I think they should play the final at the Millennium Stadium. If we're playing it in late November, then we can't be sure of the weather and it would be good to have a roof on standby, just if we need it.

I'd play group games: Wigan, Stoop, KC, Galpharm, Doncaster, Bristol City (give 'em a game), Warrington, Sheffield United, Leigh, Llanelli, Wrexham, Cardiff.
Quarters: Cardiff, Wigan, Hull, Stoop (Aus or Kiwi game)
Semi: Elland Road and COMS
Final: Millennium

Ricoh Arena, Coventry.

So the venues should be handed out to force clubs into upgrading their grounds?

Hasn't worked for some Sl clubs.

How could you sell tickets in the north or South stand for a game in November? It's hard enough getting fans to come to Hull without reminding them to bring their umberellas and macs.

I'm not really to fussed as to what happened in 2000 tbh, times (and stadiums) have changed.

So does that mean how could we sell tickets for the west stand at headingley or pretty much the whole stadium at Odsal for a game in November? Its the same, your out in all conditions

Well, whoever has to decide which games are played where has a big job on. Here's my quick effort based on which stadiums have expressed an interest publicly (and yes, I'm aware I'm missing Headingley out, I just couldn't fit them in);

Australia vs England – Wembley (double header with NZ-France)
Fiji vs Ireland - Limerick
England vs Fiji – Ashton Gate (Double header with Wales-Cook Islands)
Australia vs Ireland - Limerick
England vs Ireland - Saints
Australia vs Fiji - Stoop

NZ vs France – Wembley
PNG vs Samoa – Craven Park
NZ vs PNG - KC
France vs Samoa - Avignon
NZ vs Samoa - Warrington
France vs PNG – Gilbert Brutus

Scotland vs Tonga - LSV
Scotland vs Italy - Doncaster
Italy vs Tonga - Rochdale

Wales vs Cook Islands – Ashton Gate
Wales vs USA - Cardiff
USA vs Cook Islands - Salford

Scotland vs USA - Salford
Tonga vs Cook Islands – Memorial Ground
Wales vs Italy - Wrexham

QF – Elland Rd for two days of double headers or single matches at DW, Galpharm, KC/Headingley, Stoop
Semis – Millenium stadium – double header
Final – Wembley, but OT does make sense

Not wrong there. It won't be an easy job.

I wouldn't play the semis as a double header, I'd be more tempted to do that with the final + 3 v 4th game.

There's a few differences.

Both Leeds and Bradford are easy for the majority of fans to get to.

The capacity for Headinley is far greater than HKRs in both covered and uncovered areas, I'm not sure about Odsal.

Their views are acceptable.

And they don't have the kc available.

Why? And why have they applied for games then?

This would be how i would do it
Australia vs England – Old Trafford (Double header with NZ - France)
Fiji vs Ireland - Limerick
England vs Fiji – Headingley (Double header)
Australia vs Ireland - Headingley (Double header)
England vs Ireland - Langtree (St Helens)
Australia vs Fiji - Bristol

NZ vs France – Old Trafford
PNG vs Samoa – HJ
NZ vs PNG - Galpharm
France vs Samoa - Avignon
NZ vs Samoa - KC (If the KC isn't available Bristol)
France vs PNG – Gilbert Brutus

Scotland vs Tonga - Hull KR
Scotland vs Italy - Doncaster
Italy vs Tonga - Rochdale

Wales vs Cook Islands – Wrexham
Wales vs USA - Cardiff
USA vs Cook Islands - Headingley

Scotland vs USA - Salford
Tonga vs Cook Islands – Memorial Ground
Wales vs Italy - Wrexham

QF - Elland Road, DW, KC and Galpharm (If no KC play it at St Helens or Warrington)
SF - Double header at Old Trafford
Final - Wembley - save Wembley for the big finish.

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