UAE planning bid to host 2021 Rugby League World Cup

The United Arab Emirates is planning a bid to host the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

While the sport is in its infancy in the Middle East, the country's government is keen to boost the nation's international profile, according to Sol Mokdad, the president of the UAE's rugby league, who believes it has the facilities, as well as the financial backing and infrastructure, to host the World Cup.

“This is an ideal location for a World Cup,” Mr Mokdad told The National, one of the UAE’s main newspapers.

"It is exactly between Australia and the UK.

“With Expo 2020 being here, with all the infrastructure being created, it will be the perfect time.

“It would also be the UAE’s 50th birthday, so it all aligns - it will just come down to us getting partners who can help us get that bid together.”

World Cup hosts

The Rugby League World Cup has only ever been hosted by the major countries - Australia, New Zealand, France and Great Britain - although South Africa submitted an application for the 2017 event which was awarded jointly to Australia and New Zealand.

The hosts for the 16th Rugby League World Cup in 2021 are expected to be named in October 2016.

The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) board has said expressions of interest will be sought by the first quarter of 2015. Invitations to tender will be sent out and an evaluation committee appointed, with bids submitted during the first quarter of 2016.

RLIF chairman Nigel Wood said: “I fully anticipate that for 2021 more nations than ever before will be submitting bids to stage the tournament and, with the decision being made in advance of the 2017 competition, there will be excellent opportunities to shadow organisers and learn from that event.”

PA