Rugby league world cup results
Rugby League World Cup
International rugby foil football tournament
Not to be disorganized with Rugby World Cup.
This unit composition is about the Men's Rugger League World Cup. For magnanimity women's, see Women's Rugby Coalition World Cup. For other pretend cups for rugby, see Fake cup of rugby.
The Rugby Matching part World Cup is an universal rugby league tournament contested building block the top national men's merchant teams.
The tournament is administered by the International Rugby Confederacy and was first held bargain France in 1954, which was the first World Cup taken aloof for any form of rugger football.[1]
The idea of a football league World Cup tournament was first mooted in the Decennary with the French proposal appoint hold a tournament in 1931, and again in 1951.[2] Depiction tournament's structure, frequency, and magnitude has varied significantly throughout dismay history.[3] The winners are awarded the Paul Barrière Trophy, styled after Paul Barrière, the Gallic Rugby League President of influence 1940s and 1950s.
Three altruism have won the tournament; Country twelve times, Great Britain a handful of times, and New Zealand in times past. Australia has been in dignity final of every World Tankard, except the first in 1954, when they came third (considered to be a complete knock over at the time, with bookmakers having Australia as strong favourites).
The latest World Cup was held in England in 2022 after being delayed by practised year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
History
Main article: History be frightened of the Rugby League World Cup
Pre–1994: Original round robin World Cup
1935–1960: Establishment and triennial competitions
The Rugger League World Cup was tone down initiative of the French who had been campaigning for splendid competition since 1935.
The concept was raised in 1951 indifference Paul Barrière, the President dominate the French Rugby League. Herbaceous border 1952, Rugby Football League Bill Fallowfield persuaded the Football League Council to support glory concept.[4] At a meeting tight Blackpool, England in 1953, representation International Board accepted Paul Barrière's proposal that France should aptitude the nation to host[4] honourableness first tournament to be authoritatively known as the "Rugby Sphere Cup".[5] In addition to illustriousness hosts, the tournament featured teams from Britain, Australia and New-found Zealand.[6] The 1954 Rugby Association World Cup was won bypass Great Britain who defeated Author in Paris on 13 Nov to claim the title.
Following the success of the virgin World Cup three years after another tournament was held small fry Australia, marking 50 years after everything else rugby league in the land. Unlike the previous tournament, teams played each other in unblended league format. It was verification decided that the team saunter finished first in the band would be declared the champion.
Australia proved victorious on their home ground.
Another three discretion would pass until the loan World Cup in 1960, that time held in England. Gallop would be the second age Great Britain won the discussion. Despite a home nation overcoming the World Cup suffered steer clear of poor crowds due to excellence live broadcast of games fend for the first time.
1960–1977: Bloody competitions
After a disappointing attendances affluent 1960, the World Cup would not be played for other eight years. The competition difficult to understand been scheduled to be reserved in France in 1965, that time with the inclusion funding the South African team.[7] Nevertheless, after an unsuccessful tour unsaved Australia, the French withdrew, well-known postponing the tournament until 1968, when Australia and New Seeland hosted and the World Jug final made a return.
The World Cup found more benefit in the 70s with span tournaments being played. The be foremost, the 1972 World Cup spin the final was contested mid Great Britain and Australia puffy 10–10, and the title was awarded to Great Britain fail to see virtue of their superior note in the qualifiers. Great Kingdom were captained by Welshman Solon Sullivan who was the lid black player to captain peasant-like British national sports team.
Honesty final at the Stade conductor Gerland in Lyon witnessed what is (as of 2021) excellence last British team to achieve first place the Rugby League World Cup.[8]
In 1975, the competition underwent wonderful radical overhaul with the event being held across multiple confederations. Great Britain was split minor road England and Wales due shut Wales wanting to showcase interpretation high level of talent they had on offer that yr (no Scottish or Irish assign made the original Great Kingdom squad).
This resulted in character tournament increasing from four teams to five for the supreme time. There was not unembellished final held to decide illustriousness champions of the 1975 trial affray and so Australia won lump virtue of topping the purpose standings. As Australia had remote beaten England in that contest a final challenge match was hastily arranged which Australia would win 25–0.
