Leeds to Avignon is less than Sydney to Brisbane. There's a lot to be said for France playing a game or two at home. It's not like there's going to be a massive travelling contingent from Samoa or PNG. Love the idea of France v Nz and England-Oz at Wembley to open. I thought the double-header was a rip-roaring success. Massively impressed with how many southerners (especially ex students) went to the game under their own steam... I was with one of two parties from Exeter Uni, but there were another three or four alumni groups who organised their own trips. And the banter in the crowd between Brunel Uni and South London Storm was cracking.

World Cup venues to be announced on the 28th. Where would you play games?

Hilton Park :-/

Double header at Wembley to start the competition and a double header final and 3 v 4 at Old Trafford to finish

England remain in third place in the official RLIF world rankings despite reaching the Gillette Four Nations final.

1 Australia 1,406.59pts
2 New Zealand 991.56
3 England 799.47
4 Papua New Guinea 260.49
5 France 246.08
6 Wales 245.16
7 Fiji 145.35
8 Samoa 123.19,
9 Tonga 82.07
10 Scotland 75.39
11 USA 65.86
12 Ireland 64.28

double header at old trafford england v aussies and kiwis v france
quater finals at langtree park, kc stadium, stoop, dw stadium
semis at brammell lane and elland road
final at wembley

final at the millennium under the roof......don't forget the final is on nov 30th....could very well be snowing

rlLive stream of World Cup venue announcementrl

rlCardiff and Bristol are set to be unveiled as host cities for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.rl

That's good to hear. I would have thought Ashton Gate would have been a better choice than the Memorial Stadium, but good to see Bristol getting some games. Bit disappointed at no Cardiff City stadium though, would have been good for a QTR Final.

I'd prefer to see the final at Wembley and a double-header to open the tournament. Now that the RFL have decided where games will be held they need to crack on and confirm dates as soon as possible.

Bristol City will probably be at their 28,000 seater new stadium by then. Rovers holds around 14,000 and already stages rugby union. But City are still involved in the marketing and promotion.

The 2013 World Cup grounds

Avignon17,518 capacity The Parc des Sports, which drew a crowd of 16,866 for France's recent international against England, will host a group match.

Bristol12,011 capacity The Memorial Ground will stage a group match, while Filton College will be used as a team training venue.

Halifax14,061 capacity The renovated Shay Stadium will host a group match.

Huddersfield24,500 capacity The Galpharm Stadium, a semi-final venue in 2000, will host a group match.

Hull25,404 capacity and Craven Park 10,000 capacity will host group matches with the city also hosting two team base camps and team training venues.

Leeds20,000 capacity 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.

Limerick26,500 capacity Thomond Park, which hosted a first rugby league match last month, will be a venue for a group match.

Perpignan13,000 capacity The Stade Gilbert Brutus, home of Catalan Dragons and a regular Test venue, will host a group match.

Neath5,000 capacity The Gnoll, home of South Wales Scorpions, will host a group match.

Rochdale10,249 capacity Spotland Stadium, which is the home of Championship One club Hornets, will host a group match.

Salford12,000 capacity 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 Helens18,000 capacity Saints' new £26million Langtree Park will host a group match.

Warrington15,500 capacity 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.

Whitehaven7,500 capacity 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.

Wigan11,000 capacity will host a group match and will be used as a training venue while Wigan's DW Stadium 25,133 capacity will host a quarter-final.

Wrexham15,500 capacity 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.

Host Venues

Bolton: Will be a team base camp with Bolton Arena's facilities used as a team training venue.

Bradford: the Bulls' Tong High School facilities will be used as a team training venue.

Manchester: Will host a team base camp and will also provide a team training venue.

Preston: The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) will provide team training facilities at UCLan Sports Arena with Preston also hosting a team base camp.

Widnes: Will host a team base camp and the Stobart Stadium will be a training venue.

Workington: Will host a team base camp.

Looks like the RFL chose the right Bristol club.

rlBristol City announce £11.45m lossesrl
[i"It is a big problem," chairman Colin Sexstone told BBC Radio Bristol. "It's a lot of money over three years.
Wages in the Championship are far too big and at Bristol City in particular they are just too much."[/i