The decision to grant the hosting duties to the UK, despite the commercial flop of the 2000 tournament which made a £600,000 loss, was part of a new structural calendar which the Rugby League International Federation drew up in a two-day meeting in Sydney.
Events to be held over the next five years also include a World Club Championship in Sydney with teams from the UK, Australia and New Zealand competing. Australia will also embark on another Ashes tour of the UK in 2003, while in 2006 Britain will undertake its first full tour of Australia and New Zealand since 1992.
The UK is to host the Rugby League World Cup in 2005 - the third successive time it has staged the tournament.
