Help make Rugby League World Cup one to remember

Rochdale will host a match in the Rugby League World Cup next year

With the Rugby League World Cup 2013 fast-approaching, the borough’s fans have a special opportunity to help make it a tournament to remember.

The Rugby Football League is offering residents of the borough a place on its ‘Fans Local Advisory Group’ (FLAG), through which supporters from each of the communities staging world cup games will help in the event planning.

With a match in the prestigious tournament being staged in Rochdale in October 2013, the search is now on for local fans who want to get involved.

Mark Wynn, Chairman of Rochdale Hornets, said: "If rugby league is your world then you could be planning the World Cup. It’s a fantastic opportunity for a supporter to play a unique role in creating the best Rugby League World Cup ever. We are already an integral part of Rugby League World Cup 2013 but giving one of our fans a say in the running of the tournament is another real boost to our plans.”

FLAG will meet regularly with tournament organisers to share and discuss their views and will be encouraged to maintain a regular dialogue through social media. Each representative will also be rewarded with a pair of VIP seats at the final of Rugby League World Cup 2013 and a pair of tickets to the group game played at Spotland Stadium.

More than 500,000 spectators are expected to attend the 28 matches, with a further 20 million people watching on television around the world.

Rugby League World Cup 2013 General Manager Sally Bolton, said: “This tournament is about putting the fans first and we feel that FLAG will provide a genuine platform to influence the creation of the best Rugby League World Cup in history.”

If you are a rugby league fan and are interested in shaping the Rugby League World Cup 2013 email media@rochdale.gov.uk and say in no more than 200 words what the Rugby League World Cup means to you and why you’d like to be involved.

Details of the teams coming to play in Rochdale are expected to be announced later this month.

You can follow the selection process, plus tournament updates and news on Twitter @2013RLWC and use hashtag #RLWCRochdale