Rugby League: World Cup ignores competition: Go-ahead for Britain's centenary celebrations

THE GAME has nailed its colours to its Centenary World Cup with the announcement that the tournament will go ahead in Britain in October 1995, regardless of whether rugby union moves its competition here.

A decision had been delayed because of fears of a clash, but the Rugby League's chief executive and tournament organiser, Maurice Lindsay, said yesterday: 'We will let everything else take its course, but we will not be altering this.

'We are celebrating 100 years of rugby league, so why should we move it into the 101st year?'

Lindsay also confirmed that it will be a 10-nation competition, with South Africa taking the last place. One group of four teams and two of three will produce a 15-match tournament, played over three weeks during which all domestic competition will be suspended.

The opening match and the final are earmarked for Wembley, with Old Trafford and Elland Road the likely venues for the semi-finals. There are also plans for a supplementary tournament, for countries, like those in the former Soviet Union, at an earlier stage of development, to run concurrently.

The draw for the main tournament is likely to be made at the World Club Challenge in Brisbane in June. Another sign of the game's expansionist mood internationally is that Lindsay is proposing that the next game between the British and Australian champions should take place in Hong Kong in June 1995.

Lindsay was invited to view the colony's new stadium on his way to Australia for the World Sevens recently and firmly believes that playing there is a practical proposition.

Britain is to seek permission from the international board this summer to try out a number of rule changes in various leagues next season. They include banning the practice of raking for the ball at the play-the-ball, and putting microphones in touch-judges' flags to place them in contact with the referee.

The Leeds prop forward Harvey Howard has been cleared to play in tomorrow's Challenge Cup tie against Warrington after being given a verdict of sending-off sufficient for a high tackle in last Sunday's match against Salford.