If they have any sense they'll play the Ireland v Aussie game in Limerick. I was speaking to some of the Aussie fans last week and they had enjoyed their visit to Ireland in the week before the Four Nations Final.

True but I'm convinced it'll be the Fiji v Ireland game - which is a shame because thats a game I'd like to see (basically a Quarter Final eliminator). PNG v Samoa another game I hope is played in our region.

I'd definitely, without a doubt, do to the game in Limerick

We spoke about it towards the end of the season. What we'll do is put a tenner away at each home game for the 2012 and 2013 seasons and then have a good long weekend in Limerick.

Durty Nellys used to be a good night, just a few miles out from the centre of Limerick.

Where is the Australia v England/New Zealand final being played at? Wembley?

Is that a pub/club or just someone you 'know' ?

after the stories of thomond park I was told by my dad about munster ru, Im absolutely going to the limerick game, I hope its the australia game, more chance of a big crowd, although that being said 3600 for the game against france with ireland only pride to play for after a torrid international campaign was a promising sign that they could draw good numbers especially with it being a world cup, as a student in leeds will probs go to the headingley games, and as many england games as financially possible

I'd love to see the final at Old Trafford as I can't see us getting Wembley full unless England are in it. Maybe we could have a semi final double header at Wembley?

I think supporters need to take some of the responsibility for ensuring there are good crowds. The RFL did some cracking deals during the recent Four Nations and crowds improved but too many fans were sat in the pub or on the couch.

I'd have thought Rochdale would have got the Fiji v Ireland game due to the large Fijian community and links.

Thats because we are bored of the four nations format. If they'd have done a 3 match test series v Australia they'd have been laughing!

Bored after just three competitions? Most of the rugby league 'fans' who claim not to be interested in the international game yet couldn't help, but offer their opinion on England and the Four Nations recently, cite reasons such as mistrust of the RFL, club over country or refusing to support England instead of GB. I've yet to see or hear from anyone who turns away from international rugby league because they are bored with the format of the Four Nations.
Sadly Wales aren't a big draw yet but I think playing the Four Nations and World Champions is appealing enough, as the very healthy crowd at Hull showed.


I've read some great quotes and interviews and seen some cracking photos with regard to today's announcement. The passion and enthusiasm coming out of places like Rochdale, Halifax, Bristol, Warrington and Hull today is really encouraging for a passionate advocate of international rugby league like myself. The fixtures, dates and venues need to be confirmed as soon as possible so as to give fans as much time as possible to buy tickets for what could be the biggest sporting event in the UK of 2013.

The fixtures, dates and venues need to be confirmed as soon as possible so as to give fans as much time as possible to buy tickets for what could be the biggest sporting event in the UK of 2013.


Im sorry to say but the biggest sorting event in 2013 will be the cricket and the ashes,the tickets should have gone on sale today at 9am when the venues was annouced but WHY didnt the RFL tell us where the semi-final and final will be held same old RFL.

The 2013 Rugby League World Cup could be the biggest sporting event that year IF rugby league fans get off their backsides and attend games. How can you sell tickets when you havent got dates? Today was all about confirming which venues and cities had been chosen to host games and provide training facilities. Once the fixture dates are confirmed (soon hopefully) then tickets need to be put on sale and pushed through rugby clubs from amateur to top flight in both league and union. I may be wrong but could the RFL have pulled a masterstroke by leaving the semis and final till a later date, thus providing the game with two seperate moments in the national spotlight rather than just the one? There is a rumour going round that they're still in talks with Old Trafford, Millenium Stadium and Wembley about the final or a double-header opener.

your kidding the same old RFL...?? the amount of media coverage afforded to todays venue announcement has been better than some previous world cup 'tournaments'

looking at sky sports news the ru Lions tour has got more coverage just than our World Cup

National news, Irish national news, TalkSport, BBC Radio Five, BBC regional including London and South West, Twitter...

Full page in the metro today.

We didn't get that most days during the four nations.

It's a World Cup. The media hype will be bigger than normal. What the RFL have to do now is ride the coat tails and make sure it is promoted week in and week out.

They also need to ensure that Wales and Ireland play in Wales and Ireland whenever possible.

Wales should play their two group games in Bristol (near enough) and Neath with their QF being in Wrexham.

Ireland should play their Oz and NZ games in Limerick.

There was a young hooker called Luke
Who rarely played by the book
The naughty kiwi
Tried to knack Rangi's knee
And was given a 2 match rebuke.

Looks like the RFL chose the right Bristol club.

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15935151.stmBristol City announce £11.45m losses[/url
[i"It is a big problem," chairman Colin Sexstone told BBC Radio Bristol. "It's a lot of money over three years.
Wages in the Championship are far too big and at Bristol City in particular they are just too much."[/i

There once was a full back called Billy
Whose tackling technique was quite silly
He charged into Hall
And suffered a fall
Luckily he didn't damage his..... elbow.

I was just having a think about where the 2013 World Cup games could and should be played. In the RFL press release and press conference they said that the chosen grounds would host 'a group game' and/or a quarter final. Unless I've missed something some grounds must be hosting more than the one game.
Anyway here are my ideas so far. Thoughts?

[uGroup A[/u - Top 3 Progress to Quarters
Australia v England - =#FF0000Hull
Fiji v Ireland - =#FF0000Rochdale
Australia v Fiji - =#FF0000Headingley
Ireland v England - =#FF0000St Helens
Australia v Ireland - =#FF0000Limerick
England v Fiji - =#FF0000Huddersfield

[uGroup B[/u - Top 3 Progress to Quarters
New Zealand v Samoa - =#FF0000Warrington
Papua New Guinea v France - =#FF0000Perpignan
New Zealand v France - =#FF0000Perpignan
Papua New Guinea v Samoa - =#FF0000Avignon
New Zealand v Papua New Guinea - =#FF0000Halifax
France v Samoa - =#FF0000Avignon

[uGroup C[/u - Top Team Progresses to Quarters
Scotland v Tonga - =#FF0000Hull KR
Tonga v Italy - =#FF0000Salford
Italy v Scotland - =#FF0000Leigh

[uGroup D[/u - Top Team Progresses to Quarters
USA v Wales - =#FF0000Bristol
Wales v Cook Islands - =#FF0000Wrexham
Cook Islands v USA - =#FF0000Whitehaven

[uGroup C/D Inter Group Matches[/u
Scotland v USA - =#FF0000Hull KR
Tonga v Cook Islands - =#FF0000Whitehaven
Italy v Wales - =#FF0000Neath

According to the AMNRL USA Tomahawks v Wales may be a double header with Australia v England to open the 2013 World Cup at the Millenium Stadium.

I like that but the opening ceremony is rumoured to be at Cardiff and be a double-header including England and Wales.

England v Aus and Wales v Scotland/USA/Cook Islands

The RFL need to make this a huge event that people will want to watch on their screens. I just hope the stadium will be packed out.

As for the rest of the venues ALL the France games should be in France. Most of the Ireland games should be in Ireland as well.

The only games I would change from that list are (excluding the opening ceremony) -

Aus v Fiji - Rochdale
Fiji v Ireland - Limerick

Finally I bet Widnes feel stupid for fitting that fake pitch. They have missed out on hosting a game for that very reason.