The announcement of the host cities and towns was held today, with around 80% of the games being held within the Northern Powerhouse with the majority of fixtures held in Yorkshire and the North-West. There will also be games for Middlesborough, Workington, Coventry, Newcastle and London.
After some impressive bids, it looks set to be the most inclusive event so far for rugby league. There will be a double header at Old Trafford for both the men’s and women’s final as well as Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena for the wheelchair final. Liverpool will also host the women’s opening ceremony, with Newcastle hosting the men’s.
There will be a trip to London for one of the men’s semi-finals where there will be a huge first for rugby league. Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium will host its first sporting fixture other than football. Leeds’ Elland Road will host the other semi-final.
There was also an announcement for the training bases, with Preston the first name to be revealed.
HOST CITIES/TOWNS AND VENUES
NORTH-WEST
Bolton (The University of Bolton Stadium): two men’s games – an England group game and quarter-final
Liverpool (Anfield): marquee quarter-final tie, the women’s opening ceremony and initial England game
Liverpool (M&S Bank Arena): the wheelchair Rugby final
Preston: first training base to be revealed
St Helens (Totally Wicked Stadium): three men’s group games
Trafford (Old Trafford): men’s and women’s finals as a double-header
Warrington (Halliwell Jones Stadium): three men’s group games
Leigh (Leigh Sports Village): three men’s group games
WEST MIDLANDS
Coventry (Ricoh Arena): one men’s game
YORKSHIRE
Doncaster (Keepmoat Stadium): three men’s group games
Huddersfield (John Smiths Stadium): a men’s quarter-final
Hull (KCOM Stadium): two men’s games, including a quarter-final.
Leeds (Elland Road): a men’s semi-final
Leeds (Emerald Headingley Stadium): three men’s games and four women’s games
Sheffield (Bramall Lane): England men’s group game
Sheffield (EIS Sheffield): host of a group and both semi-finals in the wheelchair tournament
York (The Community Stadium): a women’s group game and both women’s semi-finals
NORTH-EAST
Middlesbrough (The Riverside Stadium): a significant men’s group game
Newcastle (St James’ Park): the opening England men’s group game and the men’s opening ceremony
WEST CUMBRIA
Allerdale (Workington Community Stadium): three men’s group games
LONDON
London (Emirates Stadium): a men’s semi-final
London (The Copper Box Arena): host of the England group in the wheelchair tournament
