'If' it has to be relocated then yes it should be France who deserve the respect of hosting such a credible tournament.

The RLIF/RFL/NZRL should have stipulated a bond upfront. Amateurs.

Agreed it should be held in France

I think that it should be in France, but[i provided[/i that Toulouse is already well established in Super League, and Avignon is at least in the Championship if not in Super League. We need a solid core of rugby league fans in at least three southern France cities. If those clubs are not up and competing in the RFL system then there will not be enough hard core fans around France to make the World Cup a financial success. However if England and Australia are in the same pool then I would play their clash in a big city -- Paris or Toulouse, or perhaps switch it to Wembley.

France's pool games and hopefully quarter finals should be played in decent sized stadiums in Perpignan (Aime Giral), Toulouse (at least Ernest Wallon if not the bigger Stadium Municipal de Toulouse), Avignon and Paris.

The final should be in Toulouse at the 35,000 capacity Stadium Municipal, because the Stade de France in Paris is too big for rugby league in France (81,000 capacity) and the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris (20,000 capacity) is too small.

Another great RL tale this one...award a World Cup to the country that hasnt hosted international RL before, award some warm up games to a cowboy promoter, fail to promote the game properly and get an average to mediocre crowd, then don’t get paid the gate money. Next stop World Cup 2029 at Legoland!

And, as others have already said. France has to host this one, with the added bonus they can play the England games in England for some extra cash and get away with it, as France did the same in reverse in 2013.

Actually on reflection, while I would still hold the World Cup in France, I would have all England's pool games, and perhaps England's quarter final, in England, to ensure the best possible attendances.

An Australia vs England pool game should definitely be held at Wembley to boost the reputation of rugby league in the UK and boost the financial returns of the World Cup.

That would still leave the vast majority of World Cup games being played in France.

But I would again reiterate that if there is not at least a second French team in Super League (i.e. Toulouse), and a third at least in the Championship if not Super League (probably Avignon), by 2024 at the latest, France will be too weak on the playing field and will have too few fans in France too make the World Cup a financial success.

I get your point about 81000 being too big but I think 35000 is too small (it actually holds 33150 and capacity would be less with a big screen).

There are ten stadiums bigger than that across France.

Parc des Princes holds 47000 in Paris, Stade Pierre-Mauroy holds 50000 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, Parc Olympique Lyonnais holds 59000... I’d be aiming for one of those. I know none of them are in a RL heartland but should that matter?

If you’re looking for something more Southern then what about the lovely brand new stadium in Bordeaux?

Capacity 41458