THE quarter-finals of a major international sporting event could be held in the region if a £250,000 bid proves successful, writes Local Democracy Reporter James Cain.

The 2021 Rugby League World Cup will be hosted by England and both Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium and The Darlington Arena – home of Darlington Mowden Park RFC – have been put forward as possible venues.

A bid to bring the World Cup to Middlesbrough and Darlington was signed off at a meeting of the Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet on Wednesday.

Linda Tuttiett, head of culture and tourism, said the combined authority was looking at a bid of “up to £250,000” which could see the quarter finals – and possibly some group games – of the contest played at the Riverside Stadium and The Darlington Arena.

“Middlesbrough Council have really initiated all of this,” she said adding that Middlesbrough FC had offered the use of Rockcliffe Hall as part of the bid.

Ms Tuttiett said the final bill might be closer to £100,000 and added that it was yet to be decided whether the Teesside bid would be combined with one from Newcastle.

Noting that the tournament final would be played in Liverpool, Ms Tuttiett said Newcastle’s 50,000 capacity St James’ Park set it apart from the Riverside’s 34,000 and Darlington’s 25,000 capacities.

“We are considering a partnership bid with Newcastle,” said Ms Tuttiett.

“They’re probably bidding for a semi-final. But we could put a good combined bid in.”

Following the meeting, Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, a talented former rugby union player whose career was cut short by a serious injury, backed the plan.

He said: “This shows how far we’ve come in such a short space of time.

“A few years ago nobody would have even considered bidding for a major international sports competition.

“Now we’ve signed off £250,000 to put together a strong bid which could see Rugby League World Cup come to Teesside in 2021.

“With the Riverside, Mowden Park and Rockliffe Hall, they’d be silly not to pick us.”

The 2017 Rugby League World Cup saw hosts Australia beat England 6-0 to come out as champions.

The tournament saw a total of 382,080 spectators watch 14 teams challenging for the cup. The 2021 competition will see the number of teams increase to 16.

In 2015 Darlington played host to rugby union world champions New Zealand, who used the town’s Mowden Park facilities, as their base for the World Cup.