The training bases for the 32 teams competing in the 2021 World Cup have been announced this morning, as competition organisers mark 500 days until the start of the tournament.
The bases were revealed via various social media accounts of host cities, such as Middlesbrough FC and Welcome to Yorkshire, with a series of short videos and featured the return of the RLWC2021 teacher, who ‘home schooled’ players and coaches from each nation on the location of their base via video call.
There were also a host of famous faces who got involved in the reveals, including footballer Jesse Lingard, cricketer Keaton Jennings, boxer Tony Bellew and TV chef Simon King among others.
The host cities come from across the country with six different counties represented – Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, County Durham, Northumberland and Middlesex.
I’m buzzing to be given the honour of revealing where England and Australia’s men’s teams will be based for @RLWC2021! It’s going to be awesome! #RLWC2021 #PowerOfTogether pic.twitter.com/VdSofWXhOs
— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) June 10, 2020
“Today marks another hugely exciting milestone on the road to Rugby League World Cup 2021 as we celebrate 500 days until the opening fixture at St James’ Park, Newcastle in October next year,” said RLWC2021 chief executive Jon Dutton. “It’s great to finally be able to reveal the team bases to the nations and their supporters along with our host towns and cities.
“We know that all our hosts are immensely proud of their community, so there is no doubting that all the nations are guaranteed an extremely warm welcome when they arrive. We’re calling on hosts to adopt their incoming nations and treat them as one of their own, cheering them on and showing them the very best of what their people and place has to offer.”
“Our refreshed tournament identity which has togetherness at its core serves as a signpost to hope, optimism and excitement for what’s to come in 2021 as we continue to build momentum towards what promises to be the biggest and best ever Rugby League World Cup.”
Here’s a full list of the training bases and who’ll be situated at them:
Manchester – England Men and Australia Men
York – New Zealand Men, Australia Women, New Zealand Women, Cook Islands Women and France Women
Tees Valley – Cook Islands Men
Liverpool and St Helens – Tonga Men and Italy Men
Doncaster – Samoa Men
Hull – Fiji Men
Warrington – Papua New Guinea Men
Leigh and Wigan – Lebanon Men
Bolton – France Men
Newcastle – Scotland Men
London – England Wheelchair, Australia Wheelchair, Spain Wheelchair and Norway Wheelchair
Preston – Wales Men
Leeds – Jamaica Men, Ireland Men, England Women, Brazil Women, Papua New Guinea Women and Canada Women
Sheffield – Greece Men, France Wheelchair, Scotland Wheelchair, USA Wheelchair, Wales Wheelchair
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