Rugby League World Cup 2021’s Revised Schedule Has Manchester Hosting All Three Finals
Manchester is going to host all three finals of the rescheduled Rugby League World Cup. Old Trafford will hosting both the men's and women's finals on 19th November 2022, with the wheelchair final to be held the day before at the Manchester Central Convention Centre.
The five-week tournament in England was set to start last month, but is has been postponed for a year following the withdrawal of Australia and New Zealand, following Covid-19 "safety concerns". Instead it will now take place next year, between 15th October and 19th November.
The wheelchair final originally was due be held at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, though it is unavailable to stage the rearranged match. Old Trafford are still able to host the rescheduled men's and women's finals in originally intended.
That is one of five games to have moved venues as a result of the year-long postponement:-
- In the men's tournament, the match between holders Australia and Fiji on the opening day – 15th October – will now be held at Headingley, Leeds, because of a clash with another event in Hull.
- In return, the MKM Stadium, Hull, will host New Zealand v Jamaica in Group C on 22nd October, instead of being held at Leeds as intended.
- Anfield was set to stage a women's match between England and Canada and a men's quarter-final, but it is no longer available due to expansion work at Liverpool FC Anfield stadium. Instead, Wigan's DW Stadium will hold those matches on 5th November.
- England will still open the tournament with a group game against Samoa at St James' Park, Newcastle, on 15th October, and two weeks later Headingley will open the women's competition on 1st November.
- The wheelchair event will commence 3rd November with a double-header at the Copper Box, London.
In total, 32 teams across 21 competing nations will participate in the men's, women's and wheelchair events.
Jon Dutton, RLWC2021 Chief Executive, said: "We have achieved our objective in delivering minimal disruption to the existing 61-match schedule and I want to place on record my thanks to all those who have made it possible.
"Every host town and city who joined us on this journey remains involved and they will set the stage for the very best that the sport has to offer. There are world-class, compelling matches, across all three tournaments at some of the most iconic venues across England."
