New Zealand makes bid to co-host 2025 Rugby League World Cup with Australia after France pulls out

New Zealand has offered to come to the International Rugby League’s rescue as it weighs up the possibility of stepping in to co-host the 2025 World Cup, with Australia saying it is “ready for any situation” over the next few years.

Plans for the quadrennial tournament were thrown into turmoil on Tuesday when France pulled out of hosting duties amid concerns in the country over the financial viability of the event.

It leaves the IRL scrambling to find a new host with just over two years to go before kick-off, or face the possibility of postponing the tournament until 2026.

The New Zealand Rugby League on Tuesday expressed interest in taking over from France alongside Australia, as the two nations did in 2017.

“We are exploring the possibility of a southern hemisphere RLWC as an alternative to France 2025,” NZRL chief executive Greg Peters said. “We’re keen to work with ARLC to host the tournament in New Zealand and Australia and have started the conversations.

“Bringing the international tournament down under is an exciting proposition not only for the fans but our Indigenous and Pasifika communities.”

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo would not be drawn on whether Australia would throw its hat into the ring, but admitted the Australian Rugby League Commission had been prepared for the French bid to run into problems.

“In terms of World Cups, it’s a bit premature to talk about that, but needless to say we’ll be ready for any situation that unfolds over the next couple of years,” Abdo said at the NRL’s Indigenous round launch on Tuesday.

“I’ve been across the issues for a while now. France 2025 was alway going to be a great opportunity for us to grow the game in Europe and particularly in France, but it wasn’t without