Eversheds Sutherland has been appointed as official legal services partner of the Rugby League World Cup 2021 by longstanding client the Rugby Football League (RFL).

The event, which will be held in England, will see 16 teams compete to be crowned the world's best. Thirty-one games will be broadcast live by the BBC around the world, reaching a potential audience of 150 million, according to the firm.

The Eversheds team on the project is being led by sports head and corporate partner Daniel Hall, with support from principal associate Michael Shires.

Speaking to Legal Week, Hall said the firm would provide "full legal support over four years across the whole piece", including real estate, HR, planning, local government law, corporate, finance and corporate governance.

Shires said: "It is a good boost to our sports sector offering – it shows we have got the capability to work on world-class events. It will be the major world sporting event of 2021."

Shires, who played the game at amateur level, is based in the firm's Birmingham office. He supports the Coventry Bears, who compete in the Kingstone Press League 1, the RFL's third tier of competition, below the Super League and the Championship.

He is not the only Eversheds lawyer with rugby league connections. Peter Norbury, a consultant in the firm's employment practice, was previously chairman of Super League club Wigan Warriors.

RFL director of operations and legal Karen Moorhouse said: "To secure the first official partner over four years out is a tribute to the vision of the tournament and the proactive approach from Eversheds Sutherland. We have a longstanding relationship with Daniel and his team and look forward to working with them over the coming years."

Other law firms to have worked on major rugby tournaments include Clifford Chance, which served as the official law firm of the Rugby World Cup 2015. The magic circle firm provided the full range of legal services for the tournament, which was won by New Zealand.