First step climbed on the road to Doncaster hosting Rugby League World Cup

The campaign to bring the Rugby League World Cup to Doncaster jumped the first hurdle this week - with the application handed in.
Chris Dungworth (Business Doncaster), Lorna Reeve (visit Doncaster ), Carl Hall  (Doncaster RLFC), Dean Wiffen (Doncaster council), Ben Lewis (keepmoat stadium) with the Rugby League World Cup bid. PIcture: Dean AtkinsChris Dungworth (Business Doncaster), Lorna Reeve (visit Doncaster ), Carl Hall  (Doncaster RLFC), Dean Wiffen (Doncaster council), Ben Lewis (keepmoat stadium) with the Rugby League World Cup bid. PIcture: Dean Atkins
Chris Dungworth (Business Doncaster), Lorna Reeve (visit Doncaster ), Carl Hall (Doncaster RLFC), Dean Wiffen (Doncaster council), Ben Lewis (keepmoat stadium) with the Rugby League World Cup bid. PIcture: Dean Atkins

The organisers emailed the bid through the Rugby League headquarters in Leeds in time for Tuesday's deadline - with the team behind the bid confident they had made the strongest case for Doncaster possible.

Doncaster RLFC chief executive Carl Hall, wh o has been closely involved in the bid, said: "We're optimistic. We've got ourselves in the running because of what we have been doing over the past few months.

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"I think we have made people stand up and take notice. But we can't do anything else now. But I will go on record and say the support we have had for the bid has been amazing.

"Everyone has really got behind us, and the Free Press has been amazing."

Dean Wiffen, the Doncaster Council sports development officer who has been overseeing the bid, said: "It's going to be a hard bidding process, but we have put in a competitive application that gives Doncaster the best possible chance."

Meanwhile, the Doncaster bid has the support of two RRugby League superleague clubs.

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Both Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity have written letters in support of the Doncaster bid, which also has the support of Wakefield Council, Rotherham Council, and Barnsley Council.

The successful applications will move onto the next stage of the bid. An announcement will be made on Monday August 20.

We launched our Rugby League World Cup 2021: Touch Down in Doncaster campaign to support efforts to make the borough a host town for the sport's most glittering showcase event.

We are also urging schools to join in, by designing posters in support of the campaign. We will print as many of them as we can in the paper. Children whose schools are not taking part are welcome to send us their own poster designs. If you want to get involved email [email protected], marking your message World Cup Campaign.

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A joint bid is being put together involving Doncaster Council, Business Doncaster, and Club Doncaster, the umbrella organisation which works with the borough's professional sports clubs.

In total, 16 teams will play 31 matches during the tournament. There will also be 14 venues hosting games. The men's Rugby League World Cup, the Women’s Rugby League World Cup, and Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup will all be played at the same time.