Organisers of the Rugby League World Cup will discuss including indigenous Australian and New Zealand teams in the tournament, to replace the countries' official sides who have pulled out. Pressure is mounting down-under from players who want to attend the World Cup in October, despite the sport's governing bodies withdrawing their representative sides, last week. Including the Australian Indigenous All-Stars and the New Zealand Maori All-Stars in the tournament is described as a 'viable option' by senior officials in international rugby league. Australia's Indigenous All-Stars are on the charge to play at the Rugby League World Cup The Rugby League World Cup committee, which is due to meet on Tuesday evening, will consider a report on the inclusion of the all-star teams, although no final decision is expected. The Australian Indigenous Players' Group has approached the National Rugby League – the all-powerful domestic competition - to request that individuals be released by their clubs if they want to travel to England for the tournament. The country's all-star indigenous team has been coached by Aussie rugby league great Laurie Daley since 2011 and he is understood to be open to an invitation to lead the team at the showpiece competition in England. 'Without question, it is very viable,' said Troy Grant, chairman of International Rugby League. 'It is being considered and consulted on. We are discussing it with [the players]. They want to participate. There is a high response to that. The team, a long with the New Zealand Maori All-Stars play exhibition matches each year 'One of both sides would add to the quality of the tournament and the excitement. 'It is something they [World Cup committee] are considering. A lot of work has been done to provide as much information as possible. Peter V'landys, chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission withdrew his nation's team from the World Cup 'There are players that would be in the Kangaroos and Kiwis teams that had qualified.' Grant said the committee was also considering the alternative option of including teams from USA and Serbia, which are the next in line to qualify. He described that option as having 'equal merit'. The initial formal steps have been taken to allow the indigenous teams to assemble and participate. Grant said the Indigenous Players' Group have discussed the option and approached the NRL. Melbourne Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr is leading the indigenous players' campaign. Melbourne Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr has spoken to the NRL about releasing players Addo-Carr, South Sydney Rabbitohs full-back Cody Walker and team mate, Latrell Mitchell, are helping to lead the charge for Indigenous and Maori sides to replace Australia and New Zealand. £5 MILLION TO KEEP NRL PLAYERS SAFE Organisers of the Rugby League World Cup have pledged to spend £5 million to secure the safety of Australian-based players and staff at the autumn tournament, Sportsmail can reveal. The £5 million package includes seven charter flights to and from the UK - 14 in all - for up to 400 players and officials from different countries, who compete in the National Rugby League in Australia. This would have included representatives of the Australia and New Zealand teams, but will also provide for Tongan, Fijian and even English players and staff. The exact protocols have been set out in a 75-page document produced by the tournament and shared with the 16 participating nations. It includes safe and comfortable quarantine arrangements for the participants on their return to Australia. Advertisement Abdo-Carr has met with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo to discuss the matter and is waiting for a response from league officials about the option. 'We had a meeting with Andrew Abdo a couple of days ago and discussed potentially putting the Indigenous All Stars and Maori All Stars in the World Cup,' Addo-Carr said. 'I'm just waiting to hear back from Andrew and the NRL to get that approved. 'I know all of us boys are keen take part and do whatever it takes to be a part of the World Cup, especially for the Indigenous All Stars.' However, it remains unclear if the NRL clubs will be legally required to release the players to represent the all-star teams. The World Cup and virus conditions has been discussed among NRL club chief executives as part of regular meetings at the Queensland hub, where teams are based in a Covid bubble. According to reports, there is a view that because the ARL Commission and NZRL have pulled their teams from the tournament, the obligation to release players for international duty does not apply. Meanwhile, the NRL is pushing back hard on the campaign for indigenous players to participate. Peter V'landys, chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, has claimed Indigenous All Stars will not want to head to the Rugby League World Cup in England once they realise the health risk it poses. Yesterday, Sportsmail revealed that the organisers of the tournament have pledged to spend £5 million to secure the safety of Australian-based players from all competing countries. This includes charter flights and enhanced quarantine arrangements on return. Tongan and North Queensland forward Jason Taumalolo is determined to go to World Cup 'I haven't given (the Indigenous side playing) any consideration at the moment because I think when players understand the risk, they are undertaking they will have a different view,' V'landys told Australian Associated Press. 'You have to remember people say the Olympics went on but they did get postponed and Olympic athletes haven't been in a bubble for 18 months. South Sydney Rabbitoh's Tom Burgess wants to play for England at the World Cup 'We have had them in a bubble for 18 months, they have two-week confinement at the moment away from their families. 'You have to be a little cognisant of the conditions they are under.' However, players keep popping up saying they want to go, or as far as the Australians are concerned, they would have at least wanted to have a choice. Players' union general president Daly Cherry-Evans claims there would have been a stand-off with the ARL Commission had players been consulted on Australia's Rugby League World Cup withdrawal. Cherry-Evans is one of the most influential figures in the game as Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) general president, but is also the incumbent Kangaroos' captain. 'I reckon it would have been one hell of a stand-off,' Cherry-Evans, who plays half-back for Manly, said. Players' union general president Daly Cherry-Evans said Australian players were not consulted on plans by the governing body to withdraw from the World Cup in England 'Because the players wanted to go and the game probably knew that, which is probably why they didn't want to consult us. 'So, of course we would have loved to have been given a bit more of a heads up on it but we do understand the game's acting within the best interests at heart. 'There obviously is definitely an element of disappointment for sure, it's a World Cup and I'm not getting any younger. STATEMENT FROM ARLC AND NZRL The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) issued a joint statement today announcing they would withdraw from the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. 'Not participating in this year's World Cup is not a decision the commission has taken lightly, but we must put the best interests of our players and officials first. Protecting them is our absolute priority,' said ARLC chairman Peter V'landys. 'In the current environment, the risks to the safety, health and wellbeing of the players and officials travelling from Australia to participate in the tournament this year are insurmountable. 'The majority of NRL players are currently living away from home under difficult biosecurity protocols. They would then be required to remain under protocols and away from home for the duration of the tournament before again quarantining on return to Australia. 'This is too much to ask our players and officials to do. We have again requested the IRL and Rugby League World Cup to consider postponing the event until 2022 to enable all players to participate.' NZRL chief executive, Greg Peters, added: 'There are stark differences between how the pandemic is being managed in the UK compared to Australasia and recent developments have highlighted how quickly things can change. 'The tournament organisers have moved heaven and earth to make this work, so it is not an easy decision, but the Covid-19 situation in the UK shows no sign of improving, and it's simply too unsafe to send teams and staff over. 'We understand how disappointing this is for fans and those involved, however player and staff safety remains paramount.' A statement from the Rugby League World Cup said: 'RLWC2021 note the disappointing statement made by the ARLC and NZRL which may have wide ranging implications for international Rugby League. 'RLWC2021 were informed at very short notice and will continue discussions with all stakeholders to agree on the best way forward. A further statement will be made in due course.' Advertisement All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility