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RLWC 2021 confirmed for 15 Oct - 19 Nov 2022

League Unlimited News

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We can today, 26 August, confirm the dates for the tournament that will now take place between Saturday 15 October – Saturday 19 November 2022.

RLWC2021 can also announce that the opening match as well as the men’s and women’s double header finals will be played, as originally planned, at St James Park Newcastle and Old Trafford Manchester respectively. We are delighted that these two iconic venues will remain in place to open and close the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup ever.

The new tournament dates have been confirmed following detailed consultation with a number of partners. In particular, RLWC2021 would like to thank Super League Europe and the member clubs who have been extremely accommodating.

The dates see the tournament move one week earlier than scheduled in 2021 to maximise attendance and viewership. Work now continues to release a full revised match schedule by no later than the end of the year.

The earlier start means RLWC2021 will fall between the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2022 FIFA World Cup meaning that existing broadcast partners, will continue to air all 61 games throughout the tournament.

Today, RLWC2021 would like to reaffirm to those who wish to retain their tickets for 2022, that there is nothing further to do, as tickets will be automatically transferred to the corresponding fixture next year.

As a thank you for continued fan support, RLWC2021 have created “The Foundation Fan Squad”, this will be an exclusive group who will receive a thank you pack including an updated wall planner and the chance to win exclusive prizes, access to content and other benefits for the next year.

While it is hoped all ticket holders decide to stay with us and support the tournament in 2022 it is understood some fans may not be able to attend. Today the first general admission ticket refund window will open for a three-week period.

For those who have purchased a RLWC2021 ticket product through official platforms, please visit www.rlwc2021.com/tickets for specific ticket refund information.

RLWC2021 would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in the process of confirming the dates for 2022 and we look forward to working closely with all nations, sponsors, partners, host cities and venues as we finalise the revised tournament schedule.

Jon Dutton, RLWC2021 Chief Executive, said:
“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.”
Troy Grant, IRL Chairman said:
“The Rugby League World Cup is the international pinnacle of our sport, and I am delighted that the new dates have been agreed meaning we can now push forward towards autumn 2022.”
“Jon Dutton and the entire RLWC2021 team have worked tirelessly following the postponement being announced and I have total confidence that the 2022 incarnation of the tournament will be the best we have ever seen both on and off the field of play.”
 

titoelcolombiano

First Grade
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5,276
The kick-off for the WC is likely two weeks after the NRL grand final and assumedly a similar time after the SL grand final meaning probably no warm up games. Could make for some interesting early fixtures. Hopefully both the NRL and SL are as accommodating as possible to make sure this happens.
 
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14,167
The kick-off for the WC is likely two weeks after the NRL grand final and assumedly a similar time after the SL and final meaning probably no warm up games. Could make for some interesting early fixtures. Hopefully both the NRL and SL are as accommodating as possible to make sure this happens.
Indeed, lets not forget that we and the poms have a genuine fear of playing Tonga in the KO stages, as they would be in with a good chance of beating us again
 

Matua

Bench
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4,528
They only have to do it in the knock out stages of the world cup.
If our forwards can't make good yards against their forwards we will lose and so will the poms and the Kiwis
They don't have halves and their pack is going to weaken over the years. The Kiwis beat them easy last match because they nullified the big pack. Oz and NZ wont be ambushed by them again.
 

LeagueXIII

First Grade
Messages
5,965
However looking into the future the players from a polynesian background will make up a huge part of the NRL, it's currently at 50%. In 1980 it was 0.5%.

As the Island nations become tier one teams Australia will be weakened in terms of their player depth. This can only be good for international rugby league.

Just us debating the winner between Australia and Tonga shows the change already. We wouldn't have done this previous.

The WC and particularly the quarter finals are just going to get better and better as the years go on with competitive top tier nations.
 

Matua

Bench
Messages
4,528
However looking into the future the players from a polynesian background will make up a huge part of the NRL, it's currently at 50%. In 1980 it was 0.5%.

As the Island nations become tier one teams Australia will be weakened in terms of their player depth. This can only be good for international rugby league.

Just us debating the winner between Australia and Tonga shows the change already. We wouldn't have done this previous.

The WC and particularly the quarter finals are just going to get better and better as the years go on with competitive top tier nations.
The 50% Polynesian includes Maori and NZ and Oz born and bred PIs - it's not a huge influx of PIs from the Islands coming in who will exclusively play for the islands. That % is always going to be spread around the Islands, Oz and NZ.

With Fifita pretty much gone, and Taumalolo ageing the pull of players to Tonga is going to decrease.

I highly doubt the PI teams can become tier one teams and remain tier one teams.
 

LeagueXIII

First Grade
Messages
5,965
They are heritage players who will earn as much playing for Tier one island teams as they would aust and nz. These players have learnt in the australian system so will be strong teams.

the island nations will continue to get stronger. once they are classified as T1 they cant jump from one T1 Country to another.
 

Matua

Bench
Messages
4,528
They are heritage players who will earn as much playing for Tier one island teams as they would aust and nz. These players have learnt in the australian system so will be strong teams.

the island nations will continue to get stronger. once they are classified as T1 they cant jump from one T1 Country to another.
The bold will have the opposite effect. If that was in effect in 2017 Tonga would have been pumped easily. The nucleus of that team was T1 defectors, and a good portion of those were due to a personality clash with the Kiwis coach.

Your premise is based on all the heritage players only wanting to play for the Islands, which wont happen.
 

LeagueXIII

First Grade
Messages
5,965
No it's not it's based on the fact they are now seen as being of equal standing to Australia and NZ, and rewarded accordingly. Thus the depth of their player pool will grow.
 
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Matua

Bench
Messages
4,528
No it's not it's based on the fact they are now seen as being of equal standing to Australia and NZ, and rewarded accordingly. Thus the depth of their player pool will grow.
Their depth only grows if heritage players pick them over NZ and Oz and that's not guaranteed. The bulk of the 2017 Tongan team were ex NZ/Oz internationals.
 

LeagueXIII

First Grade
Messages
5,965
I Yes they were..that was the turning point. Very few players coming into the team now will have had previous caps for Aust or NZ.

The player pool will continue to grow.
 

Matua

Bench
Messages
4,528
I Yes they were..that was the turning point. Very few players coming into the team now will have had previous caps for Aust or NZ.

The player pool will continue to grow.
I think you want that to be the case, but I don't think it will. Look at a guy like Isaako, he's a fringe Kiwi at best and only declared for one match for Samoa for his dying father and then went straight back to the Kiwis.

As Bulldog2020 notes there will be a point when lots of heritage players aren't even eligible for the Islands.
 

LeagueXIII

First Grade
Messages
5,965
There will still be plenty of players. They may not always beat Australia but they will be competitive. People will still migrate from the islands.
 

clarency

Juniors
Messages
1,217
They are heritage players who will earn as much playing for Tier one island teams as they would aust and nz. These players have learnt in the australian system so will be strong teams.

the island nations will continue to get stronger. once they are classified as T1 they cant jump from one T1 Country to another.

The moment this happens is the moment the Australian organisers (NRL) recommence regular Kangaroo tests that will be more attractive to the more talented players. This, alongside the fact that SOO eligibility requires commitment to the Australian national team means that any player with talent and a desire to financially secure their futures will move away from the island nations.

It's a stacked game mate. The dream of the Pacific Islanders becoming tier 1 is exactly that.... a dream.
 

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