RLWC Guide
Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea will play hosts for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
(Photo Cameron Spencer/GettyImages)
Nations:
Australia
New Zealand
England
Scotland
Samoa
France
Ireland
Fiji
Wales
United States
Tonga
Italy
Papua New Guinea
Lebanon
Pools:
The nations’ current RLIF rankings are in parentheses.
Pool A: Australia (1), England (3), France (6), Lebanon (21)
Pool B: New Zealand (2), Scotland (4), Tonga (11), Samoa (5)
Pool C: PNG (15), Wales (9), Ireland (7)
Pool D: Fiji (8), USA (10), Italy (14)
Eligibility Rule:
In September 2016, the Rugby League International Federation introduced new rules regarding eligibility for international matches.
The major rule for our purposes is that players who are eligible for both a top-tier nation and a developing nation can represent the latter without it harming their future prospects for the former.
The most famous example of this would be Anthony Milford. If he is not selected to represent Australia, the new rules allow him to play for Samoa without it having any bearing on Milford’s future prospects for Queensland or Australia.
In short, it means more of the NRL’s best players are set to appear in the upcoming tournament, which has to be a positive for both the game and fans.
Venues:
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
NEW ZEALAND
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch
AUSTRALIA
Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Melbourne Rectangle Stadium, Melbourne
Townsville Stadium, Townsville
Barlow Park, Cairns
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Perth Rectangle Stadium
Darwin Stadium, Darwin
Official Television Broadcast Partners:
Seven Network, Australia
Sky Sports, New Zealand
BBC Sports, United Kingdom
BeIN Sport
RLWC Draw:
Friday, October 27
Australia v England at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, 8pm
Saturday, October 28
Papua New Guinea v Wales at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, 4pm
New Zealand v Samoa at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 6.10pm
Fiji v USA at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 8.40pm
Sunday, October 29
Ireland v Italy at Barlow Park, Cairns, 3pm
France v Lebanon at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 4pm
Scotland v Tonga at Barlow Park, Cairns, 5.15pm
Friday, November 3
Australia v France at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 8pm
Saturday, November 4
New Zealand v Scotland at Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, 3pm
Samoa v Tonga at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 5.30pm
England v Lebanon at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, 8pm
Sunday, November 5
Papua New Guinea v Ireland at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, 5pm
Italy v USA at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 5pm
Fiji v Wales at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 7.30pm
Friday, November 10
Fiji v Italy at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 7.40pm
Saturday, November 11
New Zealand v Tonga at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 3pm
Samoa v Scotland at Barlow Park, Cairns, 6pm
Australia v Lebanon at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, 8pm
Sunday, November 12
Papua New Guinea v USA at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, 4pm
Wales v Ireland at Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, 5.30pm
England v France at Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, 8pm
Friday, November 17
First quarter final at Darwin Stadium, Darwin, 8pm
Saturday, November 18
Second quarter final at Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, 3pm
Third quarter final at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, 5.30pm
Sunday, November 19
Fourth quarter final at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, 4pm
Friday, November 24
First semi final at Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, 8pm
Saturday, November 25
Second semi final at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 4pm
Saturday, December 2
Final at Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, 8pm
(**Please note; Times displayed are AEDT**)
Tickets:
