ENGLAND will not bail out the failed bid to take the Rugby League World Cup to North America by stepping in to host it in 2025.
The Rugby League International Federation will put the tournament back out to tender this year after promoter Jason Moore did not come up with the goods after provisionally being handed the rights to host it.
But Jon Dutton, chief executive of the World Cup on these shores in 2021, admitted they will not say they can put it on again four years later.
He said: “It won’t be coming back to England in 2025 and I suspect it might not do for a while
“But we’re really keen to work with whoever it is that’s going to stage it. We’re keen to pass on our knowledge.”
England find out who they play in the opening game of the 2021 tournament when the draw is made on November 27.
Dutton has lofty aims, with a hope of shifting 750,000 tickets as games will be held at Old Trafford, Anfield, Bramall Lane and Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, the first non-football match ever lined up for the facility.
But he admits back-up plans have been drawn up if stadia given games are not ready, the main worry being Allerdale in Cumbria.
And he hopes whatever work is done has an effect domestically to get more people into games while clubs like Warrington reap the rewards from their marketing of Super League matches.
Dutton added: “The World Cup does need a platform and we’re very aware of the fact that everything we do has to benefit the sport.
“When the trophies are handed out and the fireworks have gone off, we disappear and the sport has to take the benefit from it.
“The true legacy might be more spectators, more TV viewers, more people engaged with the sport.
“Warrington and others are leading the way as they know it’s challenging. People have different choices and we’re going to have to work much harder to get people into venues.”