locations bidding to be World Cup hosts.

The geographical spread of grounds is similar to that of the 1991 RUWC. Tedious as I recall that event being, I don't remember anyone questioning its validity.

I don't know many people calling it the "England & Wales World Cup"
Stop taking things so literally and think of the bigger picture.

How does 15000+ pasionare French fans look on tele, and how does a man and his dog watching France at Whitehaven look.Most people couldn't care less whether it's called Englands world cup or Northern Englands world cup. Having the group games in france gurantees a sell out and akes some pressure off the heatland folk having to fork out more money to more games.

I think overall the RFL haven't done a bad job. I would like to have seen the stoop involved, plus south Yorkshire. The only strange decision is "the Knoll". Why not have it in Cardiss Citys brillant new stadium?

Think the game at the Gnoll is a reward for the hard work Scorpions have done clearing up the mess left in South Wales by the Celtic Crusaders debarcle and think the choice of venue is totally justified and as for the Cardiff City Stadium just go back and look at Cardiff Blues attendance last Thursday (just over 4k and people are questioning there was that many there) and imagine a similar attendance rattling round there in 2013.

A 7,500 full house at the Gnoll is probably a faint hope at present but far more realistic than getting even that in the capital where regional rugby union is a minor spectator sport and the awareness of league is even more mininal.

Dont worry about him he still gets straight line speed confused with athletism.

This must be the first time I have been accused of being an anti-expansionist on this forum



No, I'm not upset about the name, I just think that hosting games in four different countries compromises the integrity of the tournament somewhat, and sets a bad precedent for the future. And if I was a supporter or player from one of the nations that was being forced to play France at home instead of on neutral territory, then I would be pretty unhappy, especially as only two venues have been named so one of the teams in France's group is likely to face them at a neutral venue in England. Sadly the only people who are likely to be suffer are those from PNG, who were also shafted at the last World Cup.

As you say, there is clearly an upside to hosting the matches in France. But 'preventing them being overwhelmed by RU', really? Do you think that if France do not host matches in a World Cup that is being staged in England and Wales, that the sport will die or even suffer there? As I said, the people aren't stupid, they know that they aren't the hosts. France being allocated two World Cup matches will provide a minor boost for RL there. It won't be a major boost, because these are already strong RL areas - Avignon attracted 17,000 for an international match last month, and Perpignan 11,000. The best argument for staging matches in France is that they are likely to attract good attendances and generate funds, not because of some ill-conceived notion that they will 'expand the game' (which they will, but no more than holding a game in London might also attract fans who don't normally attend). In terms of developing the game, there are far, far more effective ways to help France than giving them two matches in a World Cup that is supposed to be held in another country. A regular and logical international program where they are treated with respect, for one. The same goes for Ireland. The World Cup is supposed to be prestigious, it's supposed to be the pinnacle of the game, not a development tool. The development should already have be done.

London is likely to get the opener/semi/final.



Should change it to this:

TBH after reading the history of the tournament (or should I say the Wikihistory) I'm not sure the thing has had a great deal of integrity since its inception.

For example the finals held from 1954 up to (but not including) 1995 never had more than 5 teams in them. Three of those finals were played "world wide", and of those three, two were stretched to cover periods of almost three years!

Then there's the fact that we've been represented by both Great Britain and England (& the other home nations) separately. In summary our international organisation has been run worse than FIFA!

You'd need to change the logo so it says Ireland, not Eire. Eire has not been used by the English-speaking Irish since 1949.

Eire is today only used the British and by people who are speaking gaelic. AFAIK the Irish prefer people to call the country the Republic of Ireland or Ireland.

Headhunter.. I think you'll find (as you probably know) that Wales played games in Wales in the RU WC in 2007 despite it not being hosted anywhere in the UK.
So if them lot do it... Im failing to see your point

Excellent news about the venues.

I think people need to remember, this isn't some mickey mouse even like the 2000 world cup.

The RLIF have had an extensive bidding process to host matches. The requirements the hosts have had to show best is:

1. Prominent signage in the towns/cities - banners, adverts, RLWC branding etc
2. Allowing Rugby League coaches/players to go to every school in the town/city in the lead up to the game to promote the event

This world cup will be great for the growth of the game in this country.

Hosting games in France is a great move.

Anyone criticising that, I'm sorry, is quite frankly an idiot.

Don't take the p*ss, obviously not logistically viable.

Theres been a bidding process over the last 12 months.

The best bids got selected.

I fail to see how the whole of South Yorkshire has been ignored.
We have two semi pro clubs who this would have provided a boost to, we have excellent stadia and are not too far from the heartlands to help boost the crowd.

Their bids weren't good enough?

Somewhere has got to miss out.

The bids can't have been good enough.

We don't know that though do we?

yes we do, as other bids were selected. it is inevitable that with any bid process, someone doesn't get selected - indeed, that's the whole point!

please lets not start another round of conspiracy theories!

Do we know whether Doncaster or Sheffield actually submitted bids to be host cities, either separately or as a joint regional offering?

I'm not sure whether they'd have been able to bid as a 'region' as such as everything seems to have been based on the local councils bidding on behalf of each venue?