Greater Manchester unites to launch bids for Rugby League World Cup 2021

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Fiji v Ireland in the Rugby League World Cup at Rochdale Hornets 2013

Councils across Greater Manchester have launched their bids to host the Rugby League World Cup in 2021.

Bolton, Manchester, Wigan and Trafford are all bidding to host games for what promises to be the biggest Rugby League World Cup ever.

Oldham and Salford are also bidding to be a part of the tournament through hosting sides and events, with Rochdale planning support activities and building on their strong links with Fiji.

The rugby spectacular will be watched worldwide by an estimated 150 million people across 115 countries.

The tournament, which will be held in October and November 2021, will feature the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments.

It will bring 40 squads of elite players to the UK, as well as thousands of overseas supporters, making it the most diverse and inclusive rugby league tournament ever held.

More than one million people will attend the games over the five weeks the tournament runs.

From world class stadiums such as Old Trafford to the rugby league heartlands of Wigan through to excellent sporting facilities at Bolton and strong community love for the game in Salford, Oldham and Rochdale, Greater Manchester has so much to offer the tournament.

As well as hosting a successful tournament the Greater Manchester bids will focus on the legacy of the tournament and increasing health and wellbeing among all ages.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Greater Manchester has the stadiums, the facilities, the passion and the love for the game to play a leading role in delivering a hugely successful Rugby League World Cup.

 “All the Greater Manchester bids will promote the sport of rugby league as well as the wider benefits of sports participation and being healthy and active.

“This is a real heartland of rugby league and there is no doubt that the people of Greater Manchester who love the game will support the bids and get behind the tournament when it hopefully comes here in three years’ time.”

The bid was launched today at ‘Sport on the Square’ in Bolton where the Rugby League World Cup trophy was present and young rugby league players from Westhoughton Lions demonstrated their skills.

Bids to host the games have to be submitted to the Rugby Football League by the end of July.

While the bids will be considered individually Greater Manchester’s councils are collaborating to highlight all that Greater Manchester has to offer and showcase how it can work together for the benefit of the city region.