Last update on.From section Rugby LeagueAustralia defeated England in Brisbane to win 2017 Rugby League World CupAfter the withdrawal of New Zealand and Australia as champions, the Rugby League World Cup this year will be moved to 2022.Two countries with Covid-19 were expelled from the tournament due to safety and player welfare concerns.The World Cup, which included men's, ladies', and wheelchair events, was scheduled to begin in Newcastle on 23 Oct.On Thursday, a confirmation of the decision will be made.This follows several emergency meetings that were called following the sudden withdrawals of Australia, New Zealand and New Zealand.The organizers were only given four minutes notice by the antipodean neighbors that they intended to withdraw on 22 July. Simon Johnson, chairman of Rugby Football League (RFL), called it a "selfish parochial, cowardly decision".After discussions with the board, players, and other stakeholders, Jon Dutton, the tournament's chief executive, gave it a 50-50 chance to go ahead as planned this year.The spread of fresh covid in Australia has forced many states to reimpose restrictions. However, most coronavirus restrictions in England were lifted despite an increase in cases.Concerns were raised about staff and players being forced to remain in quarantine for 14 day upon their return to Australia. Australia's borders are currently closed due to the pandemic.Officials from the Rugby League estimate that between 400 and 500 players, staff, and officials of the Australian National Rugby League (representing several countries) would be affected by quarantine measures upon their return to Australia after the tournament.These measures would ensure that players only return to NRL clubs two weeks prior to the start of trial games for 2022.When you consider the wheelchair and women's events, the number of people who could be affected is much higher.This would be a huge blow to English Rugby League, which has been hard hit by the financial fallout from the pandemic.In the last year, more than 32 million pounds of loan support was provided by the UK to rugby league.Australia was the 11-time and current men's champions. New Zealand, however, is expected to challenge them.This event was regarded as one the most inclusive ever held in Britain and was to be held across 16 cities in England.The opening match between England and Samoa was to be played at St James' Park, the home of Premier League football team Newcastle United.Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium hosted the women's and men's finals in a back to back spectacle on 27/11.Analysis - "It's now fingers crossed that 2022"BBC rugby league correspondent Dave WoodsThe NRL clubs of Australia have won.After the Australian Rugby League Commission voiced their disapproval, they decided that they wouldn't allow their players to participate in the World Cup in England.Covid is only one aspect of the larger issue.Despite the fact that the RLWC2021 organisers did everything possible to ensure that the tournament was as safe as possible, there is still the risk of players getting the virus.This is because these NRL clubs are only interested in their own self-interest. They are more concerned with protecting their domestic competition in the 2022 season than they are about the wider picture of what a World Cup might do for the international game.It is to be hoped that they will show honor when they declare they will support a rearranged Rugby League World Cup.It's difficult to predict how bad the pandemic will strike Australia in 2022, with the Covid numbers in Australia still not reaching other countries and their vaccine roll-out programme behind schedule. It is possible that they will be less inclined to send their players abroad if there is a sudden spike in Covid cases in the coming months.The Rugby League World Cup organizers will continue to work hard in the interim.Rebookings of stadiums will be necessary. In order to accommodate the delayed event, cities and towns where the Women's, Men's and Wheelchair teams will be based will need to be reprimed. Broadcasters will need to reschedule.The planning for this year's tournament took over four years. They now have less than 14 months left to complete a lot more work.Budgets are due to expire at the end of November. Finances will be stretched as the government will have to invest 25 million more in the tournament.Jon Dutton, chief executive of RLWC2021, and his board had no choice but to stop their efforts to make the tournament go as planned due to the events of the last weeks and the stance taken by the NRL clubs.We are keeping our fingers crossed for 2022.
