2008 RLWC

  2008 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP OVERVIEW Host Nation - Australia Number of Teams - 10 Highest Crowd - 50,599 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia (Final) Average Crowd - 16,331 Total Crowd - 293,965 2008 World Cup Snapshot -...

By Richard Cowley, 29/11/2008

The dust has finally settled on the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Being the most successful Rugby League World Cup tournament ever held, it has delivered all it set out to achieve and more. Not only has it exceeded expectations but has provided the international game with a solid base to build on moving forward. From the opening game to the final fans have been witness to upsets, controversy and classic rugby league.

By Richard Cowley, 18/11/2008

The semi-finals of the World Cup had two very different games with two very different dynamics. On one hand you had England trying to restore some pride against a New Zealand team gaining momentum with every game they play. Then on the other hand you had one of the success stories of the World Cup Fiji, who had already won by making it into the semi-final in the first place taking on the might of Australia. Both games didn't disappoint in the entertainment stakes.

By Richard Cowley, 12/11/2008

The third round of the Rugby League World Cup turned the predicted finishing positions for Group Two and Three upside down. Ireland caused a major upset by beating Samoa 34 - 16 and securing a position in the qualifying semi-final. Scotland put a scare into Fiji by winning their first ever World Cup game 18 - 16. It was not enough to deny Fiji a date with Ireland for the qualifying semi-final. All teams in group Two and Three came away with a win each showing how competitive the games were.

By Richard Cowley 3/11/2008

The second round of the Rugby League World Cup had everything from Tonga and Samoa battling it out in a spirited game to England breaking records for all the wrong reasons. Fiji fried the French in the first major upset of the tournament and New Zealand bounced back to book a place in the semi-finals by cruising past Papua New Guinea. All in all the second round was anything but predictable.

By Richard Cowley, 27/10/2008

After an 8-year absence the 2008 Rugby League World Cup kicked off in Townsville, Australia on Saturday night. In a display that typified what this World Cup means to minnow nations, Papua New Guinea almost achieved the unachievable by nearly upsetting the star studded English Team.

By Richard Cowley, 23/12/2007

The final qualifiers for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup finished up in November. Australia, New Zealand, England, France and Papua New Guinea automatically qualified. The remaining five spots have seen 14 teams compete in the qualifying rounds over the last 2 years. The end result will see arguably the best 10 rugby league nations in the World battle it out in next years World Cup.