YORK'S new Community Stadium will host BOTH semi-finals of the next Women's Rugby League World Cup, it has been announced.

The women's tournament runs alongside the main 2021 World Cup in October and November of that year, and the Minster city is now set to play a leading role in the extravaganza, hosting a number of group games prior to the last-four showdowns.

As previously reported by The Press, the York consortium put in a bid to be a host city for RLWC2021 and the schedule and venues for all the World Cup matches - men's, women's and wheelchair - were revealed in Manchester this morning.

York has also bid to accommodate and provide training bases for World Cup teams - men and women - and these decisions will be made "in the coming months".

Old Trafford, home of Manchester United and the Super League Grand Final, will stage the final of both the men's and women's tournaments in a double-header, with the wheelchair final taking place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

The Emirates Stadium in London, home of Arsenal, will host a men’s semi-final – the first sport other than football to be played at the venue - with the other to be played at Elland Road, Leeds.

St James’ Park in Newcastle, a popular host of Super League's Magic Weekend, will staging the men’s opening ceremony, with Anfield in Liverpool hosting the women’s equivalent, as well as a marquee men’s quarter-final.

RLWC2021 will see the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments played concurrently for the first time.

Organisers have met the Government target of hosting at least 80 per cent of the tournament in the "Northern Powerhouse" - with Doncaster, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York among the towns and cities making up the final list.

Leeds will host several fixtures, including a men’s semi-final and two women’s fixtures across Elland Road and Headingley.

Among a heavy presence of core rugby league venues, St Helens, Warrington, Leigh and Workington, where a new purpose-built stadium will stage three men’s group games, will also be host towns.

RLWC2021 will be the biggest-ever tournament for wheelchair rugby league, with London’s Copper Box Arena hosting England’s group at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Jon Dutton, chief executive of the Rugby League World Cup 2021, said: “I would like to congratulate all of our chosen hosts who have worked so hard in submitting such compelling bids.

"Each and every host now has the opportunity to galvanise and inspire their respective communities ahead of the competing nations arriving in England.

"With all three tournaments running concurrently, RLWC2021 will give the chance for people across the country to engage in a variety of ways and really look forward to October and November 2021.

“This was an incredibly tough process given the large number of interested parties and the impressive nature of their bids. With so many competitive bids, we’re confident that our chosen hosts will help play a role in delivering the greatest, and most inclusive, Rugby League World Cup of all time.”

Mims Davies, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, added: "The UK is renowned for putting on some of the biggest and best sporting events in the world and the Rugby League World Cup 2021 will be no exception.

"This tournament will provide a stage for the world's best players in the men's, women's and wheelchair game to shine in cities and towns across the country. It is an exceptional opportunity to grow the sport. We are investing £25 million to help put on a fantastic event, reach new fans and improve facilities, so the tournament leaves a real legacy.”

Full list of game venues/hosts across men’s, women’s and wheelchair fixtures:

Bolton – The University of Bolton Stadium will host two men’s games, including an England group game and quarter-final.

Liverpool – Anfield will host the marquee quarter-final tie along with the women’s opening ceremony and initial England game. M&S Bank Arena Liverpool will host the wheelchair Rugby League final.

Preston – First training base to be revealed.

St Helens – The Totally Wicked Stadium will host three men’s group games.

Trafford – Old Trafford will host both the men’s and women’s finals as a double-header event.

Warrington – The Halliwell Jones Stadium will host three men’s group games.

Wigan and Leigh – Leigh Sports Village will host three men’s group games

Coventry – The Ricoh Arena will host one men’s game.

Doncaster – Club Doncaster will host three men’s group games.

Huddersfield – The John Smith's Stadium will host a men’s quarter-final.

Hull – The KCOM Stadium will host two men’s games, including a quarter-final.

Leeds – Elland Road will host a men’s semi-final and Emerald Headingley Stadium will host three men’s games and two women’s games.

Sheffield – Bramall Lane will host an England men’s group game. The EIS Sheffield will host a group and both semi-finals in the wheelchair tournament.

York – The Community Stadium will host a women’s group game and both women’s semi-finals.

Middlesbrough – The Riverside Stadium will host a significant men’s group game.

Newcastle – St James’ Park will host the opening England men’s group game including the men’s opening ceremony

Allerdale – The Workington Community Stadium will host three men’s group games.

London – The Emirates Stadium will host a men’s semi-final. The Copper Box Arena will host the England group in the wheelchair tournament.