Rugby League World Cup: Rochdale to host group match between Fiji and Ireland

Players visit Spotland Stadium to mark the announcement that Rochdale will host the eagerly awaited fixture in the Rugby League World Cup. Front: Greg McNally (Leigh Centurions/Ireland) and Semi Tadulala (Keighley Cougars/Fiji Bati). Back: Tyrone McCarthy (Warrington Wolves/Ireland) and Mike Ratu (Ex Hull KR and Halifax/Fiji UK).

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Rugby League World Cup 2013 today announced the schedule of matches for the group games and quarter finals being held in October and November next year.

Spotland Stadium in Rochdale will host Fiji v Ireland in October 2013. It will be a group A match, the group which also includes England and Australia.

Fiji will be Rochdale’s adopted nation for the duration of the tournament, held during the ‘golden decade’ of sport. Both Hornets and the town have a long association with the local Fijian community, which is the largest outside London. Links with Fiji and Rochdale go back to 1961.

The tournament will kick off at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff with a spectacular first day including the opening ceremony, host nation Wales taking on Italy and co-hosts England playing Australia.

Welsh hosts Wrexham’s Glyndwr University Racecourse Ground have Wales taking on the USA and one of the tournament quarter-finals. While in Neath, home supporters at The Gnoll can see the men in red take on the Cook Islands.

The tournament will be pushing Rugby League further than ever before with Limerick’s Thomond Park in Ireland hosting Australia v Ireland and France playing New Zealand in Avignon and Samoa in Perpignan

Mark Wynn, Chairman of Rochdale Hornets, said: “I know we will give teams and their supporters a warm welcome and a tremendous World Cup experience. Showcasing some of the world's most exciting talents is a great opportunity for us, so Rochdale Hornets, the council and our community partners are determined to gain maximum benefit from this competition.”

Mark Widdup, Director of Operational Services at Rochdale Borough Council said:
“We've got a strong tradition and passion for rugby league in this town, and the tournament can have a positive impact on the area, with Rochdale being shown all over the world. The opportunity to see a world cup match being played at our local stadium is brilliant news for the people of the borough and hugely exciting for us.”

Nigel Wood, RLWC2013 Tournament Director, said: “This is an exciting day for all our hosts. They now know who will be playing or training in their stadiums and who their communities will be getting behind. We’re saying to them ‘this is your World Cup, this fantastic international event will be putting the world’s best Rugby League players right on your doorstep’. I have no doubt they will help to make this the best Rugby League World Cup so far."

Upwards of half a million people are expected to watch the 28 matches live over a six-week period in the autumn of 2013 with a further 20 million viewers from 120 countries tuning in around the world.