MPs have called on the government to make matches at the Rugby League World Cup free-to-air and protected for the foreseeable future.

This year’s competition, taking place in Australia, is being broadcast behind a paywall on Premier Sports after the BBC declined to cough up to show the tournament.

Jon Trickett MP said: “The problem rugby league has is that the feed stock has been cut off, that’s ordinary kids watching sport on TV living in poorer families. A lot of the rugby league clubs come from deprived communities – they are not able to pay for pay-for-view TV and they’re not able to see their heroes.”

He added: “The [government] has the power to list sporting events and it’s tragic that the World Cup is not seen on terrestrial television.”

And it comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham insisted earlier this year that he would be a voice for the sport. His sport minister has so far refused to list matches at the Rugby League World Cup under so-called crown jewel status, whereby free-to-air coverage, in varied levels of substance, is guaranteed.

Current crown jewel events include the FA Cup final, Rugby World Cup final and the Grand National.

Rugby League woes

“The Challenge Cup remains protected on free-to-air television under the Listed Events Regime but I do acknowledge the concerns raised before the World Cup and the secretary of state [Lisa Nandy] expressed her views that she was disappointed,” sport minister Stephanie Peacock said.

“Of course there was a last-minute agreement that the BBC would carry highlights but I appreciate the concerns that this has not gone far enough.

“We of course must help sports rights holders strike the right balance between broadcast revenue and keeping clubs solvent and ensuring matches remain accessible to the public.”

Domestic rugby league is currently at a crossroads, meanwhile, with the southern hemisphere NRL pondering an investment into England’s Super League.