RUGBY LEAGUE FOUR-NATIONS

 

Host Nation - England and Wales

Number of Teams - 4

Highest Crowd - 42,344 (Wembley Stadium London)

Average Crowd - 18,295

Total Crowd - 128,066

2011 Four-Nations Snapshot - The 2011 Four-Nations is the 3rd instalment of the highly successful rugby league competition. With the ongoing improvement of 2nd tier nations, the successful Tri-Nations series has been expanded. The Four-Nations will take place in England and Wales in October / November 2011.

Each team will play each other once in the pool rounds with the top two nations contesting the final. The Four Nations will run over four weeks. The double header concpet will continue with England playing Australia and Wales playing New Zealand at Wembely Stadium in London on the 5th November. Wales will also be taking on Australia at the home of the Crusaders RL, Racecourse Stadium Wrexham. All other games will be played in Rugby League heartland in the North of England. The Four Nations Final will be played at Elland Road Leeds.

The 2010 European Cup winners Wales have secured their place as the fourth team in the 2011 Four Nations. This will be the first time Wales have played in the Tri / Four Nations tournament and caps off a big few years for Welsh rugby league. This is a huge positive for international rugby league as 6 nations would have taken part in the Four Nations when the 2011 tournament kicks off. The RLIF's plan to develop the international game is starting to pay off.

Wales rugby league has been through a rebirth which has seen local rugby league competitions drive a big increase in junior participation. In a small set back for Wales the Crusaders, Wales only SL team withdrew from SL at the end of 2011. Wales are going to have a big challenge on their hands. In many ways the 2011 Four nations is a test run for Wales Rugby League as they approach the 2013 Rugby League World Cup as joint hosts with England. Wales will also have pressure on them to preform as critics question weather the expanded Tri-Nations series is the way to go after the likes of France (2009) and Papua New Guinea (2010) suffered some heavy defeats at the hands of the big three.

The 2011 Four Nations is shaping up to be the most successful Tri/Four Nations tournament staged to date and will continue with the Rugby League International Federation's (RLIF) plans to strengthen the international game at the top level. It is now over to Wales to fly the flag of 2nd teir nations and prove they can compete against the best three rugby league teams in the world.

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.

