2013 Rugby League World Cup
14th Rugby League World Cup tournament
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The 2013 Rugby League World Cup was the fourteenth World Cup for men's national rugby league teams. It took place between the 26 October and 30 November and was hosted by England and Wales (although some games were played in France and Ireland).[2][3][4][5] Australia won the tournament, beating New Zealand 34–2 in the final to lift the trophy for the tenth time.[6][7]
| 2013 World Cup | |
|---|---|
| |
| Number of teams | 14[1] |
| Host countries |  England Wales |
| Winner |  Australia (10th title) |
| Matches played | 28 |
| Attendance | 458,483 (16,374 per match) |
| Top scorer |  Shaun Johnson (76) |
| Top try scorer | Brett Morris Jarryd Hayne (9 tries each) |
Originally planned to take place in 2012 it was moved back a year to avoid clashing with the London Olympics in 2012.[8]
It was the main event of the year's Festival of World Cups. Fourteen teams contested the tournament: Australia, England, New Zealand, Samoa, Wales, Fiji, France, Papua New Guinea, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, Cook Islands, Italy and the United States. The latter two were competing in the Rugby League World Cup for the first time.[citation needed]
New Zealand were the defending champions, having defeated Australia in 2008.
In terms of attendance, exposure and revenue, the 2013 tournament is considered the most successful Rugby League World Cup to date.[9]
Organisation
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Background
The Rugby League International Federation confirmed this competition as a part of its international program. The RLIF announced a five-year plan to build up to the 2013 World Cup with Four Nations tournaments held in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The competition was part of the UK's "Golden Decade of Sport".[10] 2013 was chosen as the year of the World Cup to avoid a clash with the London Olympics in 2012.[11] After 2013, the Cup will be held on a quadrennial cycle.
Host selection
In addition to the United Kingdom, Australia announced its intention to bid for the hosting rights, despite hosting the previous World Cup in 2008.[12] The Australian Rugby League had been preparing a rival bid due to the success of the 2008 event but the business plan presented by the Rugby Football League for the UK to be the host was accepted by the RLIF at a meeting in July 2009.[11][13] The event formed part of what was being dubbed a 'Golden Decade' in British Sport.[2]
The UK last hosted the World Cup in 2000, with the event generally being considered unsuccessful.[11]
The then Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles welcomed representatives of all 14 nations and tournament organisers with a reception at Clarence House.[citation needed]
Qualification
There were two qualifying pools for the remaining two World Cup places; a European and an Atlantic pool, with one side from each to qualify.
The European Qualifying group involved Italy, Lebanon, Russia and Serbia while the Atlantic Qualifying group involved Jamaica, South Africa and the USA.[14] In the Atlantic Qualifiers the United States and Jamaica defeated South Africa in the opening rounds leaving the final match between the two to determine who qualified for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. United States defeated Jamaica to qualify for their first ever Rugby League World Cup.[15]
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Teams
The competition featured fourteen teams, compared to ten in 2008.[1] Originally around twenty teams were to be involved in qualification,[16] but subsequently the total number of teams involved in the tournament was fixed at nineteen. Twelve nations automatically qualified; the ten nations that contested the previous World Cup, Wales as winners of the 2009 European Nations Cup[17] and the Cook Islands as runners up in the 2009 Pacific Cup.[18]
| Team | Nickname | Coach | Captain | RLIF rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (14th appearance) |
The Kangaroos | Tim Sheens | Cameron Smith | 1 |
 Cook Islands (2nd appearance) |
The Kukis | David Fairleigh | Zeb Taia | 18 |
| England (5th appearance) |
The Wall of White | Steve McNamara | Kevin Sinfield | 3 |
 Fiji (4th appearance) |
