Preston bid to be a host of Rugby League World Cup 2021

Venues from across the country will host the biggest ever Rugby League World Cup after submitting their initial applications to become a host at the RLWC2021 which will take place in England.

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.

40 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% of the men’s fixtures will be played in the country’s Northern Powerhouse region as part of the tournaments 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.

“It’s been great to see the various public “Back the Bid” campaigns across the country which has shown what it means to various communities to be a host at RLWC2021. The next stage is for us go through each and every bid in detail to allow us to make the best possible decisions for the tournament – this journey will include site visits and further conversations in the next few months before we reveal the outcomes early next year.”

Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet member for culture and leisure at Preston City Council, said:

“Our application to be a part of the Rugby League World Cup in 2021 has been submitted. It would be an amazing opportunity for Preston to a part of this well-known event and promote our city on the world’s stage. I look forward to welcoming the organisers to Preston and showing them our vast cultural offer before waiting to hear if we have been successful early next year.”

Follow all the latest news via www.RLWC2021.com and the official social media channels, on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

NB: ABOUT RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP 2021

The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle major event of rugby league, globally contested every four years.

England 2021 will be a breakthrough moment in the tournament’s history with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair rugby league being staged together for the first time.

The men’s tournament will see 16 teams across four groups compete throughout England in up to 14 cities and towns. Both the women’s and wheelchair competitions will be contested by two groups of four teams.

RLWC2021 will be the most visible rugby league event in history with all 31 games in the men’s competition being broadcast live on the BBC and every second of the women’s and wheelchair competitions free to watch online.

Mission: To be the biggest and best ever Rugby League World Cup

Vision: To create inspirational moments, capturing the imagination of our customers, partners, stakeholders and communities, and to do so in a way that is consistent with our values.

The event vision is underpinned by five strategic goals:

1. To be the most attended and viewed World Cup ever
2. To deliver a profitable tournament
3. To leave a long-lasting legacy
4. To increase profile and visibility for Rugby League
5. To be the most digitally connected entertainment event in 2021