2000_Rugby_League_World_Cup

2000 Rugby League World Cup

2000 Rugby League World Cup

12th Rugby League World Cup tournament


The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup. It was held in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, and took place between 28 October and 25 November 2000. Sixteen national teams competed in four groups of four, playing each other once over three weekly rounds before a series of play-offs that culminated in the final between Australia and New Zealand. Tournament favourites Australia defeated New Zealand in the final, claiming their sixth consecutive and ninth total Rugby League World Cup title. Australian winger Wendell Sailor was named player of the tournament.

Quick Facts Rugby League World Cup (), Number of teams ...

Summary

Building on the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, it was decided to expand the format further, with the number of teams rising from 10 to 16. As before, an Emerging Nations Tournament was held alongside the main event.

The millennium World Cup attracted a record sponsorship of over £1 million from Lincoln Financial Group, who had also sponsored Great Britain's Tests against New Zealand the previous autumn.[1]

The 2000 World Cup was not considered a great success.[citation needed] There were too many mismatches in the early stages, and some of the teams lacked credibility. Notably the inclusion of a side representing New Zealand's Māori population, Aotearoa Māori, alongside the full New Zealand team, and a Lebanon side consisting entirely of Australians of Lebanese origin, led to derisory comments in the media.[2] The tournament's organisers also attracted criticism regarding marketing and ticketing. For these reasons crowds at the tournament were low; also torrential rainstorms and the crisis on Britain's railways following the Hatfield rail crash did not help encourage spectators.[citation needed]

There were however some positives: the tournament returned a profit of more than £2 million despite the small crowds it attracted;[3] the French performed creditably, and attendance for the games held in France was encouraging. The much-derided Lebanon team also proved the catalyst for domestic competition in that country.

On the competition side of things, favourites Australia[4] and New Zealand cut a swathe through the tournament, with several dominant performances setting up an obvious final clash. New Zealand's 49–6 semi-final dispatch of England, coupled with Australia only hitting the lead in their semi-final against Wales with 23 minutes remaining, had New Zealand installed as favourites in some quarters. However, it was Australia who prevailed in a tense, absorbing finale. Australia only led 18–12 with 15 minutes remaining, but a glut of possession saw them finish strongly – scoring four late tries to give the appearance of an easy victory.

Qualifying

Six countries – Lebanon, the United States, Morocco, Canada, Italy and Japan – competed for one available place in the tournament. Lebanon defeated the United States 62–8 in the final play-off match.

Teams

The 2000 World Cup tournament features 16 teams:

Venues

The games were played at various venues in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France.

The Twickenham Stadium in London, the home of the English rugby union was the host stadium for the opening ceremony and match featuring hosts England and defending champions Australia.[5]

More information London, Cardiff ...

Group stage

Group A

More information Pos, Team ...
More information England, 2–22 ...
28 October 2000
18:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 33,758
Referee: David Pakieto (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: Brett Kimmorley (Australia)
More information Fiji, 38–12 ...
29 October 2000
Craven Park, Hull
Attendance: 2,187[6]
Referee: Russell Smith

More information Australia, 66–8 ...
1 November 2000
Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead
Attendance: 4,197[7]
Referee: Robert Connolly
1 November 2000
England 76–4 Russia
Try: Sinfield (3),
Jamie Peacock (2),
Long (2),
Rowley (2),
Walker,
Stephenson,
Hay,
Deacon,
Pryce
Con: Farrell (5),
Long (5)
SummaryPen: Mitrofanov (2)
Knowsley Road, St Helens
Attendance: 5,736
Referee: Bill Shrimpton

4 November 2000
England 66–10 Fiji
Try: Jamie Peacock (3),
Wellens (2),
Rogers (2),
Naylor,
Hay,
Radlinski,
Smith,
Farrell
Con: Farrell (9/12)
SummaryTry: Tuqiri (m),
Navale (c),
Con: Vunivalu (1/2)
Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 10,052
Referee: Thierry Alibert
4 November 2000
Australia 110–4 Russia
Try: Sailor (4),
Girdler (3),
Croker (2),
Hindmarsh (2),
Barrett (2),
Johns,
Tallis,
Fletcher,
Webcke,
MacDougall,
Gidley
Con: Girdler (17/19)
SummaryTry: Matt Donovan
Con: Mikhail Mitrofanov (0/2)
The Boulevard, Hull
Attendance: 3,044
Referee: Stuart Cummings

Group B

More information Pos, Team ...
More information New Zealand, 64–0 ...
29 October 2000
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Attendance: 2,496[8]
Referee: Bill Harrigan
More information Wales, 38–6 ...
29 October 2000
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Attendance: 5,016[9]
Referee: Thierry Alibert

2 November 2000
New Zealand 84–10 Cook Islands
Try: Vaealiki (2),
Paul (2),
Barnett (2),
Lavea (2),
Lauiti'iti,
Vainikolo,
Wiki,
Cayless,
Pongia,
Vagana,
Puletua
Con: Lavea (12/15)
Try: Noovao
Iro
Con: Piakura (1/2)
Madejski Stadium, Reading
Attendance: 3,982
Referee: Tim Mander
2 November 2000
Wales 24–22 Lebanon
Try: Harris (2),
Davies,
Cunningham,
Sterling
Con: Harris (2/5)
Try: Saleh (2),
Coorey
El Masri
Con: El Masri (3/4)
Stradey Park, Llanelli
Attendance: 1,497
Referee: David Pakieto

