Four nations in line to host 2020 Under-19 European Championship

The Rugby League European Federation has confirmed that England, Italy, France and Lebanon are all prospective hosts for the 2020 Under-19 European Championship.

All four nations must submit their bid documents by October 1, 2018, with the RLEF expected to make an announcement on the winning bid in November 2018.

The tendering process for the 2022 tournament also opens this October.

RLEF director Paul Nicholson thinks all four tenderers would be great hosts.

He said: “The RLEF is delighted with the calibre and breadth of tenderers for the 2020 event.

“The Under-19 competition is an important part of the growing European calendar and will support growth and improving standards in the vital, underpinning youth programmes run by the members.”

The results of the 2017 annual member audit have also been lodged with Jamaica reporting excellent progress, with the number of 13-a-side youth games played increasing from 38 to 66.

France, Lebanon, Ireland, Serbia, Ukraine and Wales all recorded overall participation increases, while Lebanon was in the black for the first time in its history, having turned over more than $900k in 2017.