A GOAL of attracting packs of Australian Kangaroos, New Zealand Kiwis or English Lions to stay in the Tees Valley remains on the cards and is achievable, according the Tees Valley Mayor.

Ben Houchen said with 538 days to go until the Rugby League World Cup tournament kicks off with England taking on Samoa at St James’ Park in Newcastle, he is confident the Tees Valley will be considered the best place for one of the top teams and that the sport could grow in the area and benefit its communities.

He was speaking hours after the government announced it would provide a £16m loan to safeguard the immediate future of rugby league as it creates outstanding sporting and life chances in often disadvantaged communities.

Earlier this week it was announced ticket sales for the tournament have been delayed to September as organisers said they will make more than 20,000 available free to healthcare workers on the coronavirus frontline.

With the sports calendar set to be jam packed next year as events are moved from 2020 due to the pandemic, organisers will give themselves until September to release the match schedule for the tournament, which had been due to be released next month.

While the Tees Valley Combined Authority is working very closely with Middlesbrough FC to prepare for its match, almost exactly a year after it was announced that the Tees Valley would host a team for seven weeks, officials in the region are still waiting to see which team will be staying at Rockliffe Hall and training at Darlington’s Mowden Park.

Mr Houchen, a rugby enthusiast, said: “Darlington did a fantastic job of hosting the New Zealand All Blacks during the Rugby Union World Cup and teams have been asking the All Blacks about their stay. We do know that the references have been absolutely glowing.”

While rugby league has traditionally not been one of the area’s most popular sports, Mr Houchen said the tournament and the team the area plays host to could inspire fresh passions in some.

The players will stay at the hotel and spa and training at the arena less than ten minutes away, for the seven-week tournament, but there will also be an active programme of engagement, with the team working to promote the game in local schools and communities.

Mr Houchen said he hoped the tournament would lead on to the Tees Valley hosting other major sporting events in the coming years, including men’s and women’s football internationals.

He said: “We have a lot of rugby union teams across the Tees Valley, have always sold out the Riverside Stadium for sporting events we have staged and are seen as being sporting fanatics, so this is about making sure we establish the area as a leading place to host sports events. This could add to our sporting CV.”