Thomond to host Rugby League World Cup match

[Mauler]

Thomond Park in Limerick will host a Rugby League World Cup group match in 2013, it was announced today.

The venues for the group stages and quarter-finals of the 14-team tournament were unveiled at a press conference at Salford's MediaCityUK

The revamped 25,600-capacity venue staged its first rugby league match ever at the beginning of November when a crowd of 3,000 saw Ireland beaten 16-34 by France despite Ireland win Joe Taylor's hat trick.

Rugby League Ireland (RLE) have previously said they hope Thomond Park will host Ireland's World Cup group game against Australia.

The successful bid was backed by Shannon Development and the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau.

Karen Brosnahan of Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, one of the Limerick bid organisers, said: "This is a fantastic day for Limerick, the Shannon Region, Thomond Park, Rugby League Ireland and the Irish sporting public. Today's announcement by the RFL is the ideal conclusion to an intensive 12 month campaign that was built on showcasing Limerick's superb sporting infrastructure and our superbly passionate sporting people."

2013 Rugby League World Cup Tournament Director Nigel Wood said: "I would like to congratulate the entire Limerick Bid Team who have been successful in their bid to host matches in what I am confident will be a World Cup that will help to enhance Rugby League's ever growing popularity in Ireland.

He added: "In putting together their bid over the last 12 months, Shannon Development and the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau have demonstrated a level of commitment that gives us confidence that the 2013 Rugby League World Cup will exceed everyone's expectations.

"It has been a fantastic and inspiring bidding process and we have been extremely impressed with the quality, detail and diverse nature of the host bids received."


Limerick is one of 18 venues, with the other 17 spread across England, Wales and France.

Officials also announced six other venues which will host participating teams while venues for the opening ceremony, the semi-finals and the final, as well as the precise fixtures, will be confirmed early in the new year.

Organisers are using the new grounds which St Helens and Salford will move into for the start of the 2012 Super League season, as well as the planned Pow Beck Stadium in Whitehaven. Widnes' Halton Stadium misses out because its synthetic pitch has not been sanctioned by the Rugby League International Federation.

The quarter-finals will be held at Headingley, Wrexham, Warrington and Wigan.

Wood said: "We experienced massive interest in hosting matches from all across Europe and we have had to make some tough decisions.

"We are excited that the tournament will visit established world-class rugby league venues but will also visit some new locations, including Bristol and Whitehaven, where we see unique opportunities to grow the game and to deliver a lasting legacy for our sport."

A total of 34 bids were submitted to the RFL by the July deadline, and the following were successful:

:: Avignon - The Parc des Sports, which drew a crowd of 16,866 for France's recent international against England, will host a group match.
:: Bristol - The Memorial Ground will stage a group match, while Filton College will be used as a team training venue.
:: Halifax - The renovated Shay Stadium will host a group match.
:: Huddersfield - The Galpharm Stadium, a semi-final venue in 2000, will host a group match.
:: Hull - Both the KC Stadium and Craven Park will host group matches with the city also hosting two team base camps and team training venues.
:: Leeds - Headingley will host a group match and a quarter-final while two teams will set up base camps in the city along with a team training venue being utilised.
:: Limerick - Thomond Park, which hosted a first rugby league match last month, will be a venue for a group match.
:: Perpignan - The Stade Gilbert Brutus, home of Catalan Dragons and a regular Test venue, will host a group match.
:: Neath - The Gnoll, home of South Wales Scorpions, will host a group match.
:: Rochdale - Spotland Stadium, which is the home of Championship One club Hornets, will host a group match.
:: Salford - The Reds' new City of Salford Stadium at Barton will host a group match and the city will also host a team base camp.
:: St Helens - Saints' new #26million Langtree Park will host a group match.
:: Warrington - The enlarged Halliwell Jones Stadium will host a group match and quarter-final. The town will also host a team base camp and the University of Chester will be used as a team training venue.
:: Whitehaven - The planned Pow Beck Stadium, whose initial capacity of 3,200 can be expanded to 5,000 with the use of temporary stands, will host group matches, with the Cumbria Sports Academy used as a team training venue.
:: Wigan - The Leigh Sports Village will host a group match and will be used as a training venue while Wigan's DW Stadium will host a quarter-final.
:: Wrexham - The Racecourse Stadium, home of North Wales Crusaders, will host a group match and a quarter-final, while Wrexham will also host a team base camp and training venue.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2011/1128 ... eague.html

[Dave Cahill]

How will people tell the difference?

[limecat]

How will people tell the difference?

The teams will have three extra players