I'd be more inclined to go with double headers in the knock outs. For one it offers value for money (keeps flatcappers happy) and its our chance to show the game off to newbies, so why not give them chance to see a couple of games for the price of one. Its cheaper to run as well; less rent, less staff, and more chance of money from Food and Beverage.

I also reckon it might be easier for marketing. RFL struggles at time to get the word out there as it is and there's a fair few games on. There will be seven knock out games to promote. Rather than trying to promote seven different venues it could be easier to promote three.

Are the groups/fixtures sorted out already?

The fixtures I've posted above are the matches that will be played in the pool stage. Dates of the fixtures and in what order they will be played haven't been confirmed. Knock out format hasn't been confirmed. Groups are;

Group A; Eng, Aus, Fiji, Ireland
Group B; NZ, France, Samoa, PNG
Group C; Scotland, Tonga, Italy
Group D; Wales, USA, Cook Islands

The format will probably be announced when the venues are.

According to Wikipedia 'Quarter Finals will follow the Group Stage with three teams from each of Groups A & B and one team from each of Group C & D qualifying and the final is to be played on 30th November

Yeah, the most straight forward system would be to have winner A vs winner C (G1), winner B vs winner D (G2), second A vs third B (G3), second B vs third A (G4). Winners go through.

Then G1 vs G4 and G2 vs G3

That could mean;

Aus vs Italy
NZ vs Wales
England vs PNG
France vs Fiji

Then;

Aus vs France
NZ vs England