2000 World Cup

28 Oct – 25 Nov 2000

There will be 16-nations competing in the World Cup. Each nation will play each other once in their pool with the top two progressing onto the quarter finals where it becomes a knock out.

WORLD CUP GAMES

Saturday, October 28
Ireland 30 def Samoa 16 (group four), Windsor Park, Belfast (3.00pm).
Papua New Guinea 23 def France 20 (group three), Charlety Stadium, Paris (3.00pm).
Australia 22 def England 2 (group one), Twickenham (6.30pm).

Sunday, October 29
Tonga 66 def South Africa 18 (group three), Region Parisienne (2.00pm).
Fiji 38 def  Russia 12 (group one), Craven Park, Barrow (3.00pm).
New Zealand 64 def Lebanon 0 (group two), Kingsholm, Gloucester (3.00pm).
Maori 17 def Scotland 16 (group four), Firhill Stadium, Glasgow (3.00pm).
Wales 38 def Cook Islands 6 (group two), Racecourse Ground, Wrexham (6.45pm).

Wednesday, November 1
France 28 def Tonga 8 (group three), Carcassone (2.00pm).
Australia 66 def Fiji 8 (group one), Gateshead International Stadium (7.30pm).
Ireland 18 def Scotland 6 (group four), Tolka Park, Dublin (7.30pm).
Samoa 21 def Maori 16 (group four), Derwent Park, Workington (7.30pm).
England 76 def Russia 4 (group one), Knowsley Road, St Helens (7.45pm).

Thursday, November 2
Papua New Guinea 16 def South Africa 0 (group three), Toulouse (7.00pm).
Wales 24 def Lebanon 22 (group two), Stradey Park, Llanelli (7.30pm).
New Zealand 84 def Cook Islands 10 (group two), Madejski Stadium, Reading (7.30pm).

Saturday, November 4
England 66 def Fiji 4 (group one), Headingley, Leeds (3.00pm).
Ireland 30 def Maori 16 (group four), Tolka Park, Dublin (6.30pm).
Australia 110 def Russia 4 (group one), Boulevard, Hull (7.30pm).

Sunday, November 5
Cook Islands 22 drew Lebanon 22(group two), Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
New Zealand 58 def Wales 18 (group two), Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
France 56 def South Africa 6 (group three), Albi (2.00pm).
Samoa 20 def Scotland 12 (group four), Tynecastle, Edinburgh (6.45pm).

Monday, November 6
Papua New Guinea 30 def Tonga 22 (group three), Perpignan (7.00pm).

Quarter-finals: Saturday, November 11
Australia 66 def Samoa 10, Vicarage Road, Watford (3.00pm).
England 26 def Ireland 16, Headingley, Leeds (6.30pm).

Quarter-finals: Sunday, November 12
New Zealand 54 def France 6, Auto Quest Stadium, Widnes (5.00pm).
Wales 22 def Papua New Guinea 8, Wheldon Road, Castleford (6.45pm).

First semi-final - Saturday, November 18
New Zealand 49 def England 6 , McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield (6.45pm).
Second semi-final - Sunday, November 19
Australia 46 def Wales 22, Reebok Stadium, Bolton (3.00pm).

World Cup Final - Saturday, November 25

Australia 40 def New Zealand 12
AUSTRALIA 40 (Tries: Sailor 2, Gidley, Hindmarsh, Lockyer, Fittler, Barrett.Goals: Rogers 6 from 7.)
Team: Darren Lockyer, Mat Rogers, Adam MacDougall, Matthew Gidley, Wendell Sailor, Brad Fittler (c), Brett Kimmorley, Shane Webcke, Andrew Johns, Robbie Kearns, Gorden Tallis (vc), Bryan Fletcher, Scott Hill. Subs: Trent Barrett, Nathan Hindmarsh, Darren Britt, Jason Stevens.
Defeated
NEW ZEALAND 12 (Tries: Vainikolo, Carroll. Goals: H.Paul 2 from 2.)
Team: Richie Barnett (c), Nigel Vagana, Tonie Carroll, Willie Talau, Lesley Vainikolo, Henry Paul, Stacey Jones, Craig Smith, Richard Swain, Quentin Pongia, Matthew Rua, Stephen Kearney, Ruben Wiki. Subs: Robbie Paul, Joe Vagana, Nathan Cayless, Logan Swann.
   Half time: Australia 6-0.
Man of the Match: Wendell Sailor (Australia).
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester.
Crowd: 44,329.
Referee: Stuart Cummings
Touch Judges: Tony Martin, Steve Taylor
Video Ref: Gerry Kershaw