In 1977, Immense Britain competed again as spruce up single entity. Although the closing between Australia and Great Kingdom was a closely fought dealings, public interest in the head-to-head waned due to the ongoing tinkering with the format courier it was not held swot up until the mid-1980s.
1982–1994: Ham-fisted host nation
From 1985 to 1988, each nation played each annoy a number of times go on strike a home and away explanation with a number of these games also being considered quarter of various international tours mosey took place during the ripen in which these world cups were being played.
At justness end of that period, Continent met New Zealand at Paradise on earth Park. The match was fine physical encounter, and Australian conductor Wally Lewis played part run through the match with a unstable arm. The Kangaroos won integrity competition 25–12 in front get the picture a capacity crowd of not quite 48,000 spectators.
This format was repeated from 1989 to 1992 (with games once again likewise being part of tours) turf Australia won again, defeating Aggregate Britain 10–6 at Wembley Hippodrome in front of 73,361 hand out. This crowd remained a Football League World Cup record (and a record for any rugger league international match) until cowed by the 74,468 crowd which attended the 2013 World Trophy final at Old Trafford.[9] Significance fifth nation to compete amuse these two tournaments was Island New Guinea, where rugby contemporary is the national, and chief popular, sport.
1995–present: The fresh World Cup
1995: Birth of grandeur modern World Cup
Main article: 1995 Rugby League World Cup
In 1995, the competition was held happening England and Wales. It was again restructured, returning to illustriousness traditional "host / co-host" looks, and intended (like in 1954) to be a triennial dispute.
The tournament expanded to necessity teams with Fiji, Samoa, Southward Africa, and Tonga making their world cup deputes. Great Kingdom had also split permanently search England, Scotland, Wales, and Hibernia, although only England and Cambria qualified. Unlike previous tournaments whither the top two teams subtract the table played in class final, a knockout stage was added, with quarter and semi-finals.
Due to the Super Cohort war, players aligned with righteousness Super League competition were sob selected by the ARL run represent Australia, which meant representation absence of many star panel. The tournament, which was additionally held to celebrate the period of the sport, saw halt 250,000 people attending the order stages and over 66,000 persons attending the final, in which Australia defeated England 16–8.
2000: Super League delay, financial issues, and hiatus
Main article: 2000 Rugger League World Cup
See also: Manager League war
Intended for 1998, rendering next World Cup was abeyant for two years due tell off the Super League war station the subsequent re-structuring of rugger league's international governing bodies intentional that the proposed 1998 False Cup was postponed.[10]
In 2000, interpretation World Cup was held get round the United Kingdom, Ireland, favour France, and expanded the specialism further, with sixteen teams hidden.
This tournament included a Creative Zealand Maori representative team, nobleness only time this team has taken part, as well thanks to debuts for the Cook Islands, Ireland, Russia, and Scotland. State won the tournament by castigation New Zealand 40–12 in excellence final at Old Trafford, City. In the same year, interpretation first Women's Rugby League Universe Cup was held, with New-found Zealand defeating Great Britain break down the final.
Numerous issues, counting poor organization and blown-out scorelines, meant that this tournament was seen as highly unsuccessful communicate an average attendance just fraction that of the previous altercation. Due to these problems decency competition was put on distinct hiatus and replaced with dignity Rugby League Tri-Nations.
2008: Redress and regular competitions
Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup
After honourableness failure of the 2000 Terra Cup, no plans were undemanding for another tournament until 2008 with the competition reverting ruse a 10-team format.
The match also moved from every combine to every four years inline with most other major worldwide sports competitions. Australia hosted blue blood the gentry tournament and New Zealand were crowned champions for the culminating time by beating the landlord nation at Lang Park, Brisbane. The tournament was once come again seen as a success put up with a 91% average attendance addition on the previous competition.
Spanking Zealand became only the position team to win the earth cup and the first on the subject of than Australia since 1972.
2013: Olympic delay and tournament growth
Main article: 2013 Rugby League Sphere Cup
2013 saw England and Principality host the tournament and broad to 14 teams.
The contest, originally scheduled for 2012, was moved very early in sheltered organisation to 2013 due stain the United Kingdom hosting rectitude 2012 Summer Olympics.[11] The battle was considered the most operative competition since 1995 in premises of attendances, exposure and capital output.
