Rugby League World Cup bosses will fly to Australia in January to meet with NRL clubs over biosecurity issues for next year’s delayed tournament in England.
Just 100 days after pulling out of this year’s event with little notice, Australian and New Zealand officials were among those to sign participation agreements for 2022.
A new schedule was released on Friday night, with the tournament starting a week earlier to avoid a clash with the FIFA World Cup but with the same order of games.
That will include Australia’s opening clash with Fiji being the second game of the tournament on October 15, just 13 days after the NRL grand final.
Organisers will consider having warm-up matches in Australia in a bid to make life easier for nations made up of NRL players or will otherwise fly players to England as they exit the league.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Managing relationships that hit all-time lows last year will be crucial for the tournament’s success.
World Cup CEO Jon Dutton insisted things had turned a corner with NRL and NZRL counterparts Andrew Abdo and Greg Peters in recent months.
“We went through some difficult moments,” Dutton admitted to AAP.
“We took a few weeks to probably feel sorry for ourselves, but since then we’re back.
“We’ve had something like 170 contracts to renegotiate. That’s with our team, all the way to the nations, partners, commercial agreements, broadcast agreements.
“We have had some really good constructive conversations … rebuilding relationships and looking forward.
“I can’t speak highly enough of those two organisations (NRL and NZRL) in terms of looking forward rather than poring over the past and what’s happened.”
While organisers initially considered cancelling the tournament altogether after Australia and New Zealand’s withdrawal, Dutton is adamant the postponement can make the event better.
Clubs also shape as an equally crucial issue, with Dutton to head to Australia in late January to meet with the 16 bosses.
“It’s important for me to go to Australia and meet every club and chief executive,” he said. “I’m targeting 50 meetings while I’m over there.”
Player welfare concerns from NRL teams were one of the major stumbling blocks before the 2021 withdrawal.
Players should now be able to avoid quarantine on return to Australia, while there are hopes restrictions will be largely eased dependent on the global situation with the virus.
“It is a bit of relationship building but also to show we can look after players and provide the safest possible environment,” Dutton said.
“We just have to acknowledge that what was relevant back in July, what is relevant today and what will be relevant in the UK in October will be different.
“And everyone is aware of that.”
Dutton confirmed the tournament will not put in place a mandatory vaccination policy for players.
“We’ll liaise with our colleagues in the NRL,” he said. “What we’ll put in place is what other people would expect. The vaccination rates both here and Australia are heartening. We’ll adhere to whatever Public Health England rules are in place.”
Nat
Roar Guru
I just read that as well. It's a bit weak of an excuse when the UK have their vax rate up and stadiums have been full for months. Sounds very much like an excuse. I say send another team. Panther had their chance to expand their brand identity but WS seems enough.
Dionysus
Guest
I just read that Penrith are refusing to go to the UK to play the WCC. Shame on you Penrith! Seriously, it is this supercilious attitude of some NRL Clubs that undermines our game on the national stage.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Yeah I thought about living in Tassie, may still one day. Beautiful place but am happy in my new abode & closer to family. Enjoy your life down there too mate!
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
Sounds like you’re doing well mate. Good to hear. I’m setting down to a great life down here in tassie. Only one more retirement to go. It’ll be my third. Then it’s feet up and have a beer.
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
Was that an attempt at humour? You’re only good for flaming. Stick to that.
Paul B
Guest
There is no way such a tolerant, non argumentative, non delusional good looking man would get kicked to the kerb!
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Yeah you would be dumb enough to think that. I got another property & renting out my current property as an investment. Yes I was really kicked to the kerb lol
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
There you did it again. Nothing new. Same old stuff. Do better.
Paul B
Guest
How's it getting boring when you reply to mine and any other comment you disagree with? Only in RL where it's illegal to have a different opinion than the die-hards.
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
No worries mate, but if you are going to create all these IDs at least make some effort to write something new. It’s getting boring.
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
No worries. Can’t see why you bother making so many IDs when you just repeat the same drivel.
Paul B
Guest
No it's 100s obsuble! It even came from your Keyboard. I'm offended at the mention of 5
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
New ID? That makes 5.
Paul B
Guest
Ps *Leaguie mate. You should know this mate with the amount of times you've defended this fledgling sport
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
Yeah sure. I could not care less what you think. You’re an afl fanatic with a long track record of disparaging the game of league. You’ve been doing it for years. Don’t expect any respect.
clipper
Roar Rookie
I'm a fan of many sports - AFL is not actually top of the list. It really doesn't bother me that you attack people all the time, but it actually makes you look aggressive in a 1950's mould (back when league had some sort of following in England)
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
You deserve it. All you do is attack the game. It’s an irrational habit of yours. An afl fan in a rugby league site perpetually running the game down. What do you expect? A medal?
clipper
Roar Rookie
Once again Otuble you're attacking the poster instead of the point - do you agree with NobleSavage or not?
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
You really are a miserable little man aren’t you?
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
Given the number of games in a World Cup I can’t see any reason why that figure of over 850 million isn’t accurate to be honest.