After France’s departure, New Zealand’s rugby league boss stated Tuesday that they seek to co-host the 2025 World Cup with Australia.
France canceled 2025 on Monday, citing financial issues.
New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Greg Peters stated New Zealand and Australia co-hosted the 2017 World Cup and could again in 2025.
“We are interested in exploring alternative propositions in this part of the world, with our ARLC (Australian Rugby League Commission) colleagues and others, to create an alternative and exciting tournament that can replace France 2025,” Peters told New Zealand media.
“It’s early days, but before this news we had already started thinking about what it may look like at a high level, and we have some recent experience from 2017, when Australia and New Zealand hosted it.
“But we believe that with help from Pasifika countries and elements, we can create something pretty special down here.”
Peters stated the next hosts may host the tournament in 2025 despite a fast turnaround.
“It’s possible for 2025,” Peters remarked.
“Particularly after we missed the cycle with the postponement of the 2021 World Cup, it would be good to get it back into the cycle and avoid other major events around the world.”
Australia and New Zealand pulled out of the 2021 World Cup in England due to COVID-19.
Australia won its 12th World Cup in England.
The National Rugby League’s Andrew Abdo said it was too early to speculate on relocating the championship to Australia.
“We’re hard at work as to what that calendar looks like over the next five years,” Abdo told Australian reporters.
“Hopefully very soon we’ll be able to talk more openly about what those plans look like.”
