Rugby League World Cup hosts

Seven countries have hosted and co-hosted the Rugby League World Cup. England, France, Australia and New Zealand have hosted the World Cup on multiple occasions and the tournament has never been played outside its traditional 'heartlands' in these areas. The Rugby League International Federation is responsible for picking hosts. From 1954 to 2008 World Cups were sporadic and hosts were picked and tournaments were arranged between the four traditional rugby league playing countries and the RLIF. From 2013 and beyond countries have to send an application to the RLIF to host the World Cup as more teams participate in international rugby league.

List of hosts
YearHost(s)ContinentWinners
1954  France Europe  Great Britain
1957  Australia Oceania  Australia
1960  England Europe  Great Britain
1968  Australia /  New Zealand Oceania  Australia
1970  England Europe  Australia
1972  France Europe  Great Britain
1975 Various International  Australia
1977  Australia /  New Zealand Oceania  Australia
1985-1988 Various International  Australia
1989-1992 Various International  Australia
1995  England Europe  Australia
2000  England /  France / Ireland /  Scotland /  Wales Europe  Australia
2008  Australia Oceania  New Zealand
2013  England /  France / Ireland /  Wales Europe  Australia
2017  Australia /  New Zealand /  Papua New Guinea Oceania  Australia
2021  England Europe TBD
2025 TBD TBD TBD

Host bids

2013

Australia bid for the 2013 World Cup following their success of hosting the 2008 World Cup. The Rugby Football League (RFL) also submitted a bid for England and Wales to host the World Cup for the first time since 2000. The RFL bid was later accepted.

Winners:  England /  Wales

2017

South Africa bid to host the 2017 World Cup hoping to be the first African nation to host a rugby league World Cup believing that they help grow the game internationally. Australia also bid for the hosting rights again but with the help of New Zealand to co host. The RLIF accepted Australia and New Zealand's bid to host the 2017 World Cup as there would be more chance of the tournament being a success although South Africa was praised for their growing domestic game.

Winners:  Australia /  New Zealand

2021

The UAERL believed the country has the facilities, as well as the financial backing and infrastructure to host the World Cup. The bid was later cancelled after rugby union officials in the UAE had the leader of the bid arrested for "managing a sporting body which is not registered and therefore not recognised by the relevant government authority".[1] South Africa also expressed interest in hosting the tournament, but did not bid.

On 25 November 2015 England’s RFL announced it had government backed plans to host the 2021 World Cup after the success of 2013. The RFL put in an official bid for the 2021 World Cup on 30 June 2016 with £15m funding from the government and the aim to have over 1 million spectators. The USARL put a bid in with the hope to grow the sport throughout North America.

Winners:  England

2025

TBD

References
  1. "Sol Mokdad, president of Rugby League Commission, detained by Dubai Police". TheNational. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
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