• 2011 FOUR NATIONS RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS
• Poles apart! Australia teach England a Rugby League lesson yet again - 21/11/11 www.dailymail.co.uk
• Yow Yeh still pinching himself - 21/11/11 www.tvnz.co.nz
• Life after Lockyer dawns on Kangaroos - 21/11/11 www.smh.com.au
• England coach Steve McNamara rues Australia defeat - 21/11/11 www.bbc.co.uk
• Lockyer ends his rugby league career with the Four Nations trophy in his keeping - 21/11/11 www.couriermail.com.au
• Darren Lockyear signs off by thumping England - 21/11/11 www.mirror.co.uk
• Australia beat England for Four Nations victory - 20/11/11 www.bbc.co.uk
• Aussies pile on the agony - 20/11/11 www.skysports.com
• England eager to end long wait for silverware - 19/11/11 www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
• Mischievous Tomkins seeks rise to hero status - 19/11/11 www.independent.co.uk
• England have plenty of reasons to be wary of Australia in deciders - 19/11/11 www.guardian.co.uk
• TOMKINS: WE CAN BEAT THE AUSSIES - 19/11/11 www.sportinglife.com
• Four Nations final preview - 19/11/11 www.skysports.com
• Lockyer truly the greates player of all - 19/11/11 www.nzherald.co.nz
• End of the road, but what a journey - 19/11/11 www.smh.com.au
• Tim Sheens must walk if Kangaroos fail to win Four Nations - 19/11/11 www.dailytelegraph.com.au
• JAMES GRAHAM'S GOLDEN VISION - 19/11/11 www.dailystar.co.uk
• Tom Briscoe says England can beat Australia in Four Nations final - 19/11/11 www.bbc.co.uk
• England's new camaraderie delights Sinfield - 19/11/11 www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
• Darren Lockyer says now is the right time for him to retire from rugby league - 19/11/11 www.couriermail.com.au
• Sam Tomkins believes England are on the verge of producing something special - 19/11/11 www.telegraph.co.uk
• England's new camaraderie delights Sinfield - 18/11/11 www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
• Kangaroo and England squads named - 18/11/11 www.tvnz.co.nz
• Yow Yeh wins vacant wing spot in Kangaroos - 18/11/11 www.dailytelegraph.com.au
• Kev: Three is the magic number - 18/11/11 www.thesun.co.uk
• We've been here before, but there are reasons to be optimistic for England - 18/11/11 www.independent.co.uk
• Awards snub fuels England - 18/11/11 www.nzherald.co.nz
• Royce Simmons now supporting the Poms - 18/11/11 www.dailytelegraph.com.au
• JAMIE PEACOCK: ROO WON’T HAMMER US AGAIN - 18/11/11 www.dailystar.co.uk
• Ellis named in England squad for Four Nations final against Australia - 18/11/11 www.dailymail.co.uk
• Kangaroos, England coy on final teams - 18/11/11 www.abc.net.au
• Four Nations final sold out - 18/11/11 www.skysports.com
• Out to break English hearts one last time - 17/11/11 www.independent.co.uk
• LAWRENCE WARY OF ENGLAND THREAT - 17/11/11 www.sportinglife.com
• Ellis dilemma for England - 17/11/11 www.skysports.com
• England coach questions referee choice - 17/11/11 www.nzherald.co.nz
• Kevin Sinfield says England must lift game to beat Australia - 17/11/11 www.mirror.co.uk
• MCNAMARA HAPPY WITH REFEREE CHOICE - 17/11/11 www.express.co.uk
• WIZARD OF OZ DARREN LOCKYER TO SIGN OFF IN STYLE - 17/11/11 www.dailystar.co.uk
• Wales praised for Four Nations progress - 17/11/11 www.code13rugbyleague.com
• For the sake of international league, England must do well - 17/11/11 www.theroar.com.au
• Darren Lockyer set to play last ever rugby league game - finally - 17/11/11 www.heraldsun.com.au
• Adrian Morley proud to win 50th cap - 17/11/11 www.bbc.co.uk
• Ex-Kiwis coach calls for change to Four Nations - 17/11/11 www.stuff.co.nz
• Numbers stack up for Lockyer - 17/11/11 www.tvnz.co.nz
• Sheens feeling the pressure before final - 16/11/11 www.nzherald.co.nz
• Bennett blueprint behind England revival - 16/11/11 www.smh.com.au
• High demand for final tickets 3'000 remain - 16/11/11 www.code13rugbyleague.com
• PEACOCK READY TO PLAY ON - 16/11/11 www.express.co.uk
• Youngsters prosper as Kiwis falter in England - 16/11/11 www.stuff.co.nz
• Australia win battle to have their referee in charge of final against England - 16/11/11 www.telegraph.co.uk
• Kiwis pair cop suspensions - 16/11/11 www.tvnz.co.nz
• LOCKYER SET FOR FINAL FAREWELL - 16/11/11 www.sportinglife.com
• England trio vying for world’s top player award - 16/11/11 www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
• England advance falls on deaf ears at Sportsweek - 16/11/11 www.guardian.co.uk
• Jamie Peacock leads calls for Adrian Morley to get Royal honour - 16/11/11 www.mirror.co.uk
• Kearney claims positives from Four Nations - 15/11/11 www.tvnz.co.nz
• Australian Matt Cecchin to referee Four Nations final against England - 15/11/11 www.guardian.co.uk
• SHEENS: FOUR NATIONS IS GOOD IDEA - 15/11/11 www.sportinglife.com
• Dragon slayers on track for the title, says Sheens - 15/11/11 www.smh.com.au
• Gareth Ellis set to play against Australia - 15/11/11 www.bbc.co.uk
• James proud of Wales display - 15/11/11 www.skysports.com
• Morley a record breaker - 15/11/11 www.skysports.com
• Wrexham in spotlight for Rugby League Four Nations - 15/11/11 www.bbc.co.uk
• Wales 14 Australia 56 - 14/11/11 www.sportinglife.com
• England out to spoil Darren Lockyer's farewell - 14/11/11 www.dailytelegraph.com.au
• England rise to the occasion - 14/11/11 www.skysports.com
• THOMAS LEULUAI BACKING ENGLAND - 14/11/11 www.sportinglife.com
• Limp loss to England puts Kiwis on sidelines - 14/11/11 www.stuff.co.nz
• Tomkins seals England's final date with Australia - 14/11/11 www.independent.co.uk

