Liverpool and St Helens will welcome the Tonga and Italy men's national teams next year as part of their host status roles at the Rugby League World Cup.
In May 2019, it was revealed that Liverpool and St Helens had both been selected as host locations for nations set to compete at the 2021 World Cup. Today – 500 days until the start of the tournament – those sides have been confirmed as Tonga and Italy, ranked fourth and 13th in the world respectively.
The teams will stay in Liverpool during their time in England, where they will experience the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront along with many other attractions, while they will prepare for matches in St Helens, using St Helens Council’s £3.