Festival of World Cups launched in Leeds

Correspondent

 

The RFL are hosting the Festival of World Cups this Summer featuring separate competitions for Women, Wheelchair, Police, Student and Armed Forces.

28 teams have already agreed to travel to England to be part of the Festivals which is the first time that all the World Cups will be played in the same time of year.

The Festival of the World Cups is part of what will be a momentous year for Rugby League, with Rugby League World Cup 2013 being staged in England and Wales this autumn.

RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood said: “The Festival of World Cups will be a wonderful international celebration of Rugby League this summer.

“The different tournaments that make up the Festival of World Cups will showcase the diversity in the sport and the wide range of opportunities available to participate at different levels.

“This is the first time all the competitions have been staged together in this way and I am sure that both the athletes and volunteers involved will inspire more people to see new opportunities to be involved in sport and Rugby League in particular.”

Adam Ogilvie, Leeds City Council’s executive member for Rugby League World Cup 2013 in Leeds commented: “We are delighted to be hosting another international sporting event, and together with being a host city for Rugby League World Cup 2013, the Festival of World Cups really cements Leeds’ place as a capital for Community Rugby League.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the teams and their supporters this summer, and with all the teams for the women’s, police and students tournaments being based in Leeds throughout, tourism and local businesses around the city will also benefit.

“The Festival of Rugby League World Cups is a real celebration of grass roots rugby league, and the culmination of the tournaments in a finals day at Headingley Carnegie Stadium in July will be a wonderful family sporting occasion.”

The Festival of the World Cups will take place between July 3 and 15 in a range of venues.

The Women’s, Police, and Student tournaments festivals will take place at a number of venues around West Yorkshire, including the South Leeds Stadium, The Big Fellas Stadium in Featherstone, The LoveRugbyLeague.Com Stadium in Batley and The Tetley’s Stadium in Dewsbury.

The Armed Forces festival will be staged at Colchester Garrison, and the Finals of the Women’s, Police and Student festivals will be at Headingley Carnegie Stadium July 14.

The Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup Festival will be staged at Medway Park in Gillingham, Kent.

Gillingham’s £11m sports complex Medway Park will hold the international tournament from July 2 – July 13. Six teams will compete for the title, including reigning champions England, who won the sport’s first World Cup in Australia in 2008.