2021_Men's_Rugby_League_World_Cup

2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup

2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup

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The 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup was the 16th Rugby League World Cup, and one of three major tournaments of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. The tournament was held in England from 15 October 2022 to 19 November 2022.[1] It was originally due to be held between 23 October 2021 and 27 November 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent withdrawals of Australia and New Zealand caused the tournament to be postponed.[2] 16 teams competed in the tournament, an increase of two from the previous two tournaments and the first to feature 16 teams since the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.[3]

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

For the first time, the Rugby League World Cup was run alongside the women's and wheelchair tournaments with all participants being paid the same, while all 61 matches in the three tournaments were broadcast live.[4][5]

Australia beat Samoa 30–10 in the final to win the tournament for the third successive time, extending their record number of World Cup titles to twelve.[6]

Teams

Qualification

The eight quarter-finalists of the previous tournament in 2017 earned automatic qualification to the 2021 tournament. As such, the allocations were confirmed as 6 teams from Europe (excluding hosts), 6 from Asia-Pacific, 1 from Middle East-Africa, 1 from the Americas, and 1 from an inter-regional play-off.[7] Qualification began on 16 June 2018, and concluded on 16 November 2019.

More information Team, Method of qualification ...
Notes
  1. Competed as part of Great Britain in nine previous tournaments, finishing as champions on three occasions (1954, 1960, 1972). The squads largely consisted of English players, but also featured Welsh players in every tournament. Scotland (1954, 1968, 1977, 1989–92) and Ireland (1957) were represented by native-born players in some tournaments.

Draw

The draw was originally scheduled to be finalised on 27 November 2019, exactly two years before the date of the tournament final, however, it was postponed until 16 January 2020.[8] The draw was made at Buckingham Palace on 16 January 2020 and was streamed live on Facebook. Teams from pot 1 were drawn by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, pot 2 by Katherine Grainger, and pot 3 by Jason Robinson.[9]

More information Seeded, Pot 1 ...

The draw resulted in the following teams being drawn into the following groups. Each group had to have at least one team from the Pacific region. As such, Lebanon were not eligible to be drawn into Group A from pot 1.[10]

Squads

From September 2022, teams announced wider squads of up to 38 players, which were reduced to 24 before the beginning of the tournament.[11]

Venues

Stadium locations

Seventeen venues were used for the men's tournament.[12]

More information Manchester, London ...

Team base camp locations

13 base camps were used by the 16 national squads to stay and train before and during the World Cup tournament, as follow:[13]

Officiating

Match officials

The list of match officials who officiated across both the men's and women's tournaments was published on 5 October 2022.[14]

On-field rules and disciplinary measures

Matches were played to the International Rugby League (IRL) rules. Certain differences between the way the rules of Australia and Europe were clarified in September 2022. All drop goals were worth one point and all play the ball infringements resulted in a set restart. Introduced from the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) was the "captain's challenge" where under certain circumstances a team captain was able to ask for the referee's decision to be reviewed. Head injury assessments and subsequent treatment followed the European model.[17]

A new match review panel comprising members from both the RFL and NRL was established for the tournament to deal with disciplinary issues.[17]

Warm-up matches

Pre-tournament practice matches took place on 7 and 8 October, the weekend before the first round of group stage matches of the World Cup.[18]

More information England, 50–0 ...
7 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)

More information Cumbria, 28–12 ...
7 October 2022
19:45 BST (UTC+01:00)
Derwent Park, Workington[22]
Attendance: 3,000

More information Scotland, 4–28 ...
8 October 2022
13:30 BST (UTC+01:00)

More information France, 12–48 ...
8 October 2022
14:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
The Shay, Halifax[24]
Attendance: 876

More information Wales, 22–38 ...
8 October 2022
15:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
Heywood Road, Sale[25]
Attendance: 509

More information Bradford Bulls, 34–34 ...
8 October 2022
15:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
Odsal Stadium, Bradford[26]
Attendance: 950

More information Leeds Rhinos, 0–74 ...
8 October 2022
18:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
Headingley Stadium, Leeds[27]
Attendance: 9,125

Group stage

England rugby league fans create an England flag ahead of the opening match at St James' Park

Competing countries were divided into four groups of four teams (groups A to D). Teams in each group played one another in a round-robin, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stage.[28]

Group A

More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: rlwc2021
(H) Hosts
More information England, 60–6 ...
15 October 2022
14:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
St James' Park, Newcastle
Attendance: 43,199
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Touch judges: Jack Smith (England), Warren Turley (England)
Player of the Match: Victor Radley (England)
More information France, 34–12 ...
17 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
Attendance: 4,182
Referee: Adam Gee (Australia)
Touch judges: Kasey Badger (Australia), James Vella (England)
Player of the Match: Benjamin Garcia (France)

More information England, 42–18 ...
22 October 2022
17:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton
Attendance: 23,648
Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia)
Touch judges: Liam Moore (England), Todd Smith (Australia)
Player of the Match: George Williams (England)
More information Samoa, 72–4 ...
23 October 2022
17:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
Attendance: 4,415
Referee: James Child (England)
Touch judges: Liam Rush (England), Robert Hicks (England)
Player of the Match: Jarome Luai (Samoa)

