Rugby League World Cup in turmoil as France withdraw as 2025 hosts

International rugby league is facing an uncertain future after France announced its decision to withdraw from hosting the 2025 World Cup, citing its inability to meet financial guarantees required by the French government.

The move, which affects the men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments, has left the international game's governing body, the IRL, scrabbling to consider other "contingency options" in order to ensure the continuation of the event.

However, those options do not include England, as following up its successful staging of the delayed 2021 tournament last year is seen as unfeasible given the short notice and level of finance required, the PA news agency reports.

The Irish men's team will hope to book their ticket when they compete at the European Championships later this year while the women’s team are due to play European qualifiers between October 2023 and May 2024 for the chance to participate. An expression of interest and invitation process will be used to determine the 16 Wheelchair finalists.

IRL chief Troy Grant described the move as "very disappointing", adding: "I respect the French Government's decision amid the challenges they are facing but I can't hide my disappointment, that I conveyed clearly to them in person.

"Despite our focus having been on France, we will now accelerate our consideration of other contingency options."

The most obvious - and perhaps only remaining - option is to stage the tournament in Australia or New Zealand, although even this would be likely to require at least a one-year delay for logistical reasons.

RFL chairman Simon Johnson, who is also an IRL board member, said: "After the success of last autumn's Rugby League World Cup in England, it is imperative that all in the