2000 WORLD CUP POOLS
Pool A: England*, Australia, Fiji, Russia.
Pool B: Wales*, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Lebanon.
Pool C: France*, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, South Africa.
Pool D: Ireland*, Samoa, Scotland*, NZ Maori.
* - Notes where matches are being played in each pool.

Australian Rugby League 2000 World Cup squad.

Trent Barrett (St George Illawarra), Darren Britt (Bulldogs), Jason Croker (Canberra), Brad Fittler (Sydney Roosters, capt), Bryan Fletcher (Sydney Roosters), Matthew Gidley (Newcastle), Ryan Girdler (Penrith), Craig Gower (Penrith), Scott Hill (Melbourne), Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta), Andrew Johns (Newcastle), Robbie Kearns (Melbourne), Ben Kennedy (Newcastle), Brett Kimmorley (Melbourne), Darren Lockyer (Brisbane), Adam MacDougall (Newcastle), Mat Rogers (Sharks), Wendell Sailor (Brisbane), Jason Stevens (Sharks), Gorden Tallis (Brisbane, vice capt), Michael Vella (Parramatta), Shane Webcke (Brisbane).

Saturday Night - August 19
Souths 82 def United States 12
SOUTH SYDNEY 82 (C Caruana 3, B Grogan 2, T Slattery 2, N Merritt 2, P Clarke, N Wood, W Patten, B Moore, J Loomans, K McGuinness, J Davis tries; K McGuinness 5, B Moore 3, C Caruana goals) bt UNITED STATES 12 (G Smith, C Waters tries; D Niu, M O'Donaghue goals) at Redfern Oval. Referee: P McBlane. Crowd: 20,535.

Saturday Night - August 26
Souths 42 def Lebanon 24
South Sydney 42 (N Merritt 2 T Slattery N Wood J Schloss G Topham W Patten tries W Patten 3 B Moore 2 D Kennedy 2 goals) bt Lebanon 24 (L El Masri B Chahal B Najarin J Stanton tries F El Chad 4 goals) at Redfern Oval. Referees: P McBlane, T Kelly.

NEW ZEALAND WORLD CUP SQUAD:
Richie Barnett (Sydney Roosters) captain, Richie Blackmore (Leeds), Tonie Carroll (Brisbane), Nathan Cayless (Parramatta), Brian Jellick (North Queensland, Stacey Jones (Auckland), Stephen Kearney (Melbourne), Ali Lauiti'iti (Auckland), Tasesa Lavea (Melbourne), Henry Paul (Bradford), Robbie Paul (Bradford), Quentin Pongia (Sydney Roosters), Tony Puletua (Penrith), Matthew Rua (Melbourne), Craig Smith (St.George-Illawarra), Richard Swain (Melbourne), Logan Swann (Auckland), Willie Talau (Canterbury), David Vaealiki (Parramatta), Joe Vagana (Auckland), Nigel Vagana (Auckland), Lesley Vainikolo (Canberra), Ruben Wiki (Canberra).

COOK ISLANDS TRAIN-ON SQUAD:
Richard Piakura, Tiri Toa, Ty Walter, Tangi Tongiia, Kevin Iro, Dwayne West, Paul Whatuira, Ben Vaeau, Craig Bowen, Steve Berryman, Leroy Joe, Michael Andersson, Jason Temu,  George Tuakura, Adam Cook, Jason Pekepo, Tere Glassie, Malu Kaufusi, Zane Clark, Jackson Kaufusi, Kimi Iobu, Peter Lewis, Henry Turua, Patrick Kuru, Christian Rahui, Anthony Samuels, Alfred Manu, Meti Noovao, Marc Taivairanga, Vaine Kino, Lee Tamatoa, Harry Kapi, Ali Davys, Sonny Sheppard, Andrew Leota, Raymond Ruaporo, Jay Puia, Mathew Karika, James Ingram, Matt Rua, Teokotai Tuaivi Jnr, Odell Manuel, Alan Tuara, John Kaukura.

