Rugby League: World Cup a financial flop

English rugby league bosses have finally admitted that last year's World Cup was a financial flop.

Rugby Football League chairman Sir Rodney Walker yesterday conceded that the event lost about £500,000 ($1.7 million).

The organising committee had expected to make a £4 million profit from the 16-nation, month-long competition held last November, which was won by overwhelming favourites Australia.

But continual bad weather, ticketing problems, one-sided clashes such as Australia v Russia, and an over-ambitious itinerary of 31 games in six countries, including rugby union strongholds, left most grounds half-full at best.