Warrington bids for five Rugby League World Cup events

A RECORD number of 80 applications have been received to host matches in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup – including five from Warrington.
Venues from across England are bidding with 28 towns and cities bidding to host a match or training venue.
It looks set to be the biggest-ever Rugby League World Cup.
A record number of 80 unique venue applications have been received from 28 towns and cities to become either a match or training venue for the tournament, which will host the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments simultaneously for the first time.
Forty venue applications have been submitted across the three competitions for an anticipated 20 opportunities. In addition, 40 team base applications have been received for the 16 team training facilities. While applications have been submitted for venues and facilities nationwide, 80 per cent of the men’s fixtures will be played in the country’s Northern Powerhouse region as part of the tournament’s commitment to government.
Applications will now be reviewed, with aspirant hosts inspected by tournament organisers, before a final decision is made by the RLWC2021 board ahead of being announced in January 2019.
Jon Dutton, chief executive of RLWC2021, said: “Today is another significant milestone in our journey ahead of what will be the biggest and best ever RLWC in history. We’ve been delighted with not just the quantity but the quality of the applications we have received.”
Paul Taylor, chairman of the Warrington steering group, said: “The Rugby League World Cup and Warrington are a perfect match. We have submitted the strongest possible bid to host three men’s games and the women’s final, plus we’re looking to have one of the men’s teams stay here in town. All of this will be supported by a Warrington-wide festival of events and initiatives.
“We want Warrington to play an integral role in delivering the biggest, best, and most inclusive Rugby League World Cup ever – one that celebrates the sport’s heritage and uses its reach to build a long-lasting legacy for both ‘the greatest game’ and Warrington itself.”
“Our vision is for RLWC2021 in Warrington to be a celebration of everything that’s great about Rugby League.”