MPs call for free-to-air Rugby League World Cup matches

MPs have called on the government to make matches at the Rugby League World Cup free-to-air and protected for the foreseeable future. This year’s competition, taking place in Australia, is being broadcast behind a paywall on Premier Sports after the BBC declined to cough up to show the tournament. Jon Trickett MP said: “The problem rugby league has is that the feed stock has been cut off, that’s ordinary kids watching sport on TV living in poorer families. A lot of the rugby league clubs come from deprived communities – they are not able to pay for pay-for-view TV and they’re not able to see their heroes.” He added: “The [government] has the power to list sporting events and it s tragic that the World Cup is not seen on terrestrial television.” And it comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham insisted earlier this year that he would be a voice for the sport. His sport minister has so far refused to list matches at the Rugby League World Cup under so-called crown jewel status,