Michael Steele/Getty Images
The Kiwis’ Moses Leota playing against Australia last year at the World Cup.
The number of teams participating in the next Rugby League World Cup has been slashed from 16 to 1src and the tournament pushed back to 2src26.
The women’s Rugby League World Cup will remain an eight-team competition and take place in 2src26, but then happen again in 2src28, while the following men’s World Cup will take place in 2src3src and will consist of 1src countries for the first time since 2srcsrc8.
No host nation has been announced for the 2src26 World Cups, other than it will be in the southern hemisphere.
However, New Zealand is one of the nations bidding for the rights to host it, which would include games across the Pacific Islands. Plus there is one other bid, likely to be from Australia.
International Rugby League chair Troy Grant said they can’t announce which countries have made bids for commercial reasons.
Gareth Copley/Getty Images
For countries like Jamaica it is now significantly tougher for them to compete in a World Cup.
“The commercial [aspect] is about which partners they’re talking to, which countries and government conversations are going on,” Grant said.
“I don’t want to compr
…. to be continued
Read full article at the Original Source
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Stuff.co.nz – https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/132677942/rugby-league-world-cup-pushed-back-to-2026-confirmed-for-southern-hemisphere.html
![No legs, no problem! The mini rugby player who grabbed the ball and SA’s hearts [Video]](https://rugby-247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/16336-no-legs-no-problem-the-mini-rugby-player-who-grabbed-the-ball-and-sas-hearts-video-218x150.jpg "No legs, no problem! The mini rugby player who grabbed the ball and SA’s hearts [Video]")
