A NEW 3G pitch on Victoria Park is nearing completion.

Finishing touches are now being made to the £1.2million project, which is part of the legacy of the town’s hosting of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

The RLWC’s CreatedBy legacy fund provided a £600,000 grant for the scheme – which will be completed in the coming weeks – following a bid from Warrington Borough Council and the Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation.

Remaining monies are being provided by the council.

Warrington will host the Papua New Guinea national team during the tournament later this year, while three group stage games will be staged at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

And the town will also be home to the Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup.

Cllr Tony Higgins, WBC’s executive board member for leisure and community, said: “We are delighted that this scheme is nearing completion.

Warrington Guardian:

“It will be a fantastic asset that will meet the needs of our communities, now and in the future.

“Warrington is a town known for its love of rugby league, and this new pitch is an important part of our ambitions to create a local centre of excellence and support our continued legacy of being a proud rugby league town.

“Not only will the pitch greatly benefit local rugby league groups, schools and of course the Wolves, it will also be used as a venue for the showcase physical disability rugby league tournament during this year’s Rugby League World Cup – when Warrington will host five international PDRL teams, as well as the Papua New Guinea men’s team and three men’s group games at the Halliwell Jones stadium.”

New Zealand v Lebanon will be the first of the trio of games taking place at Warrington Wolves’ home ground on October 24, followed by PNG’s game with the Cook Islands on November 2.

And the HJ will then host Samoa’s clash with France on November 7.