The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) requested the event in England be postponed until 2022 in pulling out.

Tournament organisers have reacted angrily to the world's two top-ranked men's teams withdrawing and insist that major sporting events which went before it in England this year demonstrate that the World Cup can be staged safely.

RLWC2021 chairman Chris Brindley said: "The Rugby League World Cup 2021 has held an emergency Board meeting following the hugely disappointing statement made by the ARLC and NZRL. 

"The Board conducted constructive discussions on the best way forward for the tournament and will continue dialogue with all stakeholders, including the UK Government, in the coming days.

“The well-being of all those involved in the tournament, particularly players and team officials, has been the priority for the organisers. 

"The Board reiterated the relentless hard work and extraordinary measures that have been taken to create a world-class environment in line with other major sport events that have been successfully hosted in the UK this year.

"The Board will meet again in the coming days but in the meantime will continue to concentrate its efforts on being solutions focused and achieving the best possible outcome for the tournament."

The men's, women's and wheelchair World Cups are due to take place from October 23 to November 27, across England.

Postponement to 2022 could prove tricky, as the same window next year would overlap with the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, while moving the event forward may not be possible due to Birmingham's staging of the Commonwealth Games in July and August.

In a joint statement last week, the ARLC and NZRL cited "the risk of COVID-19 infection in the United Kingdom", rising case numbers in Australia and the length of time "players will spend away from home under strict biosecurity conditions prior to the World Cup" for withdrawing.

This has drawn criticism from their English counterpart - Rugby Football League (RFL).

RFL chairman Simon Johnson called it a "selfish, parochial and cowardly decision".

"I think the British public would want to know why they have made that decision now about a tournament in October when they have athletes currently in Tokyo participating in the Olympics, when their rugby union team is planning to come to Wales in October and when the New Zealand cricket team have been here already to participate," Johnson told BBC Radio 4.

"So there is something that the rugby league authorities believe is insurmountable where other sports have no problem."

Australia are 11-time winners of the men's World Cup and the defending champions, while New Zealand won the 2008 competition. 

The Australians are additionally the reigning women's champions, while France won the wheelchair title in 2017.