Thomond to host League World Cup game

Rugby League : The Rugby Football League has confirmed Thomond Park as one of 18 venues across four countries that will host…

Rugby League: The Rugby Football League has confirmed Thomond Park as one of 18 venues across four countries that will host games in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

The home of Munster Rugby joins venues such as Perpignan (France), Neath (Wales) and St Helen's (England) in being selected for the 14-team tournament.

Venues for the opening ceremony, the semi-finals and the final, as well as the precise fixtures, will be confirmed early in the new year.

Organisers are using the new grounds which St Helens and Salford will move into for the start of the 2012 Super League season, as well as the planned Pow Beck Stadium in Whitehaven.

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Widnes' Halton Stadium misses out, though, because its synthetic pitch has not been sanctioned by the Rugby League International Federation.

The quarter-finals will be held at Headingley, Wrexham, Warrington and Wigan.

Tournament director Nigel Wood said: "We experienced massive interest in hosting matches from all across Europe and we have had to make some tough decisions.

"We are excited that the tournament will visit established world-class rugby league venues but will also visit some new locations, including Bristol and Whitehaven, where we see unique opportunities to grow the game and to deliver a lasting legacy for our sport."

The tournament will consist of two pools of four and two of three.

Ireland have been drawn alongside Australia, Fiji and England in Group A, while holders New Zealand will face Papua New Guinea, Samoa and France in Group B.

Scotland will face Tonga and Italy in Group C and Wales have been drawn against the Cook Islands and the USA in Group D.

The 2013 World Cup grounds

Avignon: The Parc des Sports, which drew a crowd of 16,866 for France's recent international against England, will host a group match.

Bristol: The Memorial Ground will stage a group match, while Filton College will be used as a team training venue.

Halifax: The renovated Shay Stadium will host a group match.

Huddersfield: The Galpharm Stadium, a semi-final venue in 2000, will host a group match.

Hull: Both the KC Stadium and Craven Park will host group matches with the city also hosting two team base camps and team training venues.

Leeds: Headingley will host a group match and a quarter-final while two teams will set up base camps in the city along with a team training venue being utilised.

Limerick: Thomond Park, which hosted a first rugby league match last month, will be a venue for a group match.

Perpignan: The Stade Gilbert Brutus, home of Catalan Dragons and a regular Test venue, will host a group match.

Neath: The Gnoll, home of South Wales Scorpions, will host a group match.

Rochdale: Spotland Stadium, which is the home of Championship One club Hornets, will host a group match.

Salford: The Reds' new City of Salford Stadium at Barton will host a group match and the city will also host a team base camp.

St Helens: Saints' new £26million Langtree Park will host a group match.

Warrington: The enlarged Halliwell Jones Stadium will host a group match and quarter-final. The town will also host a team base camp and the University of Chester will be used as a team training venue.

Whitehaven: The planned Pow Beck Stadium, whose initial capacity of 3,200 can be expanded to 5,000 with the use of temporary stands, will host group matches, with the Cumbria Sports Academy used as a team training venue.

Wigan: The Leigh Sports Village will host a group match and will be used as a training venue while Wigan's DW Stadium will host a quarter-final.

Wrexham: The Racecourse Stadium, home of North Wales Crusaders, will host a group match and a quarter-final, while Wrexham will also host a team base camp and training venue.