5 November 2000
Cook Islands 22–22 Lebanon
Try: Berryman (2),
Toa,
Joe
Con: Berryman (2)
Piakura
Try: El Masri (2),
Touma,
Saleh
Con: El Masri (3/4)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 17,612
Referee: Bill Shrimpton
5 November 2000
Wales 18–58 New Zealand
Try: Briers,
Atcheson,
Farrell
Con: Harris (3/3)
Try: Vainikolo (3),
Barnett (2),
Lauiti'iti,
Wiki,
Vagana,
Paul,
Talau,
Carroll
Con: Paul (5)
Lavea (2)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 17,612
Referee: Russell Smith

Group C

More information Pos, Team ...
More information Papua New Guinea, 23–20 ...
28 October 2000
Charlety Stadium, Paris
Attendance: 7,498
Referee: Steve Ganson[10]
More information Tonga, 66–18 ...
28 October 2000
Charlety Stadium, Paris
Attendance: 7,498
Referee: Darren Hopewell[11]

More information France, 28–8 ...
1 November 2000
Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 10,288
Referee: Steve Clark
2 November 2000
Papua New Guinea 16–0 South Africa
Try: Aila 25' (c)
Wilshere 31' (c)
Paiyo 52' (m)
Con: Wilshere (2/3)
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 4,313
Referee: Darren Hopewell

5 November 2000
France 56–6 South Africa
Try: Cassin 8' (c)
Banquet 21' (c)
Cassin 35' (c)
Guisset 38' (c)
Jampy ?' (c)
Jampy ?' (c)
Jampy 53' (c)
Sirvent ?' (c)
Tallec ?' (c)
Con: Banquet (9/9)
Pen: Banquet (1/1) 18'
Try: De Villiers ?' (m)
Con: ? (0/1)
Pen: Bloem (1/1) ?'
Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi
Attendance: 7,969
Referee: Steve Clark
6 November 2000
Papua New Guinea 30–22 Tonga
Try: Mondo 19' (c)
Gene 23' (m)
Buko 35' (c)
Karl ?' (m)
Gene ?' (c)
Con: Wiltshere (3/5)
Pen: Wiltshere (2/2) 5', 42'
Try: Moala 10' (c)
Mason 39' (c)
Moala ?' (m)
Vaikona ?' (m)
Con: Moala (2/2)
Pen: Moala (1/1) 7'
Saint-Esteve, Perpignan
Attendance: 3,666
Referee: Steve Ganson

Group D

More information Pos, Team ...
More information Ireland, 30–16 ...
28 October 2000
Windsor Park, Belfast[12]
Attendance: 3,207
Referee: Tim Mander
Player of the Match: Barrie McDermott[13]
More information Scotland, 16–17 ...
29 October 2000
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
Attendance: 2,008[14]
Referee: Stuart Cummings

More information Ireland, 18–6 ...
1 November 2000
Tolka Park, Dublin
Attendance: 1,782
Referee: Russell Smith
More information Samoa, 21–16 ...
1 November 2000
Derwent Park, Workington
Attendance: 4,107
Referee: Bill Harrigan

More information Ireland, 30–16 ...
4 November 2000
Tolka Park, Dublin
Attendance: 3,164
Referee: Bill Harrigan
More information Scotland, 12–20 ...
5 November 2000
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 1,579
Referee: David Pakieto

Knockout stage

The top 2 teams from each pool advanced to the quarter-finals.

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
11 November – Leeds
 
 
 Ireland16
 
18 November – Bolton
 
 England26
 
 England6
 
12 November – Castleford
 
 New Zealand49
 
 New Zealand54
 
25 November – Manchester
 
 France6
 
 New Zealand12
 
11 November – Watford
 
 Australia40
 
 Australia66
 
19 November – Huddersfield
 
 Samoa10
 
 Australia46
 
12 November – Widnes
 
 Wales22
 
 Papua New Guinea8
 
 
 Wales22
 

Quarter-finals

More information Australia, 66–10 ...
11 November 2000
Vicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 5,404
Referee: Stuart Cummings (England)

More information England, 26–16 ...
11 November 2000
18:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 15,405
Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)

More information New Zealand, 54–6 ...
12 November 2000

More information Wales, 22–8 ...
12 November 2000

Semi-finals

More information New Zealand, 49–6 ...
18 November 2000
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Attendance: 16,032
Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)
Player of the Match: Stephen Kearney (New Zealand)

More information Australia, 46–22 ...
19 November 2000
McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 8,114
Referee: Russell Smith (England)

Final

More information Australia, 40–12 ...
25 November 2000
Old Trafford, Manchester[15]
Attendance: 44,329
Referee: Stuart Cummings (England)
Player of the Match: Wendell Sailor (Australia)

Try scorers

10
9
6
5
4
3
2
1

References

  1. Hadfield, Dave (20 April 1999). "World Cup to get pounds 1m backing". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  2. Wilson, Andy (26 October 2000). "Maori role-model army signal intent". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  3. "World Cup returns profit". BBC Sport. 27 November 2000. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  4. Davies, Jonathan (22 October 2000). "Roll up and glory in the best". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  5. "England draw Australia in 2013 Rugby League World Cup". BBC News. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  6. Hampson, Andy (2000). "Fiji 38 Russia 12". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  7. Hampson, Andy (2000). "Australia 68 Fiji 8". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  8. Baldock, Andrew (2000). "New Zealand 64 Lebanon 0". PA Sport. sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  9. Laybourn, Ian (2000). "Wales 38 Cook Islands 6". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  10. Hannan, Tony (2000). "France 20 Papua New Guinea 23". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  11. Hannan, Tony (2000). "South Africa 18 Tonga 66". PA Sport. sportinglife.com. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  12. Longmore, Andrew (27 August 2000). "League joins peace process". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2010.[dead link]
  13. "Rugby League Scores, Fixtures & Results - Sporting Life". www.sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  14. "Rugby League Scores, Fixtures & Results - Sporting Life". www.sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  15. "Australia vs. New Zealand - Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2018.

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