More information England, 94–4 ...
29 October 2022
14:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Attendance: 18,760
Referee: Belinda Sharpe (Australia)
Touch judges: Marcus Griffiths (England), Wyatt Raymond (Australia)
Player of the Match: Marc Sneyd (England)
More information Samoa, 62–4 ...
30 October 2022
17:00 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Attendance: 6,756
Referee: Todd Smith (Australia)
Touch judges: Liam Rush (England), Warren Turley (England)

Group B

More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: rlwc2021
More information Australia, 42–8 ...
15 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 13,366
Referee: Chris Kendall (England)
Touch judges: Wyatt Raymond (Australia), Darian Furner (Australia)
Player of the Match: Cameron Munster (Australia)
More information Scotland, 4–28 ...
16 October 2022
14:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Kingston Park, Newcastle
Attendance: 6,206
Referee: Todd Smith (Australia)
Touch judges: Paki Parkinson (New Zealand), Marcus Griffiths (England)
Player of the Match: Nathan Brown (Italy)

More information Australia, 84–0 ...
21 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry
Attendance: 10,276
Referee: Grant Atkins (Australia)
Touch judges: Kasey Badger (Australia), Warren Turley (England)
Player of the Match: Josh Addo-Carr (Australia)
More information Fiji, 60–4 ...
22 October 2022
14:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Kingston Park, Newcastle
Attendance: 3,675
Referee: Jack Smith (England)
Touch judges: Darian Furner (Australia), James Vella (England)
Player of the Match: Penioni Tagituimua (Fiji)

More information Fiji, 30–14 ...
29 October 2022
17:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
Kingston Park, Newcastle
Attendance: 6,736
Referee: Tom Grant (England)
Touch judges: James Child (England), Chris Kendall (England)
Player of the Match: Sunia Turuva (Fiji)
More information Australia, 66–6 ...
29 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Attendance: 5,586
Referee: Liam Moore (England)
Touch judges: Michael Smaill (England), Jack Smith (England)
Player of the Match: Jeremiah Nanai (Australia)

Group C

More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: rlwc2021
More information Jamaica, 2–48 ...
16 October 2022
17:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 6,320
Referee: Ben Casty (France)
Touch judges: Geoffrey Poumes (France), Neil Horton (England)
Player of the Match: Luke Keary (Ireland)
More information New Zealand, 34–12 ...
16 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Attendance: 5,453
Referee: Grant Atkins (Australia)
Touch judges: Tom Grant (England), Dean Bowmer (England)
Player of the Match: Joseph Manu (New Zealand)

More information New Zealand, 68–6 ...
22 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
MKM Stadium, Hull
Attendance: 6,829
Referee: Marcus Griffiths (England)
Touch judges: Belinda Sharpe (Australia), Aaron Moore (England)
Player of the Match: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (New Zealand)
More information Lebanon, 32–14 ...
23 October 2022
14:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Leigh Sports Village, Leigh
Attendance: 6,057
Referee: Adam Gee (Australia)
Touch judges: Tom Grant (England), Warren Turley (Australia)
Player of the Match: Mitchell Moses (Lebanon)

More information New Zealand, 48–10 ...
28 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 14,044
Referee: Robert Hicks (England)
Touch judges: James Vella (England), Darian Furner (Australia)
Player of the Match: Jahrome Hughes (New Zealand)
More information Lebanon, 74–12 ...
30 October 2022
12:00 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Leigh Sports Village, Leigh
Attendance: 5,006
Referee: Paki Parkinson (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Grant Atkins (Australia), Darian Furner (Australia)
Player of the Match: Adam Doueihi (Lebanon)

Group D

More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: rlwc2021
More information Tonga, 24–18 ...
18 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Attendance: 10,409
Referee: Liam Moore (England)
Touch judges: James Child (England), Belinda Sharpe (Australia)
Player of the Match: Edwin Ipape (Papua New Guinea)
More information Wales, 12–18 ...
19 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Leigh Sports Village, Leigh
Attendance: 6,188
Referee: Robert Hicks (England)
Touch judges: Rochelle Tamarua (New Zealand), Todd Smith (Australia)
Player of the Match: Johnathon Ford (Cook Islands)

More information Tonga, 32–6 ...
24 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Attendance: 7,752
Referee: Kasey Badger (Australia)
Touch judges: Mike Smaill (England), Rochelle Tamarua (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: Daniel Tupou (Tonga)
More information Papua New Guinea, 32–16 ...
25 October 2022
19:30 BST (UTC+01:00)
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Attendance: 6,273
Referee: Chris Kendall (England)
Touch judges: Wyatt Raymond (Australia), Paki Parkinson (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: Rhyse Martin (Papua New Guinea)

More information Tonga, 92–10 ...
30 October 2022
14:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough
Attendance: 8,342
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Touch judges: Kasey Badger (Australia), Aaron Moore (England)
Player of the Match: Jason Taumalolo (Tonga)
More information Papua New Guinea, 36–0 ...
31 October 2022
19:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
Attendance: 6,968
Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia)
Touch judges: Belinda Sharpe (Australia), James Child (England)
Player of the Match: Nixon Putt (Papua New Guinea)

Knockout stage

The top 2 teams from each pool advanced to the quarter-finals. All quarter-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup.

