England Rugby League faces financial dispute over World Cup payments

England Rugby League is in a financial standoff with the International Rugby League regarding an unpaid rights fee from the 2022 World Cup. The Rugby Football League owes $800,000, with talks planned between RFL chief executive Ian Nolan and International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant this weekend. If unresolved, this dispute could threaten England’s status as a Test-playing nation. England’s performance in the recent World Cup was disappointing, with both men's and women's teams failing to advance to the semi-finals. International Rugby League aims for a resolution to promote the game's growth in the Northern Hemisphere.

• 2:39 AMZero Tackle NRL — England Rugby League’s Test status under threat