Cardiff to host World Cup start

Next year's World Cup will kick off with a double-header at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, but the announcement of venues for the final and semi-finals has been delayed.

A press conference was called off yesterday, because of what the Rugby Football League called "some interesting and positive late developments". What is certain is that the 2013 tournament will start on 26 October with England v Australia and Wales v Italy. England's other games will be at Huddersfield and Hull, while Wales will play at Wrexham and Neath. Wrexham will host a quarter-final, along with Wigan, Leeds and Warrington.

Other intriguing destinations include Bristol for the Cook Islands versus the United States match and Limerick for Ireland versus Australia.