Women given more rest days at RL World Cup

The 2021 women's Rugby League World Cup tournament will start earlier and run longer after officials extended the turnaround between matches to bring them closer to the timings for the men's tournament.

The announcement comes a week after it was revealed that women and wheelchair players will receive prize money for the first time and be paid the same participation fee as their male counterparts.

Tournament organisers have introduced a minimum four-day turnaround for women's teams, longer than the initial minimum turnaround of three days.

International Rugby League officials are working towards extending it to five at the 2025 World Cup, the same gap the men's teams enjoy.

The change means the women's competition in 2021 will kick off four days earlier than originally planned on Tuesday, November 9 at Headingley rather than Anfield.

Anfield will continue to host the marquee women's and men's double header on Saturday, November 13, and the tournament will still end at Old Trafford on November 28 as part of a double-header with the men's final.

RLWC 2021 chief executive Jon Dutton said it was the best outcome for everyone, especially the athletes.

"It is important that we recognise the evolution of the women's game and are at the forefront of leading the way on player welfare," he said.