SAINTS will hope to welcome one of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup’s premier team’s to their £25m Langtree Park home after it was selected as a host venue for the 14-nation tournament.

St Helens Council, which submitted the bid on behalf of the town, is optimistic one of either England, Australia or New Zealand will play at the 18,000 capacity stadium at the group stage.

A real crowd-puller may go some way to easing disappointment felt by some supporters that Langtree Park did not attract a quarter final. Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium, Wrexham, Wigan's DW stadium and Leeds' Headingley will all host last eight ties.

Neighbouring towns, including Widnes and Warrington, will also provide team base camps, but it is understood St Helens did not bid for selection.

The council, which has invested £8milion in the stadium and its infrastructure in recent years, felt it would be unwise to commit money towards bidding to become a training venue or base camp because of the financial constraints created by cuts in public funding.

However, the positive impression Saints’ new home had on RFL tournament director Nigel Wood will raise hopes of an eye-catching group fixture coming to town in the autumn of 2013.

Wood said: “We were particularly impressed by the strength of the bid from St Helens as the club and the town is about to embark on an exciting new era with the opening of Langtree Park.

“It is only fit and proper that one of the sports newest and most impressive arenas should get the chance to host international fixtures in 2013 Rugby League World Cup.”

Details of the venues for the opening ceremony, the semi-finals and the final will be confirmed early in the New Year.