The Bati | Rick Stone | Petero Civoniceva | 7 |
 France (14th appearance) |
Les Chanticleers | Richard Agar | Olivier Elima | 4 |
 Ireland (3rd appearance) |
The Wolfhounds | Mark Aston | Liam Finn | 9 |
 Italy (1st appearance) |
The Azzurri | Carlo Napolitano | Anthony Minichiello | 13 |
| New Zealand (14th appearance) |
The Kiwis | Stephen Kearney | Simon Mannering | 2 |
 Papua New Guinea (6th appearance) |
The Kumuls | Adrian Lam | Neville Costigan | 6 |
 Samoa (4th appearance) |
Toa Samoa | Matt Parish | Harrison Hansen | 8 |
 Scotland (3rd appearance) |
The Bravehearts | Steve McCormack | Danny Brough | 11 |
 Tonga (4th appearance) |
Mate Ma'a Tonga | Charlie Tonga | Brent Kite | 10 |
 United States (1st appearance) |
The Tomahawks | Terry Matterson | Joseph Paulo | 12 |
| Wales (4th appearance) |
The Dragons | Iestyn Harris | Craig Kopczak | 5 |
Match officials
Rules and officiating panel: Daniel Anderson, Stuart Cummings and David Waite.[19]
- Australia: Ben Cummins, Shayne Hayne, Ashley Klein and Grant Atkins.[19]
- England: Phil Bentham, Richard Silverwood, Ben Thaler; James Child, Joe Cobb, Mark Craven, Robert Hicks, Chris Leatherbarrow, Tony Martin, Tim Roby, Clint Sharrad, George Stokes, Matt Thomason and Warren Turley
- France: Thierry Alibert and Jose Pereira[20]
- New Zealand: Henry Perenara and Jamal Thompson.[19]
Pre-tournament matches
Venues
The games were played at various venues in England, Wales, Ireland, and France.
The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was the host stadium for the opening ceremony and a double header featuring hosts England playing Australia and Wales taking on Italy.[18] The decision to play England vs Australia in Cardiff to open the tournament drew criticism from some in the press who believed that the game should have been played in England where a higher attendance could be expected, or at least a full house which would have looked better than the almost half empty Millennium Stadium.[30]
Headingley in Leeds, the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington, the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham and the DW Stadium in Wigan hosted the quarter-finals. Both semi-finals were hosted at Wembley Stadium, with the final held at Old Trafford.
| London |
Manchester |
Cardiff | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wembley Stadium | Old Trafford | Millennium Stadium | |||
| Capacity: 90,000 | Capacity: 76,212 | Capacity: 74,500 | |||
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 Limerick |
Hull |
Wigan |
Huddersfield |
Leeds |
St. Helens |
| Thomond Park[31] | KC Stadium | DW Stadium | John Smith's Stadium | Headingley | Langtree Park |
| Capacity: 26,500 | Capacity: 25,586 | Capacity: 25,133 | Capacity: 24,500 | Capacity: 21,062 | Capacity: 18,000 |
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| Avignon |
Locations of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup host venues in Northern England |
Warrington | |||
| Parc des Sports | Halliwell Jones Stadium[32] | ||||
| Capacity: 17,518 | Capacity: 15,200 | ||||
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| Halifax |
Perpignan | ||||
| The Shay | Stade Gilbert Brutus | ||||
| Capacity: 14,061 | Capacity: 13,000 | ||||
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| Bristol |
Salford | ||||
| Memorial Stadium | Salford City Stadium | ||||
| Capacity: 12,100 | Capacity: 12,000 | ||||
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| Leigh |
Wrexham |
Rochdale |
Hull |
Workington |
Neath |
| Leigh Sports Village | Racecourse Ground | Spotland | Craven Park | Derwent Park[33] | The Gnoll |
| Capacity: 11,000 | Capacity: 10,500 | Capacity: 10,249 | Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: 5,000 |
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Match schedule
The match schedule was announced on 22 March 2012.[34] The Rugby League International Federation announced the kickoff times of the matches, with the opening kickoff to be held on 26 October in Cardiff, at 14:30 local time. The group stage matches will be played at 14:00, 14:30, 16:00, 16:30, 18:00, and 20:00 local time, with knockout stage matches at 13:00, 15:00, and 20:00 local time. The semi-finals will be played at 13:00 and 15:30 local time and the final, on 30 November 2013 at the Old Trafford stadium, at 14:30 local time.
