2017 Rugby League World Cup
2017 | World Cup|
---|---|
Number of teams | 14 |
Host countries |
Australia New Zealand Papua New Guinea |
Matches played | 28 |
The 2017 Rugby League World Cup will be the fifteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup. It will be held in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea between 26 October and 2 December 2017.[1]
It will be the main event of the year's Festival of World Cups.
Host selection
At the 2010 Rugby League International Federation executive meeting, the New Zealand Rugby League made an early submission to co-host the 2017 tournament with Australia.[2] The Rugby League World Cup was last held in Australia in 2008.[3]
Two formal bids were subsequently received by the RLIF before a November 2012 deadline; the co-host bid from Australia and New Zealand and a bid from South Africa.[4][5][6] On 19 February 2014, it was announced that the joint bid from Australia and New Zealand had won hosting rights.[7]
Michael Brown, the CEO of several big name Australian sporting franchises and the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, was originally appointed CEO of the World Cup in 2015, but resigned less than a year later due to 'workload' and 'homesickness'.[8] He was replaced by Andrew Hill.[9]
Qualification
It was announced on 3 August 2014 that 7 of the 8 quarter-finalists from the last World Cup would qualify automatically for the 2017 tournament; hosts Australia and New Zealand, plus England, Fiji, France, Samoa and Scotland. The USA, who were also 2013 quarter-finalists, were denied automatic qualification after a long-running internal governance dispute saw their RLIF membership temporarily suspended in 2014; later, once the matter was resolved, they were accepted into the qualification process. Papua New Guinea were initially set to be involved in the qualifying competition but were later granted automatic qualification, due to becoming co-hosts of the tournament. In addition to the eight automatic qualifiers, the remaining six spots will come from four different qualification zones; three from Europe, one from Asia/Pacific, one from Americas and one from Middle East/Africa.[10]
Tonga were the first team to qualify from the qualification stage after winning the Asian-Pacific play-off. Lebanon were the second team to qualify from the qualification stage, after winning the Middle East-African play-off. The USA were the third team to qualify, winning the Americas qualification group.
Teams
Country | Qualified as | Qualification date | Previous appearances in tournament | Continent |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | Co-hosts | 19 February 2014 | 14 (1954, 1957, 1960, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1985-88, 1989-92, 1995, 2000, 2008, 2013) | Oceania |
England | 2013 Semi Finalists | 5 August 2014 | 5 (1975, 1995, 2000, 2008, 2013) | Europe |
Fiji | 2013 Semi Finalists | 5 August 2014 | 4 (1995, 2000, 2008, 2013) | Oceania |
France | 2013 Quarter Finalists | 5 August 2014 | 14 (1954, 1957, 1960, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1985-88, 1989-92, 1995, 2000, 2008, 2013) | Europe |
Ireland | European qualifying group 2 winner | 29 October 2016 | 3 (2000, 2008, 2013) | Europe |
Italy | European qualifying Play-off winner | 4 November 2016 | 1 (2013) | Europe |
Lebanon | Middle East-Africa play-off winner | 31 October 2015 | 1 (2000) | Asia |
New Zealand | Co-hosts | 19 February 2014 | 14 (1954, 1957, 1960, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1985-88, 1989-92, 1995, 2000, 2008, 2013) | Oceania |
Papua New Guinea | Co-hosts | 8 October 2015 | 6 (1985-88, 1989-92, 1995, 2000, 2008, 2013) | Oceania |
Samoa | 2013 Quarter Finalists | 5 August 2014 | 4 (1995, 2000, 2008, 2013) | Oceania |
Scotland | 2013 Quarter Finalists | 5 August 2014 | 3 (2000, 2008, 2013) | Europe |
Tonga | Asia-Pacific play-off winner | 17 October 2015 | 4 (1995, 2000, 2008, 2013) | Oceania |
United States | Americas qualifying group winner | 12 December 2015 | 1 (2013) | North America |
Wales | European qualifying group 1 winner | 29 October 2016 | 4 (1975, 1995, 2000, 2013) | Europe |
Venues
It was announced in October 2014 that negotiations were being held for Papua New Guinea to host matches.[11] The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League presented to the RLIF in September 2015, requesting to host three matches.[12] In October 2015 it was confirmed that Papua New Guinea would host three matches in the group stage.[13]
Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne will host the opening game between Australia and England while Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane will host the World Cup Final.[14] The lack of games in New South Wales, the heartland of rugby league in Australia, drew some criticism. Only one of the 13 confirmed tournament venues was in New South Wales (Sydney Football Stadium) and it is only hosting two group-stage fixtures, both featuring Lebanon. This was due to the refusal of the New South Wales government to bid for hosting rights. Despite the so-called 'Sydney Cup snub', the RLWC organisers backed their decision and the venues they were using.[15]
Australia
Brisbane | Sydney | Melbourne | Townsville |
---|---|---|---|
Brisbane Stadium | Sydney Football Stadium | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium | Townsville Stadium |
Capacity: 52,500 | Capacity: 45,500 | Capacity: 30,050 | Capacity: 26,500 |
Canberra | Perth | Cairns | Darwin |
Canberra Stadium | Perth Rectangular Stadium | Barlow Park | Darwin Stadium |
Capacity: 25,011 | Capacity: 20,500 | Capacity: 18,000 | Capacity: 12,000 |
New Zealand
Wellington | Auckland | Hamilton | Christchurch |
---|---|---|---|
Wellington Regional Stadium | Mount Smart Stadium | Waikato Stadium[16] | Christchurch Stadium |
Capacity: 34,500 | Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 25,800 | Capacity: 18,000 |
Papua New Guinea
Port Moresby | |||
---|---|---|---|
National Football Stadium | |||
Capacity: 17,000 | |||
Group stage
The draw was undertaken at the launch of the event in Auckland on 19 July 2016[17] and involved the same four group format as the 2013 tournament. The first two groups are made up of four teams whilst the other two groups feature three teams each. The top three teams in the first two groups and the winners of the two smaller groups will qualify for the quarter-finals. Group play will involve a round robin in the larger groups, and a round robin in the smaller groups with an additional inter-group game for each team so all teams will play three group games.[14]
Key to colours in group tables |
---|
Advances to knockout stage |
Group A
Team |
Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
France | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
Lebanon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
27 October 2017 | Australia | v | England | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne |
29 October 2017 | France | v | Lebanon | Canberra Stadium, Canberra |
3 November 2017 | Australia | v | France | Canberra Stadium, Canberra |
4 November 2017 | England | v | Lebanon | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
11 November 2017 | Australia | v | Lebanon | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
12 November 2017 | England | v | France | Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth |
Group B
Team |
Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
Samoa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
Scotland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
Tonga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
28 October 2017 | New Zealand | v | Samoa | Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland |
29 October 2017 | Scotland | v | Tonga | Barlow Park, Cairns |
4 November 2017 | New Zealand | v | Scotland | Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch |
4 November 2017 | Samoa | v | Tonga | Waikato Stadium, Hamilton |
11 November 2017 | Samoa | v | Scotland | Barlow Park, Cairns |
11 November 2017 | New Zealand | v | Tonga | Waikato Stadium, Hamilton |
Group C
Team |
Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Papua New Guinea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
Wales | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
Ireland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
28 October 2017 | Papua New Guinea | v | Wales | National Football Stadium, Port Moresby |
5 November 2017 | Papua New Guinea | v | Ireland | National Football Stadium, Port Moresby |
12 November 2017 | Wales | v | Ireland | Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth |
Group D
Team |
Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiji | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
United States | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
Italy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 |
28 October 2017 | Fiji | v | United States | Townsville Stadium, Townsville |
5 November 2017 | Italy | v | United States | Townsville Stadium, Townsville |
10 November 2017 | Fiji | v | Italy | Canberra Stadium, Canberra |
Inter-group matches
29 October 2017 | Ireland | v | Italy | Barlow Park, Cairns |
5 November 2017 | Fiji | v | Wales | Townsville Stadium, Townsville |
12 November 2017 | Papua New Guinea | v | United States | National Football Stadium, Port Moresby |
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals will follow the group stage, with three teams from each of Groups A and B and one team from each of Groups C and D qualifying.
Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
A1 | TBC | |||||||||||||
B3 | TBC | |||||||||||||
B2 | TBC | |||||||||||||
D1 | TBC | |||||||||||||
B1 | TBC | |||||||||||||
A3 | TBC | |||||||||||||
A2 | TBC | |||||||||||||
C1 | TBC | |||||||||||||
Quarter-finals
Friday, 17 November 2017 TBC |
1st Group A | v | 3rd Group B |
---|---|---|
Tries:
Goals: |
Tries:
Goals: |
Darwin Stadium, Darwin |
Saturday, 18 November 2017 TBC |
2nd Group B | v | 1st Group D |
---|---|---|
Tries:
Goals: |
Tries:
Goals: |
Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch |
Saturday, 18 November 2017 TBC |
1st Group B | v | 3rd Group A |
---|---|---|
Tries:
Goals: |
Tries:
Goals: |
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington |
Sunday, 19 November 2017 TBC |
2nd Group A | v | 1st Group C |
---|---|---|
Tries:
Goals: |
Tries:
Goals: |
Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne |
Semi-finals
Friday, 24 November 2017 TBC |
QF1 Winner | v | QF2 Winner |
---|---|---|
Tries:
Goals: |
Tries:
Goals: |
Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane |
Saturday, 25 November 2017 TBC |
QF3 Winner | v | QF4 Winner |
---|---|---|
Tries:
Goals: |
Tries:
Goals: |
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland |
Final
Saturday, 2 December 2017 TBC |
SF1 Winner | v | SF2 Winner |
---|---|---|
Tries:
Goals: |
Tries:
Goals: |
Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane |
Broadcasting
Country | Broadcaster | Matches |
---|---|---|
Australia | Seven Network[18] | All 28 Matches Live |
References
- ↑ "2017 Rugby League World Cup Overview". RUGBY LEAGUE PLANET. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
- ↑ Kilgallon, Steve (1 August 2010). "NZ prepares bid to co-host 2017 World Cup". The Sunday Star-Times. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ↑ "Australia, NZ to host 2017 World Cup". nrl.com. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
- ↑ "South Africa to face joint bid from Australia and New Zealand to host 2017 Rugby League World Cup". insidethegames.biz. 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
- ↑ Australia-NZ Rugby League World Cup bid progresses 3News, 21 October 2013
- ↑ "South Africa's shock bid to host World Cup". dailytelegraph.com.au. 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
- ↑ "Australia and New Zealand unite to stage RLWC2017". rlif.com. 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
- ↑ "Michael Brown resignation". NRL. 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
- ↑ "Andrew Hill appointed CEO Rugby League World Cup 2017". NRL. 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
- ↑ "Qualification details for 2017". The RFL. 3 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ↑ "Papua New Guinea may host 2017 rugby league world cup matches". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
- ↑ PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill keen to host Rugby League World Cup matches smh.com.au, 27 September 2015
- ↑ "Papua New Guinea to co-host Rugby League World Cup in 2017". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australian Associated Press. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- 1 2 "Rugby League World Cup 2017 draw: Every game, every venue". The Courier Mail. 2016-06-19. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
- ↑ "Sydney Snubbed At Rugby League World Cup". TRIPLE M. 2016-06-19. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
- ↑ "Hamilton to make history by hosting first ever rugby league tests in 2017 World Cup". stuff. stuff. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ↑ "Venues for 2017 Rugby League World Cup to be announced at official launch on July 19". inside the games. 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ↑ Eoin Connolly (8 April 2016). "Channel Seven wins Rugby League World Cup TV rights". Sportspromedia.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.