Rugby league World Cup organisers face unrest over pay and treatment of rival nations

Despite strong crowds and television ratings, and an epic Kangaroos-New Zealand clash that opened the tournament before 41,255 at Allianz Stadium, there is disquiet behind the scenes. Australia stepped in to stage this year's event after original hosts France withdrew for financial reasons.

Officials from some of the tournament's cash-strapped nations are disgruntled about having to pay the Australian Rugby League Commission, which is organising the World Cup, tens of thousands of dollars for corporate boxes at their own games. ARL Commission executive chairman Peter V'landys has hosted guests in plush facilities at the Kangaroos' two matches to date, against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium and Fiji at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Other nations, however, have paid as much as $30,000 for corporate facilities, a departure from the Pacific Championships, where boxes and suites were supplied to participating countries. "It's been an absolute joke," one national official said.

According to sources with knowledge of the issue, Papua New Guinea officials even considered abandoning hosting games during the World Cup if boxes were not made available. The situation was especially sensitive because the Australian government is putting $600 million into rugby league to bankroll the incoming PNG Chiefs, expand the game in the Pacific and counter Chinese influence in the region. In the end, the policy was relaxed for PNG, and the men's Kumuls and women's Orchids have each played two World Cup games in Port Moresby. V'landys said the complication arose because PNG administrators mistakenly believed they were a host nation and had committed to providing boxes they were not entitled to. "We helped them out by giving up the ARLC box and other boxes to cover their mistake," he said. "We acted in good faith as they made a mistake and were never threatened about them pulling out."

Competing nations are also unhappy about the gulf between treatment of their players and Australia's. Members of Kevin Walters' squad will receive $40,000 for the World Cup, while players from other countries earn $850 per game. The Australian fees are dictated by the Rugby League Players' Association's collective bargaining agreement with the ARL Commission. Officials say their players have had to share twin rooms at rundown hotels and sometimes sleep in single beds, while the Australians are accommodated in their own rooms at top-end lodgings. There is also displeasure at suggestions Australia and New Zealand will get first choice of hotels for the semi-finals in Sydney and Newcastle, despite the Kiwis finishing second in Pool A after their 24-22 loss to the Kangaroos on October 15. The reward for winning Pool B, meanwhile, is a six-day turnaround in a secondary hotel in Newcastle.

On Friday, V'landys defended the planning. "Every nation executes a participation agreement. Accordingly, we pay each nation a participation payment," he said. "In addition, we make payments to the players, pay for flights, accommodation, travel and meals for 32 players and officials [per team]. We also provide 112 complimentary admission tickets [and] prize money of $475,000 each for the men's and women's [World Cups]. We invite travelling administrators into [the] official ARLC function." He added: "As you can see, we cover nearly all costs and pay them to participate. They signed an agreement and knew of the terms. [It's] disappointing they cherry-pick; as you can see, they receive a very good deal."

National teams have been wary of airing their frustrations publicly, given Australia's importance to international competition and the commercial might of the ARL Commission, which owns the NRL. But sources say the experience could shape the next World Cup. Sources say the International Rugby League will no longer sell rights to the tournament to a host country or countries, and instead plans to run future editions itself, possibly in partnership with the ARL Commission. Under one scenario to be discussed at an IRL board meeting next week, the ARLC would jointly underwrite the 2030 World Cup even though Australia would not physically host it, with the location to be announced next month. Recent developments include the IRL's dispute with England's Rugby Football League over $800,000 in allegedly outstanding payments from the 2022 World Cup.