RFL chairman blasts Australia and New Zealand as “selfish and cowardly”

RFL chairman Simon Johnson has labelled Australia and New Zealand as “selfish, parochial and cowardly” over their decision not go ahead with the World Cup, Sky Sports has revealed.

The tournament is still going ahead in the UK between October 23 and November 27 and is to include 16 teams for the first time.

In response to the Kiwis and Kangaroos puling out, Johnson said: “The World Cup organisers have bent over backwards and turned double somersaults to meet every single requirement that was asked of them, by the Australians particularly.

“To have those assurances completely dismissed, I am angry about this. This is a selfish, parochial and cowardly decision which has been taken by the Australian and New Zealand leadership.”