Jon Dutton has conceded there have been “highs, lows and frustrations” during the Four Nations but the Rugby Football League tournament director said ticket sales are on target for Sunday’s final between Australia and New Zealand at Anfield. The RFL is hopeful of attracting about 40,000 fans to Anfield, with sales currently around the 37,000 mark.
Following disappointing attendances in Hull, Coventry and London, Dutton said the RFL has learned lessons for the next time it hosts international rugby league, which will be 2018 at the earliest. “We set out a schedule at the start which was a mixture of traditional and expansion,” he said. “There’s been some highs, lows and frustrations. We made the right decision to go back to London but we would have hoped for more people there [35,569 watched Australia beat England at London Stadium last Sunday].
“In terms of Coventry, we didn’t hit our targets and the stadium is quite unforgiving for a double-header event. Being on Bonfire Night made it difficult too. In hindsight we’d have a rethink about the first game and how we went about it. We were disappointed more people [5,337] didn’t come to Hull on the opening night to watch the Kangaroos [play Scotland] in all honesty.”
Dutton said a crowd anywhere between 35,000 and 40,000 would be considered a success at Anfield. “Where we’re at in terms of sales is a positive for us. It will look presentable on TV and there’s a feelgood factor in Liverpool with them being top of the Premier League. The players are excited to play here and we always wanted a marquee stadium for the final: we’ve delivered that.”
The Rugby League International Federation will shortly reveal the calendar leading up to the 2021 World Cup and Dutton said that while there is unlikely to be any England fixtures in this country next year, they are intent on securing some big matches the following year. “The important thing for us now is to set the international calendar from 2018 running up to a home World Cup in 2021 as quickly as possible,” he saidDuttonsaid the RFL, along with the NRL and the NZRL, will hold meetings this week to determine the future of the Four Nations. It is understood the tournament is likely to remain part of the international calendar.
