Bolton has lost out on hosting a Rugby League World Cup quarter-final game this November. The match will now take place in Warrington, Cheshire, organisers have announced.
The University of Bolton Stadium was set to host the men’s quarter final match on November 6, but this has been scrapped due to a clash of events at the venue. The Champion of Champions snooker tournament will also take place at the arena on the same day.
It is the second men’s quarter final to switch venue, after the match the day before was moved from Liverpool to Wigan. In all, the tournament has been pushed back by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Town hall bosses say they are ‘disappointed’ by the news. Council chief executive Tony Oakman continued: “We are disappointed that Bolton will no longer be hosting a quarter final of the Rugby League World Cup. Bolton Council had been working with the tournament organisers to find a solution to ensure this high-profile game could still go ahead as planned.
“However, we remain focused on the England v France group-stage game on 22 October and on hosting the French national team throughout the tournament. Outside of the match itself, we will also hold a number of community and engagement events that will help build a lasting legacy for the sport of rugby league in Bolton.
“Bolton has a track record of hosting major sporting occasions, and the tournament will allow us to showcase our town to a global audience.”
Existing ticket holders can transfer their pass to the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington — around half of the capacity of the 28,000 Bolton ground — or get a full refund.
The tournament’s Chief Executive, Jon Dutton, added: “We are clearly disappointed to be losing the University of Bolton Stadium from the Quarter-Final line-up and I appreciate it is especially frustrating for any supporters who have already bought tickets for this fixture. Following the postponement of the tournament, we worked with all existing hosts to discuss the viability of restaging games in 2022, and while the venue initially committed to delivering two fixtures as originally planned, they have since made us aware of a clash for the second game.
“While every effort has been made to maintain the fixture at the original location, a solution was not able to be found. However, we are pleased that the match will now be staged at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and we are very excited to be taking one of the biggest matches of the competition to a first class rugby league venue. We thank everyone involved for their support in achieving this solution so quickly.”