Opening ceremony
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The opening ceremony took place at the Millennium Stadium on 26 October. The ceremony saw 550 dancers perform, 500 amateur and 50 professional, including former players Martin Offiah and Gareth Thomas, both of whom are former Strictly Come Dancing contestants. The ceremony also featured live music and a light show. The ceremony preceded the opening matches of England versus Australia, and Wales versus Italy.[35][36][37]
Group stage
The draw, undertaken at the launch of the event in Manchester on 30 November 2010, involved four groups[18] The first two groups were made up of four teams whilst the other two groups feature three teams each. The quarter-final round was made up of the first three teams in the first two groups and the winners of each of the smaller groups. Group play involved a round robin in the larger groups, and a round robin in the smaller groups with an additional inter-group game for each team so all teams played three group games.[18]
| Key to colours in group tables |
|---|
| Advances to knockout stage |
Group A
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26 October 2013 14:30 |
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 45,052 Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand) Player of the Match: Johnathan Thurston (Australia) |
28 October 2013 20:00 |
Spotland Stadium, Rochdale Attendance: 8,872 Referee: Phil Bentham (England) Player of the Match: Kevin Naiqama (Fiji) |
2 November 2013 14:30 |
John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield Attendance: 24,375* Referee: Thierry Alibert (France) Player of the Match: Ryan Hall (England) |
2 November 2013 20:00 |
Langtree Park, St. Helens Attendance: 14,137 Referee: Richard Silverwood (England) Player of the Match: Johnathan Thurston (Australia) |
9 November 2013 14:30 |
KC Stadium, Hull Attendance: 25,114[42] Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia) Player of the Match: Sam Burgess (England) |
9 November 2013 20:00 |
Thomond Park, Limerick Attendance: 5,021[44] Referee: Phil Bentham (England) Player of the Match: Daly Cherry-Evans |
Group B
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| Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 146 | 34 | +112 | 6 |
| Samoa |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 84 | 52 | +32 | 4 |
| France |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 78 | –63 | 2 |
| Papua New Guinea |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 103 | –81 | 0 |
27 October 2013 16:00 |
MS3 Craven Park, Hull Attendance: 7,481 Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia) Player of the Match: William Barthau (France) |
27 October 2013 18:00 |
| New Zealand |
42–24 | Samoa |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Hoffman 11' c Mannering (2) 15' c, 22' c Tuivasa-Sheck 17' m Vatuvei (3) 43' m, 49' m, 73' c Luke 45' c Goal: Johnson (5/8) 10', 15', 23', 46', 73' |
Report[46] |
Try: Roberts 39' m Leilua 52' m Manumalealii 57' m Matagi 60' c A. Winterstein 65' c Goal: Milford (2/5) 61', 65' |
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington Attendance: 14,965 Referee: Richard Silverwood (England) Player of the Match: Dean Whare (New Zealand) |
1 November 2013 20:00 |
| New Zealand |
48–0 | France |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Inu 6' c Goodwin 24' c Nu'uausala (2) 39' c, 75' c Johnson (2) 51' c, 55' c Eastwood 65' c Tuivasa-Sheck 80' c Goal: Johnson (8/8) 7', 26', 39', 51', 56', 66', 76', 80' |
Report[47] |
Parc des Sports, Avignon Attendance: 17,518 Referee: Phil Bentham (England) Player of the Match: Shaun Johnson (New Zealand) |
4 November 2013 20:00 |
MS3 Craven Park, Hull Attendance: 6,871 Referee: Shayne Hayne (Australia) Player of the Match: Anthony Milford (Samoa) |
8 November 2013 20:00 |
| New Zealand |
56–10 | Papua New Guinea |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Goodwin 4' c Tuivasa-Sheck (2) 7' c, 11' c Williams (3) 15' c, 27' c, 40' c Nu'uausala 30' m Whare (2) 50' c, 56' c Taylor 67' m Goal: Johnson (8/10) 4', 8', 12', 16', 28', 40', 51', 58' |
Report[49] |
Try: Aiye 41' c Albert 78' m Goal: Paniu (1/2) 43' |
Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds Attendance: 18,180 Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Player of the Match: Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand) |
11 November 2013 20:00 |
Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan Attendance: 11,576 Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand) Player of the Match: Anthony Milford (Samoa) |
Group C
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29 October 2013 20:00 |
Derwent Park, Workington Attendance: 7,630 Referee: Shayne Hayne (Australia) Player of the Match: Sika Manu (Tonga) |
3 November 2013 16:00 |
Derwent Park, Workington Attendance: 7,280 Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand) Player of the Match: Ray Nasso (Italy) |
Group D
| Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 64 | 58 | +6 | 4 |
| Cook Islands |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 64 | 78 | –14 | 2 |
| Wales |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 56 | 84 | –28 | 0 |
30 October 2013 20:00 |
| United States |
32–20 | Cook Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Faraimo 13' m Petersen 16' m Joseph Paulo 42' m Samoa 59' c Offerdahl 71' c Priestley 73' c Goal: Joseph Paulo (4/8) 25', 59', 74', 77' |
Report[54] |
Try: Takairangi 3' c Low 36' m Lulia 47' m Peyroux 62' c Goal: Rapana (2/4) 4', 63' |
Memorial Stadium, Bristol Attendance: 7,247 Referee: Ben Thaler (England) Player of the Match: Joseph Paulo (United States) |
3 November 2013 14:00 |
The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Attendance: 8,019 Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia) Player of the Match: Joseph Paulo (United States) |
10 November 2013 14:00 |
The Gnoll, Neath Attendance: 3,270 Referee: Richard Silverwood (England) Player of the Match: Elliot Kear (Wales) |
Inter-group matches
26 October 2013 16:30 |
| Wales |
16–32 | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Try: B. Evans 15' c Lloyd 38' c Kear 43' m Goal: White (2/3) 15', 38' |
Report[57] |
Try: Guerra (2) 9' c, 21' c Mantellato 47' m Tedesco 69' m Centrone 71' m M. Minichiello 80' c Goal: Mantellato (4/7) 9', 22', 28', 80' |
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 45,052 Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Player of the Match: Josh Mantellato (Italy) |
5 November 2013 20:00 |
Leigh Sports Village, Leigh Attendance: 10,554 Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Player of the Match: Chris Taripo (Cook Islands) |
7 November 2013 20:00 |
Salford City Stadium, Salford Attendance: 6,041 Referee: Thierry Alibert (France) Player of the Match: Matty Russell (Scotland) |
Knockout stage
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The quarter-finals followed the group stage, with three teams from each of Groups A and B and one team from each of Groups C and D qualifying.
All times listed below are in Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) for English and Welsh venues.
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
| A1 | Australia
| 62 | ||||||||||||
| D1 | United States
| 0 | ||||||||||||
| A1 | Australia
| 64 | ||||||||||||
| A3 | Fiji
| 0 | ||||||||||||
| B2 | Samoa
| 4 | ||||||||||||
| A3 | Fiji
| 22 | ||||||||||||
| A1 | Australia
| 34 | ||||||||||||
| B1 | New Zealand
| 2 | ||||||||||||
| A2 | England
| 34 | ||||||||||||
| B3 | France
| 6 | ||||||||||||
| A2 | England
| 18 | ||||||||||||
| B1 | New Zealand
| 20 | ||||||||||||
| B1 | New Zealand
| 40 | ||||||||||||
| C1 | Scotland
| 4 | ||||||||||||
Quarter-finals
15 November 2013 20:00 |
Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds Attendance: 16,207 Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia) Player of the Match: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand) |
16 November 2013 13:00 |
The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Attendance: 5,762 Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand) Player of the Match: Brett Morris |
16 November 2013 20:00 |
DW Stadium, Wigan Attendance: 22,276 Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Player of the Match: Sam Tomkins |
17 November 2013 15:00 |
