RL World Cup 2021: Leeds Rhinos star Luke Gale predicts “biggest and best” World Cup ever

HOST NATION England have received a favourable draw for all three competitions at next year’s rugby league World Cup.
Leeds Rhinos half-back Luke Gale is buzzing for next year's Rugby League World Cup. PIC: Steve RidingLeeds Rhinos half-back Luke Gale is buzzing for next year's Rugby League World Cup. PIC: Steve Riding
Leeds Rhinos half-back Luke Gale is buzzing for next year's Rugby League World Cup. PIC: Steve Riding

England’s men will face Samoa in the opening game of the tournament at St James’ Park, Newcastle, on Saturday, October 23, before other group ties against France and Greece.

Leeds’ Emerald Headingley will stage the first match of the women’s event, on Tuesday, November 9, when England face Brazil.

Papua New Guinea and Canada are also in England’s group.

Leeds Rhinos women's team coach Adam Cuthbertson is excited by the World Cup format that includes senior men, women and wheelchair teams. PIC: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.comLeeds Rhinos women's team coach Adam Cuthbertson is excited by the World Cup format that includes senior men, women and wheelchair teams. PIC: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Leeds Rhinos women's team coach Adam Cuthbertson is excited by the World Cup format that includes senior men, women and wheelchair teams. PIC: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
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In the wheelchair version, England were drawn against Australia, who they will open the tournament against at the Copperbox in London, as well as Spain and Norway.

Leeds Rhinos’ Luke Gale was scrum-half for England when they lost 6-0 to Australia in the 2017 men’s final,

He said: “I think it will be the biggest and best World Cup to date.

“Three events coincide with each other, with the wheelchair and the women’s as well.

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“I think the organisation has been great and it’s exciting.”

Southern-hemisphere sides have dominated the World Cup since Great Britain won a four-team tournament in 1972, but England went desperately close to ending the long wait for silverware four years ago.

Gale recalled: “It was an amazing time and we fell at the final hurdle by the smallest margin.

“Wayne [Bennett, the then-England coach] spoke about building for the next one.

“We’d love to go that one step further on home soil.”

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England’s women will have been delighted to avoid New Zealand after being placed in a separate pot to holders Australia.

The 2017 hosts drew a two-Test series in Papua New Guinea last autumn, but have never played Brazil or Canada.

Rhinos team boss Adam Cuthbertson, who was assistant-coach on last year’s tour, said: “It’s exciting when you talk about Brazil and rugby league.

“For me, it’s unheard of so to hear about a Brazilian team coming over to the UK to take on England in our first match at Headingley, it’s very exciting for the game going forward.”

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Cuthbertson reckons the clash with Papua New Guinea will be a “good grudge match” after the second Test defeat last year and is also wary of the threat Canada will pose.

“It is set up nicely,” he said of the impending rematch with PNG.

“We will definitely want to get one back on them and they will be coming into it with a lot of confidence after their first win as a nation and as a side.”

Canada are an unknown quantity, but Cuthbertson said: “They are coming along nicely with what they are doing in rugby league.

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“I believe there’s a lot more interest in rugby league and a lot of girls who’ve recently played rugby union are now taking an interest in it.

“They are going from strength to strength at the minute.”

The draw was made at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

Organisers say the full schedule of matches and ticket prices will be announced “in the next few months”.

Men’s draw: Group A - England, Samoa, France, Greece; Group B - Australia, Fiji, Scotland, Italy; Group C - New Zealand, Lebanon, Jamaica, Ireland; Group D - Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Wales, Cook Islands.

Women’s draw: Group A - England, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Brazil; Group B - Australia, New Zealand, France, Cook Islands.

Wheelchair draw: Group A - England, Australia, Spain, Norway; Group B - France, Wales, Scotland, USA.