TOURNAMENT REVIEW WELCOME When the RFL was awarded the rights to host the Rugby League World Cup 2013 it had a clear vision of what it hoped to achieve in staging the premier event in International Rugby League. Delivering the best ever Rugby League World Cup may be a convenient sound bite but, in reality, achieving that would demand successful performance against a number of criteria. First amongst those was the the sport’s major events and 25 matchday festivals provided opportunities requirement to maximise the for 5,000 youngsters together with the Cultural Programme and the Day financial return to the Rugby League to Remember Scheme whereby local businesses provided never-to-be- International Federation in order that forgotten experiences for children to participate. it could continue its work funding the development of the sport around the globe. Commercially of course, the tournament was a resounding success. Despite Given the previous experience in 2000, the the difficult economic backdrop against which the tournament was staged, RFL was adamant that financial performance commercial sponsors and partners recognised the opportunity to be part for the tournament was of the highest priority. To of the biggest multi nation event of the year and many strong new brands achieve our objectives in this area, we clearly required were attracted to our sport. The extensive broadcast coverage provided by full stadia, providing a vibrant atmosphere and colourful the BBC and Premier TV and by the other forms of new media did justice landscape for all who attended. I am therefore delighted to their investment. to report that, in respect of all our objectives; revenues, In all aspects, the RFL is extremely proud to have hosted the Rugby League attendance figures, viewers on television and a consistently World Cup 2013. We believe that the success factors that were identified excellent matchday experience, the tournament delivered on all as being aspirational in advance of the World Cup were comprehensively fronts and the financial return to the RLIF will be in excess of £3.7 delivered against and consequently the tournament has grown in stature million. and will no doubt be improved upon further by the 2017 hosts. From a spellbinding Opening Ceremony at the magnificent Millennium I would like to close by thanking everybody who made their involvement Stadium when the blue touch paper was well and truly lit through to the sold with the tournament such a gratifying and rewarding experience. The out Final at Old Trafford; none of the intervening 26 games disappointed, volunteers, chosen to offer a unique identity to the event, the dedicated indeed most if not all, out performed expectations. In addition, full houses staff who worked tirelessly throughout the tournament and the athletes at Huddersfield, Rochdale, Halifax, Leigh and Workington provided enduring and team managers who of course served up the entertainment day in and memories that will live long in the minds of those who attended, not to day out. However above all, of course, the tournament came alive thanks mention the unique fervour of France’s matches in Perpignan and Avignon to the passionate support and engagement of Rugby League fans in this together with the spectacle of USA v Cook Islands at Bristol played out in country, and from overseas, who ensured that this great celebration of front of over 7,000 fully engaged fans. International Rugby League was enjoyed by all who came into contact with The tournament delivered in a wider sense as well, providing wonderful it and in so doing provided a wonderful platform to take the sport forward experiences for 5,000 dancers, 3,000 choir members and thousands of for the next decade. young people participating in the entertainment wrapped around the actual matches. In addition, the extensive Community Programme also saw the Trophy Tour reach two million people and an Education Programme, adopted by nearly 500 schools, provided reading opportunities for 3000 youngsters. Grassroots Rugby League can always be relied upon to support Nigel Wood, RLWC2013 Tournament Director Group A Group B QUALIFICATION COMPETING NATIONS, Australia New Zealand GROUPS AND FORMAT England France The Rugby League World Cup 2013 featured 14 Fiji Papua New Guinea nations, 12 direct entrants and two qualifiers from the Competing nations were split into four groups; two groups of four and two groups Ireland Samoa of three with matches played on a round robin basis and incorporating cross