Qatar are set to bid for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup, with the Gulf state among four nations to have staked their claim to host the tournament.
Their bid comes following France's withdrawal as hosts, with their organisational team pulling out having been unable to convince the French government of sufficient funding. The International Rugby League board held an emergency meeting on Wednesday, with the governing body having to find a new host, with the competition at risk of being postponed until 2026, or even cancelled altogether and staged again in 2029.
New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji have stepped forward to host the competition and salvage the event. However, a surprise name has emerged in the form of Qatar, with the country's government ramping up its efforts to stage more global sporting events following the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
