A Rugby League Nines World Cup tournament could be staged in Australia as soon as 2019 if a proposal put forward by the ARLC is given the green light by the Rugby League International Federation.
‘‘Australia has put forward a detailed plan regarding a Nines World Cup,’’ Rugby League International Federation chief executive David Collier told Fairfax Media’s Sydney Morning Herald.
‘‘They have to go away and deal with things internally before coming back to us so we can act on the proposal. It would be in 2019, between World Cups, in the international window.’’
The Nines concept has proved popular, with the NRL club-based Auckland Nines staged from 2014 to 2017 with significant fan support and marketplace traction. The 2018 tournament will be held in Perth. The potential Nines Rugby League World Cup would likely attract a global audience and take Rugby League's shortened form to new audiences.
The event, slated to be held at first in Australia with cities to bid for hosting rights, could be staged around the world in future instances, with the World Rugby Sevens held in places such as Dubai, Cape Town, Las Vegas, Paris and Vancouver.