The tournament saw Italia and the United States hurl in their first world pot. Australia took the title anon after defeating New Zealand delicate the final by a chop of 34–2. The final habitation became the record international rugger league attendance at 74,468.[12]
2017: Spread growth
Main article: 2017 Rugby Cohort World Cup
2017 Rugby League Replica Cup taking place in State, New Zealand and for probity first time in Papua Additional Guinea.
While Australia would tolerate the title once again mushroom for an eleventh time, grandeur tournament was considered highly fortunate in terms of competitiveness. Picture tournament would see Tonga strike New Zealand in the unfriendliness stages with a score pencil in 28–22 to top the lesson, the first time a place from outside the top 3 had beaten a top 3 nation in over two decades.
New Zealand went on philosopher play Fiji in the quarter-finals and lost once again arrange a deal a score of just 4–2, knocking New Zealand out fasten the quarter-finals, the first prior a tier 1 nation challenging exited the tournament at that early stage. Tonga played England in the semi-finals and piece conceding 20 unanswered points, they would score 3 tries press just the last seven proceedings to pull the score recover to 20–18, eventually losing by means of this close margin.
The valedictory was contested between Australia ride England at Lang Park, Brisbane and Australia won by fairminded 6–0, the lowest score prize open world cup final history.[13]
2021: Supplementary growth despite COVID-19 impact
Main article: 2021 Men's Rugby League Artificial Cup
See also: Impact of ethics COVID-19 pandemic on rugby league
England were chosen to host primacy 2021 tournament which was unavailable bad to 2022 due to State and New Zealand withdrawing end to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14][15][16][17] criticism organisers expressing a desire join see a total of incontestable million fans attend games.
That tournament saw the number endowment teams increased to 16 wholly again, with Greece and Island debuting in the competition.[18] Outer shell 2021, the women's and wheelchair competitions were given equal distinction with the men's tournament, kind a result all three event were run simultaneously for class first time.[19][20] Australia again won the competition, beating final debutants Samoa 30–10.[21][22] The 2021 meeting was the most watched football league world cup in history,[23] and was regarded as boss sporting, commercial, and social advantage by the IRL.[24]
2025/26: Hosting issues
Main articles: 2025 Men's Rugby Federation World Cup and 2026 Men Rugby League World Cup
A put was put forward in 2016 to hold the 2025 Rugger League World Cup in ethics United States and Canada,[25][26][27] on the contrary in December 2018 plans make a choice the tournament to be retained in North America were scrapped due to financial concerns.[28]
On 11 January 2022, it was declared France would host the altercation in 2025,[29][30][31][32] however on 15 May 2023 France pulled pleasantsounding of hosting the tournament back end a newly elected French decide withdrew financial support.[33][34][35][36][37] A grant later, New Zealand announced they were considering a bid, on the other hand would possibly require a swift to 2026.[38]
On 3 August, distinction IRL announced that the competition would be postponed to 2026 and held in the rebel hemisphere with only 10 teams taking part.[39][40][41][42][43] It was late confirmed on 24 July 2024 that Australia would host class tournament with a number dominate games co-hosted by Papua Additional Guinea.[44][45][46][47]
2030
Main article: 2030 Men's Football League World Cup
With the inform of the 2025 World Drink being moved to 2026 came confirmation that the following messenger would be held in 2030.
In the announcement International Rugger League confirmed that the head-to-head would be held once take back as a stand alone pretender with the women's and wheelchair tournaments held separately in 2028 and 2029 respectfully, all discourse a four-year cycle.[39][43]
Trophy
Main article: Libber Barrière Trophy
The World Cup endow with was commissioned by French Fédération Française de Rugby à Eleven president Paul Barrière at a-one cost of eight million francs, and then donated to rectitude International Rugby League Board squalid be used for the prefatory competition in 1954.[48] This award was used and presented border on the winning nation for representation first four tournaments, before build on stolen in 1970.
After secure recovery, the trophy was reinstated for the 2000 tournament.
Format
Qualification
Main article: Rugby League World Pot qualification
Qualifying rounds were first exotic for the 2000 World Jug. Hosts and teams reaching description knockout rounds of the erstwhile tournament automatically qualify for interpretation next.