group Atlantic and European zones. games for the groups of three. The top three nations in groups A and B would progress to the quarter-finals along with the top nation from groups C and D. Group C Group D Scotland Wales Road to Rugby League World Cup 2013 Tonga Cook Islands Those two qualifying competitions were held in 2011. Italy USA The Atlantic Zone featured the USA, Jamaica and South Africa The European Zone The European Zone competition featured four with the matches taking place in New Jersey, USA in mid-October. nations, Italy, Lebanon, Russia and Serbia and was played over two weeks in October 2011. Italy overwhelmed Russia 92-6 in Padova in the opening game and The USA beat South Africa 40-4 in the opening game with Jamaica the following day Lebanon were convincing 96-4 winners over Serbia in Tripoli. winning 20-6 against South Africa in the second. A week later Lebanon overcame Russia 36-0 in Vereya, southwest of Moscow, This set up a decider, the USA qualifying for the World Cup finals for with Italy beating Serbia 54-6 in Belgrade. The final games took place in the first time in their history with a convincing 40-4 win over Jamaica. Belgrade with Russia overcoming Serbia 36-28 before the crunch game between Italy and Lebanon. In a dramatic contest Lebanon were leading 19-18 with just a minute remaining when Italy equalised with a drop goal. The draw meant that Lebanon had missed out on qualifying at the last hurdle for the second successive time. Italy qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their history W L D PF PA +/- Pts W L D PF PA +/- Pts USA 2 0 0 80 8 72 4 ITALY 2 0 1 163 31 132 5 JAMAICA 1 1 0 24 46 22 2 LEBANON 2 0 1 147 23 124 5 SOUTH AFRICA 0 2 0 10 60 50 0 RUSSIA 1 2 0 42 152 -110 2 SERBIA 0 3 0 38 184 -146 0 Group A Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts TOURNAMENT RESULTS Australia 3 3 0 0 112 22 90 6 Q England 3 2 0 1 96 40 56 4 Q The tournament kicked off on The Scots twice came from behind to overcome a England booked their place in the quarter-finals with a Fiji 3 1 0 2 46 82 –36 2 Q formidable Tonga team. Danny Brough, the Super 34-12 victory over Fiji in front of over 25,000 spectators Saturday, October 26th under League Man of Steel, put them 26-24 ahead with a at the KC Stadium while over 10,000 attended The Ireland 3 0 0 3 14 124 –110 0 the closed roof of the Millennium conversion late in the game but as the hooter sounded Shay, Halifax to see Tonga beat Italy 16-0. Tonga touched down for what looked like a dramatic Stadium, Cardiff with a double- late winner. However, after an agonising wait, the video In the quarter-finals another bumper crowd at the Group B header. The opening game saw referee disallowed the try. Headingley Carnegie Stadium saw New Zealand beat Scotland 40-4 with Australia overwhelming the USA England take on Australia in a thrilling Rugby League broke new ground in the South West at Wrexham 62-0. Over 22,000 filled the DW Stadium Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts when World Cup newcomers USA faced the Cook in Wigan to see England beat France 34-6 and the big encounter which set the tone for the New Zealand 3 3 0 0 146 34 112 6 Q Islands at The Memorial Stadium in Bristol. A crowd of South Sea Islands battle at The Halliwell Jones Stadium whole competition. over 7,000 saw one of the biggest upsets of the whole ended with Fiji overcoming Samoa 22-4. Samoa 3 2 0 1 84 52 32 4 Q competition with the Tomahawks winning 32-20. The England raced into a 10-0 lead but four tries in a exploits of the USA team eventually made the pages The semi-finals, entitled The Big Hit, were staged as France 3 1 0 2 15 78 –63 2 Q devastating 18-minute spell either side of half time saw of the New York Times. a double-header at Wembley in front of 67,575 fans. the Kangaroos hold off a spirited English challenge for First up were England whose match against New PNG 3 0 0 3 22 103 –81 0 a 28-20 victory. Italy then produced the first surprise The first game on French soil saw a sold out Parc des Zealand turned out to be one of the best ever World of the tournament with a 32-16 victory over host nation Sports in Avignon. New Zealand may have overwhelmed Cup encounters. Wales. the French 48-0 but the home supporters cheered their team off the pitch at the final whistle. England looked to have booked their place in the final Group C The games came thick and fast over the next two when they led 18-14 after 70 minutes of a pulsating weeks with record crowds and closely fought contests.