ORGANISERS of this year’s Rugby League World Cup remained confident today that the tournament will go ahead as planned and that Australia will be in England to defend their title.

The event had been in doubt due to the surge in Covid-19 cases and resistance from Australia’s National Rugby League clubs, which have been concerned about travel and quarantine restrictions.

Tournament chief executive Jon Dutton admitted at a press conference that Australia were yet to sign the participation agreement, and International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant revealed that potential replacements have been identified in the event of any teams withdrawing.

But Dutton said organisers have put a team of officials in Sydney in a bid to get a deal over the line and that all 21 nations are still expected to come to Britain. 

“We appreciate there are still some challenges for us to work through,” he added. “But we wouldn’t be making this announcement today if we didn’t have the confidence that those nations would arrive in this country and compete in the tournament.”

The tournament kicks off on October 23 when England’s men face Samoa at St James’s Park, the first of 61 matches in the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions which will all be shown live by the BBC.

The men’s and women’s finals will be played at Old Trafford on November 27 and Dutton said ticket sales have far exceeded expectations.

Grant added: “The World Cup going ahead this year is critical. There was no international rugby league in 2020 and it was sorely missed.

“If it didn’t happen there could be immense damage to the reputation of the international game.”