ST HELENS has been selected as a training location for two nations set to compete at the Rugby League World Cup 2021.
Ruskin Drive and Cowley International College among confirmed RLWC2021 training bases, which have been announced,
Tournament organisers today revealed the 16 towns and cities across the country that will act as training and team base camps, with St Helens joining major cities such as London, Manchester and Liverpool on the list.
St Helens Council’s £3.6m Ruskin Drive Sports Village in Dentons Green – which reopened in July 2017 following a major redevelopment – is home to a RFL-certified floodlit artificial rugby pitch.
Nearby Cowley International College boasts top class training facilities to an International standard and is used by Super League leaders, Saints.
Saints chief executive, Mike Rush, said: “For the town to play host to two International Rugby League teams is a huge honour.
“We look forward to learning about and embracing the culture this will bring to our community.”
Earlier this year, St Helens was confirmed as one of 21 host venues at the Rugby League World Cup 2021, with Saints 18,000 capacity Totally Wicked Stadium securing three men’s group matches.
Qualification is still ongoing across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments and all nations will be confirmed in time for the draw, which takes place on November 27.
Following the draw, each of the towns and cities will be allocated to a nation allowing planning to commence for adopt a team initiatives and local community engagement events.
READ> Kevin Naiqama shows his class with hat-trick
St Helens Council has said it hopes the tournament could boost St Helens’ economy by more than £3m.
Kiwi Sonny Bill Williams trained with New Zealand at Cowley during the 2013 tournament
Welcoming the latest announcement – outgoing Mayor of St Helens Pat Ireland said:
“This underscores St Helens’ place at the heart of this global celebration of Rugby League.
"We will work to make sure the visiting teams pass on their skills to our grass roots.
“Ruskin Drive is one of the finest multi-purpose sports complexes in the region, and some of rugby league’s biggest stars train day in day out at Cowley International College.
"The teams lucky enough to use these excellent facilities will certainly have everything they need to prepare properly for their games.
“Hosting Australia against Fiji in 2013 showed the world how welcoming St Helens is as a host for a major sporting event, and we’re more than ready to do it all again.”
(left to right) Saints stars Morgan Knowles, Luke Thompson and Theo Fages workout at Cowley International College
Jon Dutton, RLWC2021 Chief Executive, commented: “Today, we are really pleased to be able to announce which towns and cities will be used as hotel and training bases for the competing nations.
"Each chosen location submitted a compelling bid and our decisions represent our confidence in each of these towns and cities to provide a world-class host experience to the visiting nations in 2021.
“These chosen hosts will play such an important role in welcoming all teams and nations, offering them a base and helping them prepare in the best possible environment so they can perform at their peak on the pitch.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here