RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP OVERVIEW

The Rugby League World Cup has incorporated many different formats since it's inception in 1954. The first six World Cup tournaments (1954 - 1972) involved the four test nations Australia, Great Britain, France and New Zealand. In 1975 the format changed with Great Britain being replaced by England and Wales. Due to the performance of the English team the format reverted back to four nations for the 1977 tournament.

The format had a radical change for the next two World Cup tournaments. Papua New Guinea joined Australia, Great Britain, France and New Zealand for the 1985 - 1988 & 1989 -1992 tournaments. Games were played over four years in a home and away type format. Games were intergrated into the test series calendar with the 3rd test counting towards the World Cup.

In 1995 for the first time the amount of participating nations increased to ten. Australia, England, France, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea were joined by Wales, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and South Africa in a three week tournament. Due to the increase in nations participating, World cup organisers split the teams up into three Pools. The increase in nations allowed for semi-finals to be implemented along with the final.

The 2000 World Cup expanded to sixteen teams and four Pools. Russia, NZ Maori, Ireland, Scotland, Lebanon and the Cook Islands joined the nations that took part in the 1995 tournament. The further increase in teams allowed for a longer finals series that included quarter finals, semi finals and the final. The increase to 16 teams was a step to far for the international game at the time. The Pool rounds saw minnow nations suffer heavy defeats to test nations.

The 2008 World Cup format was mainly based on learning's from previous World Cup tournaments. The participating nations were reduced to ten. Five nations (Australia, New Zealand, France, England, Papua New Guinea) were automatic qualifiers. The other five teams had to qualify via Atlantic, Pacific and European qualifying legs. Qualifying saw Ireland, Scotland, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji qualify. World Cup organisers introduced a Super Pool to help address the lopsided results seen during the 2000 tournament. The Super Pool and the reduction in teams was a stroke of genius as the World Cup went on to become the most successful Rugby League World Cup to date.

The next World Cup is scheduled for 2013 and will build on the success of the 2008 tournament. With the massive growth of rugby league around the world it is expected that 12 nations will take part on the back of an expanded qualifying format. The World cup will then be held every four years after 2013 to create consistency in the World Cup calendar.

For more specific information and results from previous Rugby League World Cup's please click on the World Cup banners below.

World Cup Winners - Australia (9), Great Britain (3), New Zealand (1). (3 nations in Total)

World Cup Runners-up - Australia (3), Great Britain (4), New Zealand (2), England (2), France (2). (5 nations in Total)

World Cup Semi Finalist - Australia (3), New Zealand (3), England (3), Wales (2), Fiji (1). (1995, 2000, 2008 World Cups only) (5 nations in Total)

World Cup Quarter Finalist - Australia, New Zealand, England, Wales, France, Samoa, Ireland, Papua New Guinea. (2000 World Cup only) (8 nations in Total)

World Cup Hosts - Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France (8 nations in total).

Highest World Cup Crowd - 1992 World Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, London, England - 73,631.

Nations to play in World Cups including Qualifiers - Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, England, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, South Africa, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji, Russia, Lebanon, Italy, Morocco, United States, Japan, Canada, Netherlands, Serbia, Georgia, (24 nations in Total)