Rugby League World Cup 2021
The delayed Rugby League World Cup starts this weekend. The competition was due to start last October but was postponed due to the withdrawal of champions Australia and New Zealand, who cited safety and welfare concerns due to Covid-19.
What is being billed as the “biggest and best” Rugby League World Cup starts this weekend after a delay due to coronavirus concerns. Newcastle United’s St Jame’s Park is the venue for the opening game, which will see hosts England take on Samoa with kick-off at 14:30 (UK time).
Who Do the Bookmakers Feel Will Win the Rugby League World Cup?
It will come to no surprise to Rugby League fans that the reigning champions Australia are heavy favourites to retain their crown, bet365 have them as 1/2 to win outright. It’s a steep drop to New Zealand at 4/1 with Samoa making the top three at 8/1. The World Cup hosts England are available at 9/1, and Tonga (12/1) are the only other country available at double digits.
Fiji is priced at 100/1, and Papua New Guinea 250/1.
The rest of the teams are rank outsiders and it would be a seismic shock to the sport if they featured in the final. France, Ireland and the Cook Islands are all priced at 500/1 and Scotland and Lebanon are both available at 750/1. Italy and Wales are 1000/1 and Greece and Jamaica complete the line-ups at odds of 1,500/1.
Rugby League World Cup Fixtures (Men)
Here you can see all the fixtures for the men’s Rugby League World Cup fixtures;
Saturday October 15th
England v Samoa, Group A, St James’ Park (Newcastle), 2.30pm
Australia v Fiji, Group B, Headingley Stadium (Leeds), 7.30pm
Sunday October 16th
Scotland v Italy, Group B, Kingston Park (Newcastle), 2.30pm
Jamaica v Ireland, Group C, Headingley (Leeds), 5pm
New Zealand v Lebanon, Group C, Halliwell Jones Stadium (Warrington), 7.30pm
Monday October 17th
France v Greece, Group A, Keepmoat Stadium (Doncaster), 7.30pm
Tuesday October 18th
Tonga v Papua New Guinea, Group D, Totally Wicked Stadium (St Helens), 7.30pm
Wednesday October 19th
Wales v Cook Islands, Group D, Leigh Sports Village (Leigh), 7.30pm
Friday October 21st
Australia v Scotland, Group B, Ricoh Arena (Coventry), 7.30pm
Saturday October 22nd
Fiji v Italy, Group B, Kingston Park (Newcastle), 2.30pm
England v France, University of Bolton Stadium (Bolton), 5pm
New Zealand v Jamaica, Group C, MKM Stadium (Hull), 7.30pm
Sunday October 23rd
Lebanon v Ireland, Group C, Leigh Sports Village (Leigh), 2.30pm
Samoa v Greece, Group A, Keepmoat Stadium (Doncaster), 5pm
Monday October 24th
Tonga v Wales, Group D, Totally Wicked Stadium (St Helens), 7.30pm
Tuesday October 25th
Papua New Guinea v Cook Islands, Group D, Halliwell Jones Stadium (Warrington), 7.30pm
Friday October 28th
New Zealand v Ireland, Group C, Headingley (Leeds), 7.30pm
Saturday October 29th
England v Greece, Group A, Bramall Lane (Sheffield), 2.30pm
Fiji v Scotland, Group B, Kingston Park (Newcastle), 5pm
Australia v Italy, Group B, Totally Wicked Stadium (St Helens), 7.30pm
Sunday October 30th
Lebanon v Jamaica, Group C, Leigh Sports Village (Leigh), 12pm
Tonga v Cook Islands, Group D, Riverside Stadium (Middlesbrough), 2.30pm
Samoa v France, Group A, Halliwell Jones Stadium (Warrington), 5pm
Monday October 31st
Papua New Guinea v Wales, Group D, Keepmoat Stadium (Doncaster), 7.30pm
Friday November 4th
Quarter Final 1 – Winner B v Runner-up C, John Smith’s Stadium (Huddersfield), 7.30pm
Saturday November 5th
Quarter Final 2 – Winner/Runner-up A v Winner/Runner-up D, DW Stadium (Wigan), 2.30pm
Quarter Final 3 – Winner C v Runner-up B, MKM Stadium (Hull), 7.30pm
Sunday November 6th
Quarter Final 4 – Winner/Runner-up A v Winner/Runner-up D, University of Bolton Stadium (Bolton), 2.30pm
Friday November 11th
Semi Final 1 – Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 3, Elland Road (Leeds), 7.45pm
Saturday November 12th
Semi Final 2 – Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 4, Emirates Stadium (London), 2.30pm
Saturday November 19th
World Cup 2021 Final, Old Trafford (Manchester), 4pm
England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland Teams
With the tournament being held in England, some Rugby betting fans feel England have a good shout at gaining revenge for their 6-0 loss against Australia in the last World Cup, which took place in Australia in 2017. Some predict that the home nations of Wales and Scotland could also benefit from the competition being held in England. Ireland could also perform above expectations.
