2013 Rugby League World Cup

The 2013 Rugby League World Cup will be the fourteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup. The tournament will be held in the United Kingdom and hosted by England and Wales.<!--Phrased like this due to official comments about UK hosting, England and Wales being joint hosts, the possibility of Scotland having home matches--> New Zealand are the defending champions having defeated Australia in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final.

Organisation

Background

The Rugby League International Federation has confirmed this competition as a part of its international programme. The RLIF announced a five-year plan to build up to the 2013 World Cup with the Four Nations tournament to be held in 2009, 2010 and 2011. It is hoped that more regular international competition will help develop the game.

2013 was chosen as the year of the World Cup to avoid a clash with the London Olympics in 2012. After 2013, the Cup will be held on a quadrennial cycle.

Host selection

In addition to the United Kingdom, Australia announced its intention to bid for the hosting rights, despite hosting the previous World Cup in 2008. The Australian Rugby League had been preparing a rival bid due to the success of the 2008 event but the business plan presented by the Rugby Football......
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