SAMOA TRAIN-ON SQUAD:
David Solomona, Albert Talapeau (both Sydney Roosters), Frank Puletua, Tony Puletua, Fred Petersen, Brian Leauma (all Penrith), Jerry Seu Seu, Vae Kololo, Monty Betham, Ali Lauitiiti, Francis Meli, Henry Faafili, Odell Manuel, Joe Galuvao, Jason Williams (all Auckland), Shane Laloata (North Nelson Bay), Kyle Leuluai, Beau Gallagher, Laloa Milford (all Wests Tigers), Roy Asotasi, Mark Leafa (both Bulldogs), Vila Matautia, Fereti Tuilagi (both St Helens), Willie Poching, Tony Tatupu (both Wakefield), Josh Stowers (South Sydney), Joe Faimalo (Salford), David Fatialofa (Whitehaven), Junior Fiu (Glenora), Phillip Leuluai (Eastern Tornadoes), Anthony Swann, Jamaal Lolesi (both Canberra), Willie Swann (Hunslet), Gene Ngamu
(Huddersfield-Sheffield), Simon Gerros (Burleigh), Va Lupepe (Ryde Eastwood), Tasesa Lavea (Melbourne).

LEBANON TRAIN-ON SQUAD:
Wally Abbas, Edward Abounder, Ghazi Alali, Moh ammed Allouche, Paul Azar, George Azzi, Ahmad Bajouri, Greg Boulos, Mohamed Chahal, Sami Chamoun, Michael Coorey, Ray Daher, Norm Doumit, Monah Elahmacd, Fady Elchab, John Elias, Hazem El-Masri, Samer El-Masri, Michael Francis, George Katrib, Paul Khoury, David Lambert, Sean Leat, Joe Lichaa, Anthony Mansour, Darren Maroon, Anthony Maroon, Isaac Moses, Bilal Najjarin, Marcel Nassar, Charlie Nohra, George Raad, Joe Rehayem, Tony Sakr, Hassan Saleh, Nedol Saleh, Chris Salem, Anthony Semrani, Jason Stanton, Kandy Tamer, Paul Torbay, Travis Touma.

ITALY EMERGING NATIONS SQUAD:
David Riolo, Gavin Dolso, Dainan Mancuso, Anthony Minichiello, Greg Florimo, Michael Salafia, Adam Capovilla, Chris St Clair, Brendan De Paoli, Paul Pensini, Orazio D'Arro, Dean Schifilliti, Michael Mantelli, Paul Franze, Darren Capovilla, Jason Bulgarelli, Mark Sessarago, Paul Dal Santo, Carlo Napolitano, Carmine Barbaro.

TONGA'S SQUAD:
Jim Dymock (Parramatta), David Fisi'iahi (Eastern), John Hopoate (Wests Tigers), Phil Howlett (North Queensland), Lipina Kaufusi Liutai (Western Suburbs), Malupo Kaufusi Liutai (Western Suburbs), Brent Kite (Canberra), Paul Koloi (Mackay), Andrew Leota (Ngongotaha), Talite Liaava (Auckland), Nelson Lomi (Sydney), Duane Mann (Glenora), Esau Mann (Otahuhu), Willie Manu (Wests Tigers), Willie Mason (Bulldogs), Alfons Masella (St George Illawarra), Martin Masella (Wakefield), Fafita Moala (Melbourne), Nuku Hifo (Grifftith), Filimone Lolohea (South Sydney), Tevita Vaikona (Bradford), Lesley Vainikolo (Canberra), Richard Vikasanti (Wests Tigers), Greg Wolfgramm (Canberra), Willie Wolfgramm (Queenbeyan).

History

The Rugby League World Cup, contested by the world's Test playing nations, was inaugurated in 1954. It has been held at irregular intervals and had various changes to its format over the years.

In 1957 and 1960 in the associated table, no final was played because the leading team had an unbeaten record.

In 1972 the final was still drawn after 20 minutes of extra time; Great Britain was declared the winner because of its superior preliminary record.
    

Note : The competition was held over the four year periods 1985 through 88 and 1989 through 1992, during which the last match in each test series also counted as a World Cup match.

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