(Sorry if this has already been talked about)

So we probably aren't far away from an announcement on venues which will probably come in a month/month and half or so. I've been thinking about venues and was interested to know what other people think. There will probably be 6 venues with one used for the opening day double-header. The last tournament had an average attendance of approx. 20,600 so the average for this years needs to be higher than that really. We already know that one game is in London and one will probably be in Scotland so with this criteria in mind my venues are:

Murrayfield: Opening day double-header (England v Scotland to open followed by Australia v New Zealand (Scotland playing England in Scotland being a bigger attraction for people who don't normally go to league) (Say about 45-48,000 here)

Olympic Stadium: England v Australia (seen as Londoners have had New Zealand there recently) (Get about 45-48,000 here as well)

St James' Park: England v New Zealand (decent attendance for Magic Weekend and starting to get some exposure up there, top-level international perfect way for more exposure) (Reckon could get about 38-40,000 here)

DW Stadium and KC Stadium: don't particularly have a preference for which out of NZ v Scotland or Australia v Scotland are played at which ground. Will probably be slightly under capacity (something like 19-20,000 each game).

Etihad: Lets be more ambitious for the final. Originally thought Elland Road because the other Four Nations finals have been there and 37,000 is a decent capacity but even if we got 40-42,000 at Etihad and it is a bit empty, it is still better than the smaller attendance. Also Manchester is a good central location and easy to get to. (Like is say, about 40-42,000 for the final)

In total, my preferred venues and estimated attendances create a total attendance of 206,000-218,000 and an average of 34,333-36,333. In my opinion this is totally achievable if us greatest and most loyal sports fans in the world get behind the game and our teams!!

1) Double header at Olympic Park to open (NZ v Sco & Eng v Aus)
2) Double header at Newcastle (Aus v Sco & Eng v NZ)
3) Eng v Sco - Headingley/Langtree Park/Halliwell Jones
4) NZ v Aus - Headingley/Langtree Park/Halliwell Jones
5) Final - Manchester Etihad

Standalone games with Scotland, England game aside, won't attract crowds. Newcastle seems to be a target development area, Scotland isn't really so there is not much point in massive investment promoting a 1-off event up there. If England get to the final we should sell out the Etihad, if not it wont look too bad with 40k in (we could go ambitious and try to sell out Old Trafford, but not worth the risk of England failing to get there). Keep the other games at RL stadiums.

Murrayfield's a dreadful ground IMO. Newcastle would get my vote instead. There would also be the benefit of building upon the MW.

Pretty much what i would go with, although i would maybe like to see Wembley instead of Olympic stadium. Realty hope RFL think BIG for this tournament.

Yes got to be Wembley for me as the double header.Try and build on the good crowd from the last four nations over here a few years back

I agree with the OP, double headers except for the New Zealand v Australia fixture. Ii'd push for a London Venue maybe Loftus Road with this one as there's plenty of traveler's from these two nations down in the capital.

England v Scotland take your pick can't see more than 10.000 maybe LSV to pack it out.

Double-headers...



Play the Scotland vs Aus/NZ games in Scotland! Don't shoehorn them onto an England fixture. Complete small-time thinking.

Let's think bigger for a change.
No more Scotland playing their games in Cumbria or that cesspit they've been at recently in the boarders.
No more double-headers or piddly little grounds 'showcasing' our game at it's highest level.
Be bold and market the hell out of it.

Capital Round:
England v Aus - Wembley
Scotland v NZ - Edinburgh

Heartlands Round:
England v Scotland - Wigan
Australia v NZ - Leeds

Expansion Round:
England v NZ - Newcastle
Scotland v Aus - Glasgow

Final - Olympic Stadium

We all know this won't happen. Scotland has no RL fanbase to speak of simple as that, it is no more than an emerging nation as far as our sport goes. Playing NZ and Scotland in a large empty stadia in Edinburgh or Glasgow is going to do the game less favours than packing out a smaller stadium.

Eng v Aus Olympic Stadium
Eng v NZ Etihad
Eng v Sco Headingley

Sco v Aus Tynecastle (Edinburgh)
Sco v NZ Firhill (Glasgow)

Aus v NZ KC Stadium

Final St James Park

Anywhere but the Olympic stadium, awful ground for watching rugby.

Eng v Aus and Scot v NZ. Olympic or Wembley, put it to tender, which ever we can get the best deal on.

Eng v Scotland KC Hull
Aus v NZ DW Wigan

Scot v Aus Workington
Eng v NZ Etihad

Final Etihad