New dates for World Cup confirmed

New dates for the World Cup have been confirmed.

The tournament will now take place between Saturday, October 15 and Saturday, November 19 in 2022.

The men and women’s double-header finals will be played, as originally planned, at Old Trafford as well as the opening match being staged at St James’ Park.

The new dates see the World Cup move one week earlier than scheduled this year to maximise attendance and viewership. Tournament organisers say work now continues to release a full revised schedule by no later than the end of the year.

The earlier start means the Rugby League World Cup will fall between the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, meaning that existing broadcast partners will continue to air all 61 games throughout the tournament.

RLWC2021 chief executive Jon Dutton said: “I am delighted that we have been able to announce the revised dates today and can now look forward to the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup ever in the autumn of 2022.

“The continuing conversations with all our supportive hosts and venues have been hugely positive. We are confident that we can deliver a similar tournament schedule, which will be communicated as soon as possible.

“Obviously, we are disappointed the tournament will not be happening as originally planned but we are determined to make next year a celebration of sport, unity, people, place and civic pride.”

International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant said: “The Rugby League World Cup is the international pinnacle of our sport, and I am delighted that the new dates have been agreed meaning we can now push forward towards autumn 2022.

“Jon Dutton and the entire RLWC2021 team have worked tirelessly following the postponement being announced and I have total confidence that the 2022 incarnation of the tournament will be the best we have ever seen both on and off the field of play.”