One for the calendar

The draw for the Rugby League World Cup 2017 has been released, with three matches to be played in Port Moresby against two European qualifiers and the US.

The matches will be on October 28, November 5 and 12.

The tournament is being co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and PNG.

The opening blockbuster game on October 27 will be in Australia, at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, between the Kangaroos and England.

Matches will also be played in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Sydney, Canberra, Darwin, Perth, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

The tournament’s former chief executive officer, Michael Brown*, says a deliberate decision has been made to take the competition to more fans than any World Cup has done before. “The tournament draw demonstrates how far and wide we are taking matches, from established rugby league communities, to those new and emerging fan bases in all three countries,” he says.

“The decision to take matches to places like Darwin, Perth, Christchurch and Port Moresby were made with the future of the sport in mind. They are matches we believe will give profile to the sport in markets that have already shown an appetite for rugby league.”

The final will be played in Brisbane on December 2.

(*Brown has since resigned, replaced by Andrew Hill).

Air Niugini flies from Port Moresby to Brisbane four times a week and from Port Moresby to Cairns daily. See airniugini.com.pg and nrl.com.