Wigan set to host World Cup quarter-final due to Anfield unavailability
The DW Stadium in Wigan is expected to host next year’s World Cup quarter-final due to Anfield being unavailable.
The tournament was due to start on October 23 this year. However, it was pushed back 12 months after Australia and New Zealand pulled out due to Covid concerns.
The tournament will now start on October 15, 2022. World Cup organisers say every nation competing across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair events have fully committed to it.
Wigan set to replace Liverpool
Only five matches have been impacted by the postponement. Anfield, the home of Liverpool FC, was due to host a women’s match between England and Canada and a men’s quarter-final on Saturday, November 13. However, it is no longer available due to the Anfield Road expansion work.
Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena was due to host the wheelchair final on November 26; but it is also unavailable due to prior commitments. Liverpool will still provide the training bases for Italy and Tonga.
Wigan’s DW Stadium has been earmarked to take over as host of the Anfield fixtures. It is expected to be confirmed when the full 61-match schedule is revealed on Friday.
Hosts England will still kick off the tournament with a group game against Samoa at St James’ Park in Newcastle.
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World Cup organisers have confirmed all 61 matches will be shown live across the BBC and also announced the re-introduction of the Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup, to be held in Warrington, with Ireland as a sixth participant.
World Cup chief executive Jon Dutton said: “For everyone involved in this trailblazing tournament, today is a very important and exciting milestone on our journey to 2022.
“We have suffered a setback but since that moment in August we have dedicated all our energy towards rebuilding.
“A huge amount of work has gone in behind the scenes and thanks to so many people we have the opportunity to deliver a bigger and better tournament next autumn.”
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