| Samoa |
4–22 | Fiji |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Winterstein 58' m | Report[63] |
Try: Groom 5' c W. Naiqama 32' c Roqica 78' c Goal: W. Naiqama (5/5) 5', 8', 32', 71', 78' |
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington Attendance: 12,766 Referee: Richard Silverwood (England) Player of the Match: Aaron Groom |
Semi-finals
23 November 2013 13:00 |
| New Zealand |
20–18 | England |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Tuivasa-Sheck (2) 31' c, 44' m Johnson 80' c Goal: Johnson (4/5) 33', 38', 53' 80' |
Report[64] |
Try: O'Loughlin 16' c Watkins 58' m S. Burgess 67' c Goal: Sinfield (3/4) 17', 25', 68' |
Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 67,545 Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia) Player of the Match: Sam Burgess |
23 November 2013 15:30 |
Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 67,545 Referee: Richard Silverwood (England) Player of the Match: Johnathan Thurston |
Final
30 November 2013 14:30 |
| New Zealand |
2–34 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Goals: Shaun Johnson (1/1) 16' |
Report[66] |
Tries: Billy Slater (2) 19' c, 41' c Cooper Cronk 30' c Brett Morris (2) 52' c, 72' c Goals: Johnathan Thurston (7/7) 4', 19', 30', 35', 41', 52', 72' |
Old Trafford, Manchester Attendance: 74,468[67] Referee: Richard Silverwood (England) Player of the Match: Johnathan Thurston (Australia) |
Try scorers
- 9 tries
- 8 tries
- 5 tries
- 4 tries
- 3 tries
- 2 tries
Greg Bird- Daly Cherry-Evans
- Andrew Fifita
- Greg Inglis
- Josh Papalii
- Johnathan Thurston
Dominique Peyroux
Tom Briscoe- Sam Burgess
- Sean O'Loughlin
- Kallum Watkins
Chris Centrone- Aidan Guerra
- Ray Nasso
Simon Mannering- Frank-Paul Nu'uausala
- Dean Whare
Suaia Matagi- Ben Roberts
- Pita Godinet
Alex Hurst- Ben Hellewell
Glen Fisiiahi- Sika Manu
- Willie Manu
Clint Newton- Joseph Paulo
- Matt Petersen
- Tui Samoa
Rhodri Lloyd
- 1 try
- Michael Jennings
- Luke Lewis
- Josh Morris
- Cameron Smith
- Daniel Fepuleai
- Jonathan Ford
- Isaac John
- Drury Low
- Keith Lulia
- Lulia Lulia
- Brad Takairangi
- George Burgess
- Rob Burrow
- Rangi Chase
- Leroy Cudjoe
- Ben Westwood
Thomas Bosc- Vincent Duport
- Morgan Escare
Aaron Groom- Kevin Naiqama
- Wes Naiqama
- Semi Radradra
- Vitale Junior Roqica
- Korbin Sims
- Tariq Sims
- Eloni Vunakece
Damien Blanch- James Hasson
- Tyrone McCarthy
- Cameron Ciraldo
- Josh Mantellato
- Anthony Minichiello
- Mark Minichiello
- James Tedesco
- Jesse Bromwich
- Greg Eastwood
- Josh Hoffman
- Krisnan Inu
- Isaac Luke
- Frank Pritchard
- Elijah Taylor
Josiah Abavu- Dion Aiye
- Wellington Albert
- Nene MacDonald
- Jessie Joe Parker
- Joseph Leilua
- Penani Manumeasili
- Anthony Milford
- Junior Moors
- Sauaso Sue
- Daniel Vidot
- Danny Addy
- Brett Carter
- Luke Douglas
- Ben Fisher
- Kane Linnett
- Brett Phillips
- Daniel Foster
- Konrad Hurrell
- Nafe Seluini
- Jorge Taufua
- Jason Taumalolo
- Peni Terepo
- Bureta Faraimo
- Kristian Freed
- Mark Offerdahl
- Craig Priestley
- Taylor Welch
- Ben Evans
- Elliot Kear
- Lloyd White
- Rob Massam
- Anthony Walker
Attendances
Seven grounds achieved sell-out crowds, with four setting stadium records. Games held in both Wales and Ireland were watched by the biggest crowds ever for rugby league internationals in those countries.[68] The final was played in front of the largest crowd ever to attend an international rugby league fixture.[69]
Broadcasting
| Country | Channel televising all matches |
|---|---|
| Australia |
7mate[71] |
| France |
beIN Sport[72] |
| Ireland |
Setanta Sports 1[73] |
| North Africa and the Middle East | OSN[74] |
| New Zealand |
Sky Sport[75] |
| Papua New Guinea |
EM TV[76] |
 United Kingdom |
Premier Sports* |
* The BBC and Premier Sports jointly televised seven live matches with the remaining 21 live matches exclusive to Premier Sports. The jointly live matches were England's Group A matches (BBC One),[77][78][79] an inter-group match between Wales and Italy[80] and a quarter-final[81] (both on BBC Two), a semi-final[82] and the final[83] (both on BBC One). The jointly televised quarter-final and semi-final involved England.