The Rugby League International Foundation (RLIF) has recommended that the 2025 tournament be staged in North America in an attempt to increase the global appeal of the sport. It is also a historic moment in the global development of rugby league. The American- Canadian joint begins to set the competition outside of England since it began in 1954.
USA & Canada Offer A Significant Multi-Cultural Population For Rugby League World Cup 20125
"The USA and Canada provide world class stadia allied to a significant multi-cultural population which made the offer so credible. It is thrilling that our sport is getting bigger into a new destination for our premier event the World Cup.", said RLIF chairman Nigel Wood. He is also chief executive of the Rugby Football League in an interview with The Daily Telegraph. The choice was made at the RLIF annual meeting in Liverpool, where Wood and Australia's John Grant were put back as chairman and deputy chairman correspondingly for the subsequent two years.
Rugby league World Cup is the 13-man version of the game, as opposed to 15-man rugby union which is more common around the globe. Rugby league is most popular in Australia, New Zealand and Britain. It will test the waters in Canada in 2017 when the Wolfpack open intercontinental play in the third stage of English pro rugby league.
Rugby League World Cup 2025 Host Cities
Paul O'Keefe, president of the Canada Rugby League Association, says although host cities have yet to be decided on, he believes a minimum of two and hopefully three in Canada. Toronto and Vancouver would be possible entrants, with Alberta also in the line-up.
He adds, "It was worth the chance to do it in 2025, plus it gives us a bit more time to really bring things together, to make certain it's a really fantastic occasion." The North American bid is in association with Moore Sports International, an Australian-based sports promotion and event management corporation.