World Cup organisers make free tickets gesture to health workers and carers

Ticket sales were due to begin this summer, but a new timeline has been confirmed because of the pandemic.

Team bases for the 21 nations taking part in the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments will be announced on June 10, which is 500 days before the opening fixture, at St James’ Park, Newcastle, when Shaun Wane’s England men’s team take on Samoa.

Organisers say a “new tournament identity” will also be made public in June.

Between June and September the schedules for the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments will be confirmed, along with an announcement of ticket tiers and prices.

Due to the current global situation, the organisers have decided not to put a date on these announcements.

Tickets will go on pre-sale to certain groups in September and a public ballot - the first in the tournament’s history - will open on October 23.

Results of the ballot will be confirmed in December and tickets will go on general sale early next year.

Jon Dutton, chief executive of RLWC2021, said: “Other sports, clubs, leagues and events have been acutely impacted by Covid-19 and our planning needs to be aligned and proportionate with the global crisis and respectful of more immediate needs.

“We have done various aspects of scenario planning and we believe the current plan is the most suitable at this point.

“However, we know we are required to be flexible and adapt as and when appropriate.”

Dutton added: “The team has made the unanimous decision to provide 20,021 free tickets to key workers in the UK as our way of saying thank you.

“Their work, effort, dedication and sheer determination needs to be recognised and hopefully we can provide these local heroes and their families with something to look forward to next year.”