Rugby league "will return to Anfield for the first time in almost two decades later this year after the Rugby Football League confirmed that the iconic home of Liverpool will be the venue for the 2016 Four Nations final," according to Aaron Bower of the London GUARDIAN. Six venues will be used for the tournament, "which features England, Australia, New Zealand and Scotland, with the final held at Anfield" on Nov. 20. Resistance within certain quarters of the game’s governing body "had been suggested regarding the possibility of taking the final to Liverpool, but it was confirmed on Friday that the sport will return to Anfield for the first time since 1997."
The tournament opens with a game at Hull KR’s Lightstream Stadium on Oct. 28 "when Scotland play Australia, before Wayne Bennett’s first competitive game as England coach the following day, when they host New Zealand at Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium."
All four sides then head to Coventry in week two as the Ricoh Arena stages int'l rugby league "for the very first time." The final round of group games "sees England return to the Olympic Stadium in London."
The RFL "had considered numerous venues north of the border, including Aberdeen’s Pittodrie and Motherwell’s Fir Park, but all seven games in the tournament will instead be played in England" (GUARDIAN, 4/22).
