2017 Rugby League World Cup

2017 (2017) World Cup  ()
Number of teams 14
Host countries  Australia
 New Zealand
 Papua New Guinea
Matches played 28
Tournaments
 < 2013
2021 > 

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 2017Australia v EnglandMelbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
29 October 2017France v LebanonCanberra Stadium, Canberra
3 November 2017Australia v FranceCanberra Stadium, Canberra
4 November 2017England v LebanonSydney Football Stadium, Sydney
11 November 2017Australia v LebanonSydney Football Stadium, Sydney
12 November 2017England v FrancePerth 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 2017New Zealand v SamoaMount Smart Stadium, Auckland
29 October 2017Scotland v TongaBarlow Park, Cairns
4 November 2017New Zealand v ScotlandChristchurch Stadium, Christchurch
4 November 2017Samoa v TongaWaikato Stadium, Hamilton
11 November 2017Samoa v ScotlandBarlow Park, Cairns
11 November 2017New Zealand v TongaWaikato 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 2017Papua New Guinea v WalesNational Football Stadium, Port Moresby
5 November 2017Papua New Guinea v IrelandNational Football Stadium, Port Moresby
12 November 2017Wales v IrelandPerth 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 2017Fiji v United StatesTownsville Stadium, Townsville
5 November 2017Italy v United StatesTownsville Stadium, Townsville
10 November 2017Fiji v ItalyCanberra Stadium, Canberra

Inter-group matches

29 October 2017Ireland v ItalyBarlow Park, Cairns
5 November 2017Fiji v WalesTownsville Stadium, Townsville
12 November 2017Papua New Guinea v United StatesNational 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:

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:

Sunday, 19 November 2017
TBC
2nd Group A v 1st Group C
Tries:

Goals:

 Tries:

Goals:

Semi-finals

Friday, 24 November 2017
TBC
QF1 Winner v QF2 Winner
Tries:

Goals:

 Tries:

Goals:

Saturday, 25 November 2017
TBC
QF3 Winner v QF4 Winner
Tries:

Goals:

 Tries:

Goals:

Final

Saturday, 2 December 2017
TBC
SF1 Winner v SF2 Winner
Tries:

Goals:

 Tries:

Goals:

Broadcasting

Country Broadcaster Matches
 Australia Seven Network[18] All 28 Matches Live

References

  1. ↑ "2017 Rugby League World Cup Overview". RUGBY LEAGUE PLANET. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  2. ↑ Kilgallon, Steve (1 August 2010). "NZ prepares bid to co-host 2017 World Cup". The Sunday Star-Times. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "Australia, NZ to host 2017 World Cup". nrl.com. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ Australia-NZ Rugby League World Cup bid progresses 3News, 21 October 2013
  6. ↑ "South Africa's shock bid to host World Cup". dailytelegraph.com.au. 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
  7. ↑ "Australia and New Zealand unite to stage RLWC2017". rlif.com. 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  8. ↑ "Michael Brown resignation". NRL. 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
  9. ↑ "Andrew Hill appointed CEO Rugby League World Cup 2017". NRL. 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  10. ↑ "Qualification details for 2017". The RFL. 3 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Papua New Guinea may host 2017 rugby league world cup matches". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  12. ↑ PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill keen to host Rugby League World Cup matches smh.com.au, 27 September 2015
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. 1 2 "Rugby League World Cup 2017 draw: Every game, every venue". The Courier Mail. 2016-06-19. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
  15. ↑ "Sydney Snubbed At Rugby League World Cup". TRIPLE M. 2016-06-19. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  16. ↑ "Hamilton to make history by hosting first ever rugby league tests in 2017 World Cup". stuff. stuff. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ Eoin Connolly (8 April 2016). "Channel Seven wins Rugby League World Cup TV rights". Sportspromedia.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.

External links

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