2021 League World Cup goes to England - again

[rowan]

Wow & you thought union was conservative. Rugby league has just decided to send its 2021 World Cup to England for the 4th time - and that's not counting the two other occasions on which it was hosted by the UK combined. In addition to which, there was a points system in the 80s and early 90s, with all teams playing both home & away games. England's main rival for the 2021 installment was Canada and the US - where there are a grand total of about 500 registered league players.

List of hosts[edit]
Year Host nation(s) (# matches) Continent Winners
1954 France (7) Europe Great Britain
1957 Australia (6) Oceania Australia
1960 England (6) Europe Great Britain
1968 Australia (5) / New Zealand (2) Oceania Australia
1970 England (7) Europe Australia
1972 France (7) Europe Great Britain
1975 Various International Australia
1977 New Zealand (4) / Australia (3) Oceania Australia
1985-1988 Various International Australia
1989-1992 Various International Australia
1995 United Kingdom (15) Europe Australia
2000 United Kingdom (23) / France (6) / Ireland (2) Europe Australia
2008 Australia (18) Oceania New Zealand
2013 England (25) / Wales Europe Australia
2017 Australia (18) / New Zealand (7) / Papua New Guinea (3) Oceania
2021 England Europe

[WaspInWales]

Wow & you thought union was conservative. Rugby league has just decided to send its 2021 World Cup to England for the 4th time - and that's not counting the two other occasions on which it was hosted by the UK combined. In addition to which, there was a points system in the 80s and early 90s, with all teams playing both home & away games. England's main rival for the 2021 installment was Canada and the US - where there are a grand total of about 500 registered league players.

List of hosts[edit]
Year Host nation(s) (# matches) Continent Winners
1954 France (7) Europe Great Britain
1957 Australia (6) Oceania Australia
1960 England (6) Europe Great Britain
1968 Australia (5) / New Zealand (2) Oceania Australia
1970 England (7) Europe Australia
1972 France (7) Europe Great Britain
1975 Various International Australia
1977 New Zealand (4) / Australia (3) Oceania Australia
1985-1988 Various International Australia
1989-1992 Various International Australia
1995 United Kingdom (15) Europe Australia
2000 United Kingdom (23) / France (6) / Ireland (2) Europe Australia
2008 Australia (18) Oceania New Zealand
2013 England (25) / Wales Europe Australia
2017 Australia (18) / New Zealand (7) / Papua New Guinea (3) Oceania
2021 England Europe

So, it makes complete sense to host it in England where people will actually give a shit about the game and will fill the stadiums? I'm all for expanding rugby around the world but it wouldn't be a successful tournament with empty seats.

Maybe League will be commercially viable in NA at some point in the future and when/if that does happen, that is when it would make sense to let them host the tournament.

[rowan]

Yes, my thoughts exactly.

I imagine league will try and trade off the name 'rugby' in North America, as the XV man code has already begun to make some in-roads there and enter the national consciousness.