WREXHAM Council is to bid for the chance to host the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, bringing globally watched rugby matches to the Racecourse Ground.

The council's bid is being backed by Wrexham AFC and Glyndwr University, while the North Wales Crusaders, Rugby Wales, Ian Lucas MP, Lesley Griffiths AM, the Ramada Plaza and Grosvenor Pulford are also throwing their support behind the bid.

Cllr Andrew Atkinson, lead member with responsibility for leisure, praised the bid saying: "I believe it’s an excellent idea to bring such a wonderful sporting event to Wrexham. "We saw a fantastic occasion when it came here in 2013 with everyone getting behind the event, and I hope to see the great and good of Rugby League back in the region.

"The economic and sporting benefits would be a great boost for the county and we believe that a real legacy could be left here".

The Racecourse Ground was previously used in the 2013 tournament where a pool match and a Quarter-Final both took place.

It saw Wales face the USA and the latter facing the giants Australia in front of over 5,000 supporters.

The 2013 tournament totalled over 18million viewers worldwide and put Wrexham on the Rugby League map.