• 2011 FOUR NATIONS SQUADS

   

  Australia

  Darius Boyd (St George Illawarra Dragons), Daly Cherry-Evans (Many Sea Eagles), Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm), Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers), Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks), Keith Galloway (Wests Tigers), Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabittohs), Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers), Luke Lewis (Penrith Panthers), Darren Lockyer (Brisbane Broncos), Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos), Matt Scott (North Queensland Cowboys), David Shillington (Canberra Raiders), Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm), Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm), Brett Stewart (Manly Sea Eagles), Beau Scott (St George IIlawarra Dragons), Dave Taylor (South Sydney Rabittohs), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowlboys), Akuila Uate (Newcastle Knights), Anthony Watmough (Manly Sea Eagles), Tony Williams (Manly Sea Eagles), Jharal Yow Yeh (Brisbane Broncos)

   

  England

  Carl Ablett (Leeds), Ryan Bailey (Leeds), Tom Briscoe (Hull), Garreth Carvell (Warrington), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield), Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers), James Graham (St Helens), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Chris Heighington (Wests Tigers), Ben Jones-Bishop (Leeds), Jamie Jones-Buchanan (Leeds), Danny McGuire (Leeds), Michael McIlorum (Wigan), Adrian Morley (Warrington), Jamie Peacock (Leeds, capt), Jack Reed (Brisbane), James Roby (St Helens), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Gareth Widdop (Melbourne), Jon Wilkin (St Helens), Kirk Yeaman (Hull).

   

  Wales

  Chris Beasley (Central Comets, Australia), Andy Bracek (Crusaders), Lee Briers (Warrington), Neil Budworth (MacKay Cutters, Australia), Ross Divorty (Featherstone), Gil Dudson (Crusaders), Ben Flower (Crusaders), Tyson Frizell (Cronulla, Australia), Andrew Gay (South Wales Scorpions), Aled James (South Wales Scorpions), Jordan James (Crusaders), Danny Jones (Halifax), Craig Kopzcak (Bradford), Eliot Kear (Crusaders), Mark Lennon (Thirroul Butchers, Australia), Peter Lupton (Crusaders), Christiaan Roets (South Wales Scorpions), Matt Seamark (Wynnum Manly, Australia), Gareth Thomas (Crusaders), Ian Watson (Swinton), Ian Webster (Central Comets, Australia), Lloyd White (Crusaders), Lee Williams (Crusaders), Rhys Williams (Warrington).

   

  New Zealand

  Gerard Beale, Adam Blair, Lewis Brown, Nathan Fien, Kieran Foran, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Alex Glenn, Krisnan Inu, Thomas Leuluai, Kevin Locke, Issac Luke, Sam McKendry, Simon Mannering, Sika Manu, Benji Marshall (capt), Ben Matulino, Fuifui Moimoi, Jason Nightingale, Russell Packer, Kevin Proctor, Jeremy Smith, Elijah Taylor, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

   

   

Game 1

Oct 28th (8pm) Australia 26 - New Zealand 12

Location - Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington

Crowd - 12,491 (Capacity - 13,024)

 

Game 2

Oct 29th (2.30pm) England 42 - Wales 4

Location - Leigh Sports Village, Leigh

Crowd - 10,377(Capacity - 11,000)

 

Game 3

Nov 5th (1pm) Wales 0 - New Zealand 36

Location - Wembley Stadium, London

Crowd 42,344 - (Capacity - 90,000)

 

Game 4

Nov 5th (3.30pm) England 20 - Australia 36

Location - Wembley Stadium, London

Crowd - 42,344 (Capacity - 90,000)

 

Game 5

Nov 12th (6pm) England 28 - New Zealand 6

Location - KC Stadium, Hull

Crowd - 23,447 (Capacity - 25,404)

 

Game 6

Nov 13th (5.45pm) Wales 14 - Australia 56

Location - Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

Crowd - 5,233 (Capacity - 15,500)

Final Table

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
Australia	3	3	0	0	118	46	6
England	3	2	0	1	90	46	4
New Zealand	3	1	0	2	54	54	2
Wales	3	0	0	3	18	98	0