TRANMERE'S Prenton Park could play a part in staging a major sporting tournament if Liverpool City Council's 2021 Rugby League World Cup bid is accepted.

Working in partnership with Wirral Council, proposals have been put forward for Prenton Park to host the female tournament while Anfield would host the male event.

Wheelchair matches could also be staged at the Greenbank Sports Academy and the Echo Arena.

The city region, which will be hosting three major international sporting championships in the next two years, has also set out plans to be the host city for a visiting nation.

Deputy mayor of Liverpool and cabinet member for culture and events cllr Wendy Simon said: “Liverpool has developed a phenomenal track record in hosting major sporting and cultural events and the Rugby League World Cup in 2021 would be a fantastic fit for the city and wider region.

“With illustrious partners such as Liverpool FC and Tranmere Rovers, combined with our brilliant indoor venues at Greenbank and the arena, we can offer the organisers, teams and fans the full package in what they would be looking for in a vibrant and exciting host city.

“The fact the tournament will be the first to jointly host a women’s, men’s and wheelchair competition makes it a landmark moment in sport and it would be very special to be part of this historic occasion.”

The bid will be formally submitted on Tuesday, July 31 with host cities and successful venues announced in January 2019.

Tranmere Rovers chairman Mark Palios said: “Tranmere Rovers are delighted to support the innovative bid by the City Region which aims to bring a big part of what promises to be the biggest Rugby League World Cup event ever staged, to Merseyside.

"Prenton Park will be a great platform for showcasing the Women's World Cup and our new training facility at The Campus will be a quality, local base for the teams.”

The tournament will be hosted between October and November 2021 and will feature 16 nations in the men’s format and eight in both the women’s and wheelchair formats.