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World Cup draw at Buckingham Palace was once unthinkable but Thursday’s event demonstrated rugby league’s potentialOrdinarily, the prospect of
England facing Sonny Bill Williams in the opening game of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup would have been the biggest takeaway from the tournament draw on Thursday. However, bizarre circumstances meant all eyes were instead on the man tasked with drawing the balls from Pot One.

Tournament organisers have promised the biggest and best World Cup in the sport’s history in October and November next year, and if the buzz surrounding the draw is even remotely matched during the tournament, they will almost certainly deliver on that promise. They will not, one suspects, have a backdrop quite as remarkable as this to build upon, though.