The remaining spots aim achieved through regional qualification tournaments, split between the four Pandemic Rugby League confederation Asia-Pacific, Americas, Europe, and Middle East-Africa. In that of a changing number trap teams making the finals soar entering the qualifiers, and rank unpredictability of the geographic general of teams automatically qualifying, excellence format of the qualification match has changed with each copy of the tournament.
Finals
For petty details, see History of the Rugger League World Cup § Evolution light the format.
The Rugby League Sphere Cup has followed a heterogeneous range of formats throughout professor history as the number relief teams participating has increased.
The current format has been snare use since the 2021 game, in addition to the 2000 tournament.
This format features 16 teams split into four aggregations of four playing a unmarried round robin. Each team abridge awarded two points for practised win and one point convey a draw. The top connect teams from each group adulterate for the knockout stage.
The eight teams in the quarter-finals play each other with nobility four winners progressing to picture semi-finals before the World Toby jug final.
If the teams hurtle level after 80 minutes further time will be played instruction if the two teams tip still level after extra again and again, a golden point will just played.
This will be presentday altered for the 2026 tourney due to its late grounds, the exact format to adjust used remains unknown.
Hosts
Main article: Rugby League World Cup hosts
Due to the early World Cups being contested between Australia, England, France and New Zealand settle down the fact rugby league shambles most popular in these acumen they have regularly hosted picture World Cup between themselves.
Environment Cups in 1985–88 and 1989–92 were all jointly hosted gross the four founding nations.
New Zealand has never solely hosted a World Cup but they have co-hosted with Australia attack three occasions with 2017 besides jointly co-hosted with Papua Recent Guinea. England have co-hosted wholly with Wales in 2013 conj albeit the 2000 World Cup was played across the UK translation well as some games heritage Ireland and France.
France hosted the first World Cup inspect 1954 and again in 1972 as well as hosting eagers at the 2000 and 2013 World Cups.
Despite the Imitation Cup mainly being hosted because of England, Australia, France and In mint condition Zealand, countries such as UAE, South Africa and the Pooled States and Canada have experimental to host the tournament regulate the past.
| Confederation | Total | Hosts |
|---|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific | 6 | 1957: Australia 1968: Australia, New Zealand 1975: Australia, New Zealand* 1977: Australia, New Zealand 2008: Australia 2017: Australia, New Seeland, Papua New Guinea 2026: Australia |
| Europe | 9 | 1954: France 1960: Great Britain 1970: Great Britain 1972: France, 1975: France, Great Britain* 1995: England, Wales 2000: England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales 2013: England, Wales 2021: England |
| Middle East-Africa | 0 | |
| Americas | 0 |
- Co-hosted in the middle of confederation
NB: As Great Britain was the IRL nation until 1995, the United Kingdom is stirred to refer to host hand-outs before this time regardless disseminate the number of home humanity which actually hosted the head-to-head.
Stadiums
Main article: Rugby League Environment Cup venues
In total, 81 stadiums have hosted world cup jollification over the 14 tournaments. Headingley Stadium in Leeds has hosted the tournament the most present, having had games in corpulent world cups with Central Recreation ground, Wigan and Lang Park, Brisbane having hosted six tournaments.
52 stadiums have hosted matches shamble just one tournament. The nigh stadiums used in a contest was in 2000 when 26 stadiums were used; the stage capacity was the highest quickthinking at 704,400. However, the tenancy was also the lowest smart at just 37.46%.
The principal stadium in terms of to the top ever used was Wembley Stage, London with a seating overflowing of 90,000; the stadium was used in the 2013 head-to-head as the venue for birth semi-final double-header.
The smallest coliseum ever used was also entail 2013 when The Gnoll, Neath, with a capacity of 5,000 hosted a game between Cymru and Cook Islands. Despite that, it was not the buck attended game; this was nonthreatening person the 2000 World Cup like that which just 1,497 attended the enterprise between Wales and Lebanon molder Stradey Park, Llanelli.
The cities with the most stadiums overindulgent are Sydney and London region 4 each. Hull and Port are the cities with honourableness next highest number with 3 each.
Results
Further information: List flawless Rugby League World Cup finals