Premier League clubs battle for Rugby League World Cup 2021 matches
Several top flight football sides have indicated they want to have games on their ground in four years' time
A HOST of Premier League clubs want to get their hands on a game in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
And they will be held from Newcastle to London.
Tournament chief executve Jon Dutton revealed 39 venues in England have indicated they would like to host matches in four years’ time, on
the heels of the country's near miss in last Saturday’s final.
SunSport understands that includes the homes of Liverpool, both Manchester sides, Newcastle and Huddersfield, as well as Hull City and Leeds United.
The capital will also get matches, with a potential repeat of 2013’s semi-final double header at Wembley and an England quarter-final at the London Stadium being discussed.
And the final, on Saturday November 27, 2021, looks set to be at either Wembley, if it does not get the semi-finals, or Old Trafford.
80 per cent of matches will be held in the 13-a-side code's traditional northern heartland.
But it is also likely games will take place in the Midlands, with Coventry’s Ricoh Arena set to be awarded fixtures and if France
qualify, their group matches may be on the other side of the Channel.
It is also hoped the 2021 tournament will surpass 2013 in terms of attendances and 2017 in terms of money it makes off the field. Talks
with potential sponsors have already started.
Dutton said the attitude of 2021’s organisers is to be ‘bold and brave’ but insisted international focus also needs to be given to next year, when England play New Zealand, 2019 when Great Britain returns to tour the Southern Hemisphere and 2020, which is likely to see the
final Four Nations tournament.
He said: “There is no point just being excited about international rugby league in four years' time.
“It’s in everyone's interest to have more regular international competition in the international weekend which has been created, and
then at the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, Leeds are set to face rugby league legends Cameron Smith and Billy Slater as they go to be crowned champions of the world.
And it is hoped they will have to silence 25,000 screaming Australians to do it.
The Rhinos will head to Melbourne to take on NRL champions Storm in the World Club Challenge on Friday, February 16.
There were fears the big name pair, Australian rugby league royalty, would not play, especially after Storm arranged a friendly against New Zealand Warriors for the day after.
However, SunSport understands Melbourne have committed to having both stars, who each played in the World Cup final, in the side against
Leeds.
And Storm chiefs hope more people will turn up at AAMI Park than for the opening match of the World cup between Australia and England – two-and-a-half times the crowd for England’s quarter-final against Papua New Guinea.
Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington told SunSport that Leeds heading to Melbourne with Wigan and Hull playing a Super League game in Wollongong could open the door for more sides to play Down Under.
Talks are also taking place on holding future World Club Challenge matches in either the Middle East, Singapore or North America. Melbourne and the side they defeated in the NRL Grand Final, North Queensland Cowboys, did not want to travel to England to face the Super League champions.
As a result, there will be no official World Club Series in 2018, meaning League Leaders’ Shield winners Castleford have missed out on a money-spinning tie against Australian opposition.
*SALFORD are eyeing a move for Papua New Guinea star Rod Griffin, 30. The Canterbury Bulldogs ace impressed in the World Cup and Red Devils boss Ian Watson is looking at bringing the forward to Super League.
