England in final three to host future World Cup

The tendering nations have been confirmed for the 2029 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.

It will be the first stand-alone edition of the wheelchair event.

Until 2022, it was part of a ‘Festival of World Cups’ including other events such as the University World Cup, and was part of the build-up to the men’s and women’s tournaments.

The 2021 World Cup (played in 2022) in England was the first time it was a centrepiece event, being played at the same time as the two ‘main’ tournaments – with hosts England winning for the second time, after two successive tournaments losing to France in the final.

The 2026 tournament will be the second and last time the wheelchair event is part of the three-event World Cup, and it will include eight teams competing in Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Before France pulled out from hosting, the number of teams was planned to double, but rescheduling stopped this plan from being put in motion.

England in final three to host future World Cup

International Rugby League have today announced the three ‘tendering nations’ for 2029, with England included.

France, England and the USA have moved to the next stage of bidding, which IRL says will close in mid-February 2025.

RFL CEO Tony Sutton said: “After the success of hosting the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in England in 2022, we plan to submit a strong and determined bid to bring the tournament back,” said Rugby Football League CEO Tony Sutton.

“We have worked hard to capitalise on the huge increase in awareness and popularity of Wheelchair Rugby League since.

“Dozens of new teams have been established and hundreds more players of all ages, male and female, disabled and non-disabled, have discovered the unique appeal – and challenges – of the wheelchair game; participation in 2023 increased by an impressive 74% on the 2022 figure.”

In 2022, the three venues in England were the Copper Box Arena in London, Manchester Central Convention Complex and the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

The most recent Wheelchair Challenge Cup final, won by Catalans Dragons, was held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

However, the RFL have confirmed to Serious About Rugby League that the venues for the bid for 2029 are yet to be finalised.