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
5 November – Wigan
 
 
 England 46
 
12 November – London
 
 Papua New Guinea 6
 
 England 26
 
6 November – Warrington
 
 Samoa (g.p.) 27
 
 Tonga 18
 
19 November – Manchester
 
 Samoa 20
 
 Samoa 10
 
4 November – Huddersfield
 
 Australia 30
 
 Australia 48
 
11 November – Leeds
 
 Lebanon 4
 
 Australia 16
 
5 November – Hull
 
 New Zealand 14
 
 New Zealand 24
 
 
 Fiji 18
 

Quarter-finals

More information Australia, 48–4 ...
4 November 2022
19:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 8,206
Referee: Chris Kendall (England)
Touch judges: Wyatt Raymond (Australia), Warren Turley (England)
Player of the Match: Josh Addo-Carr (Australia)

More information England, 46–6 ...
5 November 2022
14:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
DW Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 23,179
Referee: Liam Moore (England)
Touch judges: Darian Furner (Australia), Jack Smith (England)
Player of the Match: Tommy Makinson (England)

More information New Zealand, 24–18 ...
5 November 2022
19:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
MKM Stadium, Hull
Attendance: 7,080
Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia)
Touch judges: Belinda Sharpe (Australia), Marcus Griffiths (England)
Player of the Match: Joseph Manu (New Zealand)

More information Tonga, 18–20 ...
6 November 2022
14:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Attendance: 12,674
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Touch judges: Robert Hicks (England), Kasey Badger (Australia)
Player of the Match: Anthony Milford (Samoa)

Semi-finals

More information Australia, 16–14 ...
11 November 2022
19:45 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 28,113
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Touch judges: Warren Turley (England), Wyatt Raymond (Australia)
Player of the Match: Liam Martin (Australia)

More information England, 26–27 (g.p.) ...
12 November 2022
14:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Emirates Stadium, London
Attendance: 40,489
Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia)
Touch judges: Darian Furner (Australia), Jack Smith (England)
Player of the Match: Jarome Luai (Samoa)

Final

More information Australia, 30–10 ...
19 November 2022
16:00 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 67,502
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Touch judges: Jack Smith (England), Warren Turley (England)
Player of the Match: James Tedesco (Australia)

Statistics

Final standings

More information Pos, Grp ...
Updated to match(es) played on 23 November 2022. Source: World Cup 2022
(H) Hosts

Top try scorers

Top goal scorers

More information Rank, Player ...

Top points scorers

More information Rank, Player ...

Player discipline

See also

Notes

  1. Smaill is a New Zealander who is currently based in England.[15]
  2. Vella is an Australian who is currently based in England.[16]
  3. Match originally scheduled to be played at Rochdale[20][21]

References

  1. Walter, Brad (26 August 2021). "New dates announced for rescheduled World Cup". nrl.com. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  2. Walter, Brad (5 August 2021). "2021 World Cup officially postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic". nrl.com. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  3. "Rugby League World Cup to feature 16 teams in 2021". Sky Sports. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  4. Darbyshire, Drew (21 October 2019). "Women and wheelchair players to receive equal pay to men at 2021 World Cup". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. Ed, Dixon (2 July 2020). "2021 Rugby League World Cup and IRL team up on broadcast production - SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  6. Sutcliffe, Steve (19 November 2022). "Australia 30-10 Samoa: Kangaroos claim third consecutive World Cup with hard-fought victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  7. "Rugby League World Cup 2021". www.rlwc2021.com. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  8. "Rugby League World Cup 2021 draw: England drawn with Samoa, France and Greece". BBC Sport. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  9. "Rugby League World Cup 2021: How will Thursday's draw work?". BBC Sport. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  10. "Rugby League World Cup Squads: Men's, Women's, Wheelchair". Rugby League International Federation. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  11. "Kangaroos to be united in Manchester: World Cup team bases announced". National Rugby League. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  12. "Rugby League World Cup 2021 announces tournament Match Officials". Rugby League World Cup. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  13. "James Vella". rugby-league.com. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  14. Bower, Aaron (27 September 2022). "Rugby League World Cup rule changes including captain's call and disciplinary". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  15. "Rochdale AFC release statement following venue change for England versus Fiji". LoveRugbyLeague. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  16. "England to face Fiji in World Cup warm-up at Rochdale". www.rugby-league.com. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  17. "England versus Fiji postponed until October 2022". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  18. "Jamaica to have pre-World Cup game against Cumbria". TotalRL.com. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  19. McAllister, Josh (23 August 2022). "England Knights name squad as Scotland confirm World Cup warm-up fixture". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  20. Thomson, Doug (9 August 2022). "Wales confirm World Cup warm-up fixture". TotalRL.com. Total RL. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  21. "Tackle one: Greece is the word". rlwc2021.com. RLWC2021. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  22. "Kiwis to face Leeds in World Cup warm-up match". 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  23. "Groups and Standings". Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

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