Rugby League World Cup heads to Warrington

With four men’s matches and the entire PDRL tournament being held in the town, we have arguably the biggest hive of activity of rugby league’s international showpiece right on our doorstep.

Across the three group stages matches and one knockout game to be held at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, some of the world’s finest players will grace Warrington Wolves’ home ground.

Here is a look ahead to the matches being hosted at the home of The Wire…

NEW ZEALAND VS LEBANON

Group C – Sunday, October 16, kick off 7.30pm

They are used to holding sway over the world of rugby union, but New Zealand also come into this tournament atop the world rankings in the 13-man game.

That may largely be down to the inactivity of neighbours Australia, who have not played an international fixture since 2019, but the Kiwis arrive in England with high hopes of regaining the trophy they last won back in 2008.

Head coach Michael Maguire leads a squad rammed full of world-class talent including Sydney Roosters’ Joey Manu, Melbourne Storm playmaker Jahrome Hughes and Penrith Panthers enforcer James Fisher-Harris to name but a few.

Facing them down in the opener will be a Lebanon side who will be aiming to qualify from the group phases, with much resting on the strong-looking half-back pairing of Parramatta Eels’ Mitchell Moses and Adam Doueihi of Wests Tigers.

New Zealand face Lebanon in Warrington on Sunday. Picture by SWPix.com

PAPUA NEW GUINEA VS COOK ISLANDS

Group D – Tuesday, October 25, kick off 7.30pm.

PNG are based in Warrington throughout the tournament and they will hope that means they can count on some local support for this one.

A clash between two islands nations in which rugby league is the national sport will be a colourful and vibrant affair to entertain the crowd.

The Kumuls’ exciting-looking backline features South Sydney try-machine Alex Johnston and the Melbourne pair of Justin Olam and Xavier Coates while familiar faces in the Kukis squad include former Warrington centre Anthony Gelling.

Star winger Alex Johnston will be a key member of the Papua New Guinea side based in Warrington for the tournament. Picture by photosport.nz

SAMOA VS FRANCE

Group A – Sunday, October 30, kick off 5pm

This could be a critical final game in a group that also includes hosts England.

Samoa will be favourites as they will be bringing a star-studded squad to England that includes the likes of Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Izack Tago and Jarome Luai – all of whom were in Penrith Panthers’ NRL Grand Final-winning side.

Do not write off France, though, who will want to be well-placed to take advantage of any slip-ups from the top two nations in this group.

GROUP D WINNER VS GROUP A RUNNERS-UP

Quarter-finals – Sunday, November 6, 2.30pm

This has the potential to be an absolutely cracking tie in front of a huge crowd.

2017 semi-finalists Tonga are favourites to advance from Group D that also includes Papua New Guinea, Wales and the Cook Islands as winners, while Group A contains hosts England and well-fancied Samoa as well as France and Greece.

If things go to form, Warrington could be set to host a real clash of the titans in the last eight.

Tonga could be heading for The Halliwell Jones Stadium in the quarter-finals. Picture by photosport.nz/SWPix.com

Warrington is also hosting the PDRL tournament in its entirety between October 23-30 at Victoria Park and The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

PDRL is an adapted version of rugby league for players with physical disabilities.

Teams from England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand will compete against each other in this landmark event.

Television personality Adam Hills, a player in the Warrington Wolves PDRL team, is in the Aussies squad.

Adam Hills turns out for Warrington's PDRL team

Four Wolves players - Mike Addison, Jamie Barnett, Adam Morris, Tony Seward – are named in Shaun Briscoe’s 20-strong England Community Lions team.

The final will be played after the men’s group game between Samoa and France at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on October 30, so is expected to kick off around 6.45-7.00pm.

PDRL World Cup fixtures, all at Victoria Park except for the final at The Halliwell Jones Stadium:

Sunday, October 23: New Zealand v Wales 2pm, England v Australia 4.30pm

Tuesday, October 25: Wales v England 2pm, Australia v New Zealand 4.30pm

Friday, October 28: England v New Zealand 4.30pm, Australia v Wales 7pm

Sunday, October 30: 3rd v 4th place play-off at 2pm, PDRL final approximately 6.45/7.00pm

Meanwhile, RLWC themed events are taking place across the borough during the tournament.

There is a Birds of Paradise art trail in the town centre in acknowledgement of the PNG men’s team being based in Warrington.

And RLWC games will be broadcast at Old Market Square throughout the tournament.