Behind the bold plan to sprinkle some Magic dust on the 2030 World Cup

Rugby league will take the Magic concept it invented in 2007 on the road across 12,000km and up to 17 time zones in an audacious structure for its next IRL World Cup.

International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant on Monday announced the Australian Rugby League Commission would be its delivery partner in 12-team 2030 men’s tournament and 10-side women’s competition to be held in the United States and the Pacific, potentially including New Zealand and Australia.

It will move from country to country, week after week, ala Formula One racing, over a five-week window.

The structure marks a quantum leap for the RL brand-unique concept of an entire of round of matches being played at the same venue, introduced in Cardiff 19 years ago and imported to Brisbane in 2019. It’s the first time the innovation will go on the road and the first time it will involve international teams.

In expanding the men’s and women’s tournaments by two teams each, Grant also revealed qualification would be open to countries which would not be full members but who will have the opportunity to progress via expanded and improved regional tournaments.

He also revealed France would tour the Pacific next southern Spring, likely playing teams with the bye in the second tier of the Pacific Championship.

“We will begin working early in the new year across the Pacific and the US to identify appropriate cities with the stadia, with the capacity to host a large number of people to put on the best show in sport,” said Grant.

“And to really introduce rugby league to a wider audience in a format that has worked both here in Australia in Brisbane and has also worked very successfully in (Britain).

“That means essentially the pool games will be played across three days at one venue or the one city for the men and the women.

“That brings another level of excitement and shows rugby league is not only one of the most outstanding sports but is also an entertainment product and that is where a lot of the success is coming from.

“The more World Cups generate, that means the more we can invest back into the growth of international rugby league and our nations.

“Following 2030 it is our aspiration for the World Cup in 2034 to be played out of Europe and potentially Africa. That is our aspiration but we are far from making any decisions about that.”

The Wheelchair World Cup will be held in a single French city.

Discussing the qualifying process in men and women, Grant said: “Last year we instigated a World Series and we are investing in a regional championship model that will occur in the years leading up to the 2030 World Cup.

“We currently have the top eight ranked teams (from the previous tournament) qualify for the World Cup in men. That will remain.

“The World Series will begin in 2029 (to determine) the other four teams. The criteria is they don’t have to be full members. That will be open to all teams who proceed from the World Championship to the World Series.”

On the decision to have the ARLC as host even though only limited games will be in Australia, Grant said: “The evidence is there for everyone to see how exception their capability is.

“They do this in Vegas, as an example. They’re entering into a period where they’re taking global round of the NRL premiership into the market. They’re the perfect partners for us. Their capacity, their professionalism is unmatched in rugby league.”

Asked if Suncorp Stadium could host its third consecutive Southern Hemisphere World Cup final, Grant said it was far too early to speculate.