Parliament looks forward to autumn rugby league internationals
Members of Parliament are looking forward to a compelling autumn of international rugby league.
A motion has been tabled in the House of Commons, wishing the England men’s, women’s and Knights teams well for their fixtures over the coming weeks. It welcomes the touring New Zealand men’s team to the United Kingdom, and ‘hopes that all England teams will enjoy a successful autumn of international rugby league, as they build towards the Rugby League World Cup 2021 in England.’
The England men’s national side play a three test series against New Zealand, including games in Hull on 27 October, Liverpool on 3 November and Leeds on 11 November, whilst the women’s team play a one-off test match against France in Carcassonne on 27 October. England Knights are touring Papua New Guinea, with games against the national side on 27 October and 3 November.
Tabling the motion was Member of Parliament for St Helens South and Whiston and All-Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group Secretary, Marie Rimmer MP. She said “after an entertaining domestic season, I am looking forward to a fantastic autumn of international rugby league.
“I wish all England teams well for their fixtures, and hope that success will inspire more people across the country to get involved with one of the many formats of our game on offer, get active, and enjoy recreational and competitive sport.“
A second motion recognises the forthcoming men’s European Championship, which will be contested between Wales, Scotland, Ireland and France. The tournament acts as a qualifier for the Rugby League World Cup 2021, with the top two nations qualifying automatically.
The motion ‘welcomes ongoing efforts from Wales Rugby League, Scotland Rugby League and Rugby League Ireland to strengthen the game across the United Kingdom’ and wishes all home nations well for the tournament.
Member of Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, Gavin Newlands MP, tabled the motion. He said “I’m delighted that the European Championship has returned once again this year.
“The tournament presents a fantastic opportunity for the home nations to qualify for the Rugby League World Cup 2021, and I am sure that the games will contribute to an exciting autumn of international rugby league.”
All-Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group Chair and Member of Parliament for Bradford South, Judith Cummins MP, said “I wish all home nations well for their forthcoming fixtures, and look forward to another entertaining autumn of international rugby league.
“Members of the Group are looking forward to the Rugby League World Cup returning to England in 2021, and I hope that these fixtures will provide all teams with an opportunity to develop ahead of the tournament, as well as another great advert for international rugby league.”
The full text of the motions:
England Rugby League International Fixtures
That this House welcomes the autumn’s England rugby league international fixtures; notes that the England men’s side will play a three match test series against New Zealand featuring matches in Hull on 27 October, Liverpool on 3 November and Leeds on 11 November; welcomes the players and staff of the touring New Zealand Rugby League team to the United Kingdom for this international series; recognises the impact that these major events will have on the local economies of host cities and wider regions across the north of England; further notes that the England women’s side will play their first game since the 2017 Rugby League World Cup against France in Carcassonne on 27 October; recognises England Knights’ tour of Papua New Guinea, including fixtures against the national side on 27 October and 3 November; wishes all England teams well, particularly for the three matches taking place in different locations on 27 October; and hopes that all England teams will enjoy a successful autumn of international rugby league, as they build towards the Rugby League World Cup 2021 in England.
Rugby League European Championship
The this House welcomes the European Championship of rugby league between Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France taking place this autumn; notes that the tournament acts as a qualifier for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England, with the top two nations going through automatically to join the current eight seeds; looks forward to games taking place in Santry, Carcassonne, Galashiels, and Wrexham; welcomes ongoing efforts from Wales Rugby League, Scotland Rugby League and Rugby League Ireland to strengthen the game across the United Kingdom; and wishes all home nations well for the forthcoming fixtures.