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Organisers of the Rugby League World Cup in England have confirmed new dates for the tournament - run from 15th October to 19th November 2022.

Originally due to have been staged from 23rd October to 27th November this year, the event was cancelled earlier this month after Australia and New Zealand said they would not participate due to claimed concerns over COVID-19.

The event will see Newcastle’s St James’ Park stage the opening match and Manchester’s Old Trafford stage the men’s and women’s double-header finals as originally planned.

RLWC2021 said the new dates will maximise attendance and viewership at the event, with work ongoing to release a full revised match schedule by no later than the end of the year.

Organisers have also confirmed that all fans who had planned on attending this year’s event will have their tickets automatically transferred to the corresponding fixture next year.

The first general admission ticket refund window opened on Thursday and run for three weeks for fans unable to attend next year.

RLWC2021 has also created ‘The Foundation Fan Squad’, an exclusive group which will receive a thank you pack including a wall planner, a chance to win exclusive prizes, access to content and other benefits.

Announcing the news dates, RLWC2021 Chief Executive, Jon Dutton stated “I am delighted that we have been able to announce the revised dates today and can now look forward to the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup ever in the autumn of 2022.

“The continuing conversations with all our supportive hosts and venues have been hugely positive. We are confident that we can deliver a similar tournament schedule, which will be communicated as soon as possible.

“Obviously, we are disappointed the tournament will not be happening as originally planned but we are determined to make next year a celebration of sport, unity, people, place and civic pride.”

Next year’s Rugby League World Cup will mark the first time that the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments have been held simultaneously. A total of 21 venues across England are due to stage matches, with Leeds’ Elland Road, London’s Emirates Stadium and Liverpool’s Anfield among the non-rugby league stadiums that will play host.

Bledisloe Cup finale in Perth now scheduled for 5th September
Days of negotiations between Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby as well as the AFL, has resulted in agreement that the final Bledisloe Cup clash of 2021 between the Wallabies and All Blacks will be staged at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday 5th September .

Postponed from its original date this weekend due to New Zealand Rugby’s concerns over Coronavirus, the two rugby union bodies had been in tense negotiations since as they tried to find a window to play the match, with their hopes for a 5th September clash hitting a hurdle due to the AFL reserving Optus Stadium for the entire weekend.

With the AFL increasingly likely to play finals in Perth next weekend, it will be playing its matches on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th September.

Images courtesy of RLWC2021.

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