Wait nearly over for 2013 Rugby League World Cup news (From This Is Cheshire)
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Wait nearly over for 2013 Rugby League World Cup news
8:10am Saturday 26th November 2011 in News
Adrian Morley
THE wait is nearly over.
Because on Monday Warrington will find out if it has been named as a host town for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
The Warrington Guardian has been backing the bid to bring the tournament to The Halliwell Jones Stadium.
And the RFL will reveal the names of the successful venues on Monday morning. Which games will be played where will be announced in January.
The town’s bid has been boosted by the backing of thousands of fans, by a full house when Australia took on New Zealand in the Four Nations last month, and by being singled out as one of four outstanding bids from the dozens of entries.
Which is why we are saying to the RFL that there is no choice, it has to be Warrington and it has to be the maximum.
The town wants and deserves to stage not only three games but to play host to one of the teams for the duration of the event.
And it is not only the £2.4 million injection into the economy that will be crucial – although as a wise marketing man once said, every little helps.
But it is the real legacy that this will give to the town.
I still look back on the last time the World Cup came to Warrington in 1995 as one of my favourite moments on a rugby league ground as New Zealand rallied to beat Tonga at Wilderspool.
Watching the Tongans perform their own war dance as a thank you to the Warrington crowd that roared them on during that night was truly special.
It inspired me to a lifetime of watching Warrington and I am sure many more of the 7,000-strong crowd that night have their own fond memories.
While that was good – 2013 will be even better. It will create new memories and ones that will inspire and leave a legacy for future generations to get involved in sport, dance, volunteering and more.
Monday promises to be a big day in the recent history of this town and one that will whet the appetite for two years’ time.
