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• RUGBY LEAGUE FOUR-NATIONS

   

  

   

• RUGBY LEAGUE FOUR-NATIONS OVERVIEW

 

Host Nation - England and France

 

Number of Teams - 4

 

2009 Four-Nations Snapshot - The 2009 Four-Nations series was a first for international rugby league. With the ongoing improvement of France, the successful Tri-Nations series had been expanded. The Four-Nations took take place in England and France in October / November.

 

Unlike the 2004 and 2005 Tri-Nations series that saw the games kick off in the southern hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand played in London with a World Cup Final re-match. The tournament was also a big step up for France as they tried to re-establish themselves as a league powerhouse and match it with the best three rugby league playing nations in the world. Each team played each other once in the pool rounds reducing the tournament duration from seven to four weeks. The format was much like the early World Cup competitions.

 

The performance of the French in the 2008 World Cup had raised some doubts over their automatic inclusion in the 2009 Four-Nations. France were well beaten by Fiji in the Pool stages of the World Cup and many argued that Fiji should be included instead. The RLIF showed faith in France by providing them with automatic inclusion.

 

France are the 2nd biggest league playing nation in Europe with local competitions dating back to 1934. The inclusion of the Catalans Dragons in Super league in 2006, Toulouse Olympic in the Co-Operative Championship in 2009 and the ongoing improvement of the Elite Competition made France the obvious choice this tournament.

 

The inaugural Four Nations didn't disappoint with drama on and off the field keeping both spectators and journalists satisfied. France went through the tournament without a win but surprised many with their first half performances. Australia went through the tournaments as favorites but were lucky to draw with New Zealand in their opening game and stay in contention for the final. The current World Cup Champions New Zealand were left to think about what might of been after drawing with Australia and then getting beaten by England hence missing out on a final place. England on home soil proved critics wrong by knocking out the Kiwis to secure a place in the Four Nations Final at Leeds.

 

Australia and England contested the Four Nations Final. The game had everything from big hits to sensational backline brilliance. Just after half time 2 points separated the two teams with England scoring a try to take the lead 16 - 14. Up to this stage it was a classic test match and brought back memories of hard fought test series between the two nations. Then with 25 minutes to go the wheels feel off what is known as the England Rugby League team. Australia ran in 6 tries as England fell apart at the seams. England had promised so much and delivered for 55 minutes of the final. In the end the Australia backiline full of stars ripped the English defence to shreds leaving England with an embarrassing scoreline of 46 - 16 to deal with.

 



 

Dear Readers, if you would like to talk more about the Four-Nations with other rugby league fans please visit our international rugby league forums at http://forums.rugbyleagueplanet.com and have your say.

 

• RUGBY LEAGUE FOUR-NATIONS MAP

 



• 2009 FOUR NATIONS RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS
• Last Minute Four Nations Accommodation and Tickets
• Smith stands down - 15/11/09 www.skysports.com
• CALL THE EX-MEN- 15/11/09 www.mirror.co.uk
• Aussie rules - 15/11/09 www.mirror.co.uk
• Australia Crush England to Win Four Nations Trophy - 15/11/09 www.nytimes.com
• KANGAROOS 'BACK ON TOP' - 15/11/09 www.sportinglife.com
• Kangaroos thump brave England - 15/11/09 www.skysports.com
• Australia give England a pasting - 15/11/09 www.dailytelegraph.com.au
• Ex-Louisville now gets his kicks in rugby - 15/11/09 www.courier-journal.com
• PEACOCK BULLISH OVER CHANCES - 14/11/09 www.sportinglife.com
• Bad memories motivate Australia - 14/11/09 www.dailytelegraph.com.au
• Offiah backs England - 14/11/09 www.skysports.com
• Stokes coaching universal language of league - 14/11/09 www.stuff.co.nz
• What England must do to beat Australia - 14/11/09 www.bbc.co.uk
• Shenton fulfils dream to take on Aussies at Leeds - 14/11/09 www.mirror.co.uk
• Fox keeps his place for Four Nations final - 13/11/09 www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
• Smith sticks to his young guns - 13/11/09 www.guardian.co.uk
• INGLIS TO BREAK ENGLISH HEARTS - 13/11/09 www.sportinglife.com
• Peacock - Pressure is off us - 13/11/09 www.skysports.com
• Hayne switching flanks to get more involved - 13/11/09 www.leaguehq.com.au
• Sheens picks Luke Lewis for second-row - 13/11/09 www.dailytelegraph.com.au
• Smith: Switching Jarryd Hayne could backfire - 13/11/09 www.foxsports.com.au
• England unchanged for final match - 13/11/09 www.bbc.co.uk
• Williams is a real Euro star - 13/11/09 www.flintshirechronicle.co.uk
• Smith keeps faith with youthful backs - 12/11/09 www.independent.co.uk
• Eden Park targeted for Four Nations venue - 12/11/09 www.tvnz.co.nz
• BURGESS EAGER TO SIGN OFF IN STYLE - 12/11/09 www.sportinglife.com
• Hayne hails Tadulala influence - 12/11/09 www.skysports.com
• JT's forgetfulness raises England's hackels - 12/11/09 www.leaguehq.com.au
• Kiwi Williamson to referee final - 12/11/09 www.bbc.co.uk
• France league coach in trouble over drunken antics - 11/11/09 www.stuff.co.nz
• English slam Aussie whinge - 11/11/09 www.tvnz.co.nz
• Kiwis given key vote on final official - 11/11/09 www.independent.co.uk
• Australia plan to rattle young half-backs - 11/11/09 www.guardian.co.uk
• Kearney has NZRL backing - 11/11/09 www.stuff.co.nz
• CIVONICEVA WARY OF ENGLAND PACK - 11/11/09 www.sportinglife.com
• Briscoe - Fearless youth - 11/11/09 www.skysports.com
• We'll fight Pommie fire with fire - 11/11/09 www.leaguehq.com.au

