The next Rugby League World Cup will be held in the United Kingdom it has been announced.
The first ever World Cup in any Rugby was held in 1954 when France hosted the Rugby League World Cup. Great Britain just sneaking home 12-16 in Paris against France. Further Rugby League World Cups have been held in various ways. However only 3 Nations have ever been World Champions-Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand.
But Great Britain is now England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Rugby League is the fastest growing sport in Europe with such Nations as Germany, Serbia, Holland, Latvia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Belgium, Norway, Sweden all starting to play Rugby League since 2000. Serbia has a young player who played against Germany in 2007 in Soni Radovanovic now playing professionally in England at Championship side Whitehaven and professional Rugby League teams in France and England are now looking across Europe to sign good players.
Germany will be entering the qualifiers which will start in 2011. Some of the teams they could play are Serbia, Italy, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic. To play in the Qualifiers a Nation must have domestic teams in place. Currently Germany has state teams in Bavaria, Hessen and Baden Württemberg.
In 2010 Nord Rhein Westfalen are looking to join in.Bad Reichenhall play Rugby League & Union and Calbach Raccoons near Frankfurt have been formed and they will play only Rugby League. They will play and travel in the winter and summer months against other European teams until a league can be formed in Germany to play. Under 16s and U18s development is being done in a number of places in Germany including Heidelberg, Büdingen, Bad Reichenhall.
The World Cup in 2013 is likely to use Wembley and Old Trafford (Manchester Uniteds Stadium) as both hold annual Rugby League finals. Other Stadiums at Wigan, Hull, Warrington, Huddersfield and others which have Rugby League clubs playing out of them are also to be used. The biggest crowd for a World Cup game was the 1992 Final at Wembley Stadium when 73,631. The most Capped Rugby League player is Ruben Wiki .
