Coronovirus and RLWC 2021

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This century, the Rugby League World Cup had been played on an ad-hoc basis. After the disaster that was the 2000 World Cup, it took a hiatus until 2008. After a moderate success, the World Cup returned to the schedule of a more permanent basis.

Whilst the tournament was initially planned to take place in 2012, it was delayed a year until 2013. That was because of the London Olympics that year. The idea being that it would overshadow our showpiece.

In addition to the Olympics and Paralympics, 2012 saw football's European Championships take place. When considering all factors, it was decided to host the Rugby League World Cup the following year, to avoid major sporting events and attempt to gain maximum exposure.

This was a logical approach and we continued on a four-year cycle, avoiding the cycles of other major sporting events. This allowed for Jon Dutton to state ambitions that the 2021 Rugby League World Cup would be the most digitally connected tournament of that year. Now that the Olympics and football's European Championships will take place, that ambition has become a lot more difficult!



You would imaging that when our current crisis ends, the message from the team tasked with delivering our World Cup will change. Whereas the marketing line was that we would host the biggest international sporting tournament in 2021, it will now pivot to Rugby League forming part of an incredible year of sport. So, what might be on that year?

- The Olympics
- The Paralympics
- World Athletics Championships
- Football's European Championships
- Cricket's ODI Women's World Cup
- Cricket's 20/20 Men's World Cup
- Ryder Cup

The sporting calendar in 2021 will be a crowded one. A pessimist would worry that our sport's largest ever event will be buried, and not even scratch the surface of the public psyche.

 An optimist would say that we could ride the crest of a wave, giving a sports-crazed nation and world even more, after a packed summer.

The team who are organising the Rugby League World Cup have a tougher task now due to the rescheduling of other sporting events and possible cancellation of the Kangaroos Tour.

Despite that, the opportunities that this tournament provides will remain after the Covid-19 crisis, but may need a redoubling of efforts to ensure they are realised. 

A big tournament (and England success) will give us a chance to raise the profile of our sport significantly. This is even more important as our club sides may struggle to balance the books due to the indefinite loss of matchday income.

Rugby League fans are a loyal, partisan and fiercely proud bunch. We may criticise it internally, but defend it with venom when an outsider sneers. Over the next couple of years, your sport needs you more than ever. With our support, we will overcome the current crisis and come out of the other side not just surviving, but thriving!

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