World cup 2021 draw made

[Tin basher]

England to open World Cup against Samoa

Hosts England will face Samoa, France and Greece in the group stage of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

www.bbc.co.uk

Draw for the men's, women's and wheelchair world cups has been made.

In the men's event groups
England have drawn Samoa, France and Greece
Scotland have drawn Australia, Fiji and Italy
Wales have drawn Tonga, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands.
Ireland have NZ, Lebanon and Jamaica.

I would expect England, Australia and NZ to win their respective groups with relative ease. Not so straight forward for Wales their result against the Kumuls of PNG will probably decide the group.

Ladies draw
Group A England, Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Canada
Group B, Australia, New Zealand, France and the Cook Islands.

Wheelchair draw
Group A England, Australia, Spain and Norway
Group B France, Wales, Scotland and the USA

 

[muttywhitedog]

Its been running longer than the Rugby Yawnion world cup actually....

 

[Tin basher]

Now seemingly it's lost both of the most likely men's finalists due to Covid concerns. Without Australia and NZ the men's competition is seriously devalued. The aussie's have won it 11 times, NZ once and England never have. (Won once playing as GB).

"Australia and New Zealand have pulled out of the Rugby League World Cup because of "player welfare and safety concerns" related to Covid-19....The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) have asked organisers if it can be rescheduled for 2022. NZRL chief Greg Peters said it was "simply too unsafe" to take part."

Australia and NZ pull out of World Cup

Australia and New Zealand pull out of the Rugby League World Cup because of "player welfare and safety concerns" related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

www.bbc.co.uk

If it goes ahead without those two teams it would be like the rugby union world cup without the springboks and the all blacks.

 

[Rugby-Jock-Lad]

Well that's that then....... :-(

 

[vim_fuego]

Better to postpone I think

 

[Rugby-Jock-Lad]

Unfortunate. Not a RL fan per se, (Union primarily) but don't mind watching it on the side. RL doesn't have enuff top teams to justify itself since this is the case. Postponement is defo the way ahead.