Below you can see the squads for the English, Scottish, Wales and Ireland Teams;
Andy Ackers (Salford Red Devils) Joe Batchelor (St Helens) John Bateman (Wigan Warriors) Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Mike Cooper (Wigan Warriors) Herbie Farnworth (Brisbane Broncos) Ryan Hall (Hull KR) Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants) Morgan Knowles (St Helens) Matty Lees (St Helens) Tommy Makinson (St Helens) Michael McIlorum (Catalans Dragons) Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons) Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos) Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan Warriors) Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters) Marc Sneyd (Salford Red Devils) Luke Thompson (Canterbury Bulldogs) Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons) Kallum Watkins (Salford Red Devils) Jack Welsby (St Helens) Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders) George Williams (Warrington Wolves) Dom Young (Newcastle Knights)
Charlie Emslie (Barrow Raiders) Shane Toal (Barrow Raiders) Keiran Buchanan (Batley Bulldogs) Logan Bayliss-Brow (Brisbane Broncos) Bailey Hayward (Caterbury Bulldogs) Davey Dixon (Dewsbury Rams) Dale Ferguson (Dewsbury Rams) Lewis Clarke (Edinburgh Eagles) Ben Hellewell (Featherstone Rovers) Lachlan Walmsley (Halifax Panthers) Kane Linnett (Hull KR) Calum Gahan (London Broncos) Alex Walker (London Broncos) Kyle Schneider (Mackay Cutters) Euan Aitken (New Zealand Warriors) Luke Bain (Parramatta Eels) Ryan Brierley (Salford Red Devils) Sam Luckley (Salford Red Devils) Bayley Liu (Sheffield Eagles) James Bell (St Helens) Matty Russell (Toulouse) Liam Hood (Wakefield) Guy Graham (Whitehaven RLFC) Jack Teanby (York City Knights)
Caleb Aekins (Leigh Centurions)
Bailey Antrobus (York City Knights)
Gavin Bennion (Rochdale Hornets)
Joe Burke (West Wales Raiders)
Chester Butler (Bradford Bulls)
Mike Butt (Swinton Lions)
Connor Davies (Workington Town)
Curtis Davies (Whitehaven)
Rhys Evans (Bradford Bulls)
Will Evans (Whitehaven)
Kyle Evans (Wakefield Trinity)
Ben Evans (Bradford Bulls)
Dan Fleming (Featherstone Rovers)
Matty Fozard (Widnes Vikings)
Dalton Grant (London Broncos)
Tom Hopkins (Barrow Raiders)
Elliot Kear (Bradford Bulls)
Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions)
James Olds (Valley Diehards)
Ollie Olds (Valley Diehards)
Josh Ralph (Mounties)
Luis Roberts (Leigh Centurions)
Anthony Walker (Bradford Bulls)
Rhys Williams (Salford Red Devils)
James Bentley (Leeds) Keanan Brand (Leigh) Liam Byrne (Wigan) Ed Chamberlain (Leigh) Josh Cook (Canterbury Bulldogs) Frankie Halton (Hull KR) James Hasson (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Jaimin Jolliffe (Gold Coast Titans) Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters) Joe Keyes (Halifax) Toby King (Warrington) George King (Hull KR) Ben Mathiou (Featherstone) James McDonnell (Wigan) Ronan Michael (York) Robbie Mulhern (Warrington) Richie Myler (Leeds) Dan Norman (St Helens) Henry O’Kane (Wests Tigers) Harry Rushton (Huddersfield) Innes Senior (Huddersfield) Louis Senior (Hull KR) Michael Ward (Batley)
UK visitors can watch the Rugby League World Cup 2021 from 15 October to 19 November on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer and online; Live commentary on Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra.
