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Rugby league is a physical hard-hitting game that has proved influential on its sister code in recent years, with rugby league defence and running patterns drifting into rugby union.

The sport is relatively new to Canada but Paul O’Keefe, president of the Canada Rugby League Association, says there is interest. International games have drawn 7,000 people at Toronto’s Lamport Stadium.

“It’s a growing sport,” O’Keefe said. “It’s fast. There’s lots of big hits … It looks very similar to hockey here in Canada. That’s why I think Canadians will love the sport the more they get to see that. And there’s only one way to do that — by bringing the best international teams in the world to Canada and bringing the top-line players to Canada.”

“This tournament is certainly going to help us showcase rugby league here in Canada.”

The original North American bid was for the 2021 tournament, which was subsequently awarded to England. The bid started as American-only but Canada was eventually added.

O’Keefe says the successful 2025 bid is proof the sport’s world governing body wants to take rugby league to a new audience.

“It was worth the chance to do it in 2025, plus it gives us a bit more time to really organize, to make sure it’s a really fantastic event,” O’Keefe said.

Australia has dominated the Rugby League World Cup, winning 10 times since the tournament began in 1954. Britain has won three times while New Zealand lifted the trophy once