League's big day hit by train chaos

Transport problems and the fear that Australia might just be far too good for the hosts England could keep Twickenham below half full for its first-ever game of rugby league this evening.

Transport problems and the fear that Australia might just be far too good for the hosts England could keep Twickenham below half full for its first-ever game of rugby league this evening.

England meet the reigning world champions in their opening fixture of the Lincoln Financial Rugby League World Cup, an event that few would have envisaged being held at rugby union's headquarters a couple of years ago. The League cannot lose financially, but hopes of a 50,000-plus crowd at the 70,000-capacity venue were fading yesterday as rail services from the north continue to run into chaos and the extra congestion on the motorways made driving to London equally unattractive.

John Huxley, the Rugby League's spokesman, said: "We would be delighted with anything over 30,000. Ticket sales have been satisfactory, but a 6.30pm kick-off presents people from the North with travel difficulties. Public transport at that time of day could be a problem, but rugby league fans are pretty determined people."

The first weekend of competition in the 16-team tournament - which includes giants like Russia and minnows like the Cook Islands - also features games in Belfast, Paris, Glasgow, Gloucester, Wrexham and Barrow. Only the last of these is a traditional rugby league town.

Taking the games out far and wide is a deliberate development strategy on the part of the World Cup organisers, who will have a much better idea by tomorrow night whether or not it is destined to be successful.

Australia are overwhelming favourites and Britain will have another chance to see the all-conquering Kangaroos next year as it was announced yesterday that the Ashes are to be restored to the league calendar. Delegates of the Rugby League decided to scrap the infant Tri-Nations Series to return to major tours between the two hemispheres. Next October's Kangaroos tour, the first since 1994, will be followed by the visit of New Zealand in 2002.