Where should the next (2017) RLWC be held

[roopy]

Let's say it would be held on the west coast of America.
The ex-pat population from Aus, NZ and UK would be around 500k, and it is also an area with a huge PI ex-pat population.
It is already a popular tourist destination that wouldn't be hard to sell to League fans from around the world, and it would have the benefit of drawing League fans from both major markets - Aus and UK - so I don't think 50k extra tourists just for the event is out of the question - as well as 10s of thousands of tourists who would be there anyway.
It is the strongest area for American Union, so maybe 20 or 30k American Union fans would go along for a few games.
Depending on how big an area on the west coast we are talking, the population of Americans could be anywhere from 50 to 100 million, of which we should be able to convince a few hundred k to attend games.
If we can sell it to US TV free to air the deal would be bigger than the 2008WC got from the rest of the world.

The numbers in the US are huge. We just need to grab the tiger by the tail and hang on.

 

[SteveM]

I would say -

2017 NZ
2021 England and France (split equally)
2025 Aus
2029 France (may be a game or two in Northern Spain)
2033 ?.

I don't think there is any point looking further a field than France or NZ for serious expansion (can hold a WC) within the next 20 years.

By 2033 France may have 3 professional teams and gained a media presence which would allow a WC to really push the game forward.

NZ really needs at least one more NRL team and 2017 would test the public appetite.

 

[roughyedspud]

entirely in NZ none of this co-hosting nonsense

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Easy, NZ...USA is a pie in the sky...

 

[Kurt Angle]

Depends on the success of the 2013 world cup.

If 2013 goes well enough to warrant 16 teams, thats 4 x 4 pools, with 7 finals matches most likely.

I don't know of the NZ sporting public can follow 23 games of RL and have either the financial reward we want or the crowd figures we want.

I mean the 2006 tri-nations had GB in ChCh for the first time in a very long time, and what, 15-16 thousand people, it NZ's second largest city and 3rd largest RL market.

Pick the number of teams first, then determine where it will be played.

 

[Big Picture]

The numbers in the US are huge. We just need to grab the tiger by the tail and hang on.

Overall the numbers in the US are huge, but it baffles me why you'd talk of attracting American Union fans when it's American football fans who need to be targetted. Rugby union in North America is a low-profile sport that gets hardly any press at all and crowds in the hundreds or very low thousands from what I've seen. I doubt there are 20 or 30k American Union fans in a any single state.

For a World Cup in the US to succeed, it would need to be played outside the American football season, maybe February in southern locales. In October or November it would be totally dwarfed by all the football coverage.

 

[Fraser]

i was thinking south africa, they would have a heap of stadiums after their soccer wc

 

[Knownothing]

i was thinking south africa, they would have a heap of stadiums after their soccer wc

Lots of stadia, how many RL fans?

 

[Fraser]

Lots of stadia, how many RL fans?

after the wc in sa, there will be a lot more converted rl fans :thumn

 

[juro]

In my opinion, the world cup is a wonderful opportunity to help spread rugby league. Having the 2017 world cup in Australia or England would be a waste of time. Australians are mostly blase about international rugby league due to their dominance, and England have the 2013 world cup already. As others have said, New Zealand are probably too small to host the whole tournament themselves.

So that leaves France as the next largest country. Having it there would be a big boost to the local game. It would also make it much easier to have more teams from Europe attending.

The prospect of having it in the USA is exciting. However, due to the small scale of rugby league there currently, I would be tempted to wait until 2021 or 2025. Over the next few years, we should watch how the game develops there. More importantly, we would need to watch how the game's administration develops too. The current lack of transparency from NRLUS is very worrying.

 

[morley101]

I think New Zealand is large enough.... its big enough to hold the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

 

[roopy]

In my opinion, the world cup is a wonderful opportunity to help spread rugby league. Having the 2017 world cup in Australia or England would be a waste of time. Australians are mostly blase about international rugby league due to their dominance, and England have the 2013 world cup already. As others have said, New Zealand are probably too small to host the whole tournament themselves.

So that leaves France as the next largest country. Having it there would be a big boost to the local game. It would also make it much easier to have more teams from Europe attending.

The prospect of having it in the USA is exciting. However, due to the small scale of rugby league there currently, I would be tempted to wait until 2021 or 2025. Over the next few years, we should watch how the game develops there. More importantly, we would need to watch how the game's administration develops too. The current lack of transparency from NRLUS is very worrying.

Good first post.
I was thinking yesterday that we really do need an emerging nations WC, and i'd love to see USA hold that around the New England area.
I have no idea where the money would come from.

 

[juro]

I think New Zealand is large enough.... its big enough to hold the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

Yes, but there are many more union fans than league fans to support them.

 

[Wilson1]

Yes, but there are many more union fans than league fans to support them.

But there are many more union fans than league fans in France as well. There would be far more league fans in New Zealand than France, surely.

I think right now that neither New Zealand or France could host a good world cup. Hopefully, rugby league can grow in both countries to give them both a chance at hosting the World Cup in 2017.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I reckon NZL should be given an opportunity to host more Internationals matches, however I reckon it should be co hosted by Aus/NZL with the final in either Auckland or Brisbane and a 12-14 team comp.

 

[juro]

But there are many more union fans than league fans in France as well. There would be far more league fans in New Zealand than France, surely.

I think right now that neither New Zealand or France could host a good world cup. Hopefully, rugby league can grow in both countries to give them both a chance at hosting the World Cup in 2017.

Yes, but I would reckon that New Zealand rugby league has less potential to grow than French rugby league.

New Zealand has a population of about 4m, compared to France with 65m.

Most New Zealanders are aware of rugby league and have decided which code they prefer. I'm not sure whether that is the same in France.

France has a history of being very strong in rugby league. Historical events have caused it to lose its way. I would think that the world cup would go a long way in rebuilding the game in the country.

 

[Springs]

The next RLWC should be primarily held in new Zealand with a couple of games in Australia. The Australia-England game and probably a Lebanese game in Sydney will do. New Zealand should be good enough to sustain the other 20 or so games.

The double header at Eden Park will indicate how much support we have.

Tongan and Samoan games could be big. Games in Rotorua, Hamilton, Albany etc for the smaller pools with Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington hosting the NZ, England, Australia Tonga and Samoa games.

France is an option but if held there the final should be at Paris. Unfortnately support there isn't big and the games involving non-French teams will most likely struggle to draw crowds. France need to draw for this years European Cup and then show that they deserve to be in the 4 Nations. If they can make the finals of the 2013 World Cup then they might have a chance of hosting one in the near future.

 

[Jankuloski]

I think it should hinge on the introducition of the new professional teams.

If T.O. and maybe Paris do get in ESL than they should get it. If the Wellington NRL bid resurects than NZ should get it.

Main target should be in respective cities to squeeze as much as you can of new fans for those new teams. That is the best long term investment we can make.