 

• 2009 FOUR NATIONS SQUADS

   

  Australia

  Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), Cooper Cronk (Melbourne), Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers), Paul Gallen (Cronulla), Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), Ben Hannant (Bulldogs), Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta), Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta), Justin Hodges (Brisbane), Ryan Hoffman (Melbourne), Greg Inglis (Melbourne), Michael Jennings (Penrith), Darren Lockyer (Brisbane), Luke Lewis (Penrith), Josh Morris (Bulldogs), Brett Morris (St George Illawarra), David Shillington (Canberra), Billy Slater (Melbourne), Cameron Smith (Melbourne), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland), Trent Waterhouse (Penrith), Anthony Watmough (Manly), Brett White (Melbourne)

   

  England

  Chris Bridge (Warrington), Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR), Sam Burgess (Bradford), Garreth Carvell (Warrington), Eorl Crabtree (Huddersfield), Kyle Eastmond (St Helens), Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers), Peter Fox (Hull KR), James Graham (St Helens), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Danny McGuire (Leeds), Scott Moore (Huddersfield), Adrian Morley (Warrington), Richard Myler (Salford), Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan), Jamie Peacock (Leeds, capt), James Roby (St Helens), Michael Shenton (Castleford), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Lee Smith (Leeds), Paul Sykes (Bradford), Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Jon Wilkin (St Helens).

   

  France

  Jean-Philippe Baile (Catalans), Kane Bentley (Catalans), Thomas Bosc (Catalans), Remi Casty (Catalans), Vincent Dupor (Catalans)t, Olivier Elima (Catalans), Jamal Fakir (Catalans), David Ferrio (Catalans)l, Mathieu Griffi (Toulouse), Romain Gagliazzo (Carcassonne), Cyril Gossard (Catalans), Clint Greenshields (Catalans), Maxime Greseque (Pia), Casey McGuire (Catalans), Sebastien Martins (Catalans), Christophe Moly (Carcassonne), Dimitri Pelo (Catalans), Sebastien Raguin (Catalans), Teddy Saddaoui (Carcassonne), Cyril Stacu (Catalans)l, Julien Touxagas (Catalans), Frederic Vaccari (UTC), Constant Villegas (Toulouse)

   

  New Zealand

  Adam Blair (Melbourne), Greg Eastwood (Bulldogs), Nathan Fien (St George Illawarra), Kieran Foran (Manly), Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs), Bronson Harrison (Canberra), Lance Hohaia (Warriors), Krisnan Inu (Parramatta), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Kevin Locke (Warriors), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Steve Matai (Manly), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Junior Sau (Newcastle), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly)

   

   

   

• FOUR-NATIONS POOL ROUNDS

   

Game 1

Oct 23rd England 34 - France 12

Location - Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, England

Crowd - 11,529

 

Game 2

Oct 24th New Zealand 20 - Australia 20

Location - Twickenham Stoop, London, England

Crowd - 12,360 (Record rugby league crowd at Stoop)

 

Game 3

Oct 31st England 16 - Australia 26

Location - JJB Stadium, Wigan, England

Crowd - 23,122

 

Game 4

Oct 31st France 12 - New Zealand 62

Location - (Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse), France

Crowd - 12,412

 

Game 5

Nov 7th France 4 - Australia 42

Location - (Charlety Stadium, Paris), France

Crowd - 6,234

 

Game 6

Nov 7th England 20 - New Zealand 12

Location - Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, England

Crowd - 19,390

 

 

 

Final Table

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
Australia	3	2	1	0	50	78	5
England	3	2	0	1	70	50	4
New Zealand	3	1	1	2	94	52	3
France	3	0	0	3	28	138	0

 

• FOUR-NATIONS FINAL

   

  Four-Nations Final

  Nov 14th Australia 46 - England 16

  Location - Elland Road, Leeds, England

  Crowd - 31,042

   

  Four-Nations Champions

   

   

  AUSTRALIA