Old Trafford will host the final of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in two years’ time, with other "major venues" such as the Emirates Stadium, St. James’ Park and Anfield also selected as host stadia as the tournament’s organizers "eye the most successful World Cup in history," according to Aaron Bower of the London GUARDIAN. The finals of the men’s and women’s tournaments will be held at Old Trafford in a doubleheader in Nov. '21 but, with those in charge of delivering the next World Cup "aiming to break all attendance records for the tournament," Old Trafford -- which hosted the '13 final -- is "accompanied by a number of other high-profile venues." Forty applications have been "narrowed down" to 14 venues for the men’s tournament and, "most notably," rugby league will become the first sport other than football to be played at the Emirates Stadium when the home of Arsenal hosts one of the semifinals. The other will be played in "one of the sport’s heartlands," Leeds, at Elland Road (GUARDIAN, 1/29).
CHANGE OF PLANS: Cricket Australia confirmed there will be a venue change for the upcoming Big Bash League match on Feb. 9 at Traeger Park in Alice Springs between the Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers. The match will be played at Adelaide Oval, as the outfield at Traeger Park was deemed unsuitable for the match (CA).
