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World 9s 2019

Springs09

Juniors
Messages
1,903
http://rlif.com/article/8543/rlif-w...ptrxcaEB0N45Cd6ez9mjXA3ji5NaWZHaCRFNFicE0mTZ4

The NRL and the RLIF have announced that the Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s Sydney 2019 will be staged featuring 12 nations playing over the course of two days at the new Western Sydney Stadium next October.

The tournament will be held on Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19, 2019, and will feature men’s and women’s tournaments.

Twelve teams in the men’s competition and four teams in the women’s tournament will compete across 28 matches and 12 hours of action.

The Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s Sydney 2019 was officially launched today by NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events, the Hon Adam Marshall, NSW Minister for Sport, WestConnex and Western Sydney, the Hon Stuart Ayres, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and RLIF CEO Nigel Wood at Western Sydney Stadium.

“The Nines concept has been a great success and this is the obvious next step – Nines at international level,” NRL CEO Todd Greenberg.

“The best players in the world will be on show in this unique concept over the course of two days at the brand new Western Sydney Stadium. This will be the typical fast-paced and free-flowing action which the Nines brings but with the added international flavour.

“The whole week will be a celebration of Rugby League in western Sydney, with a number of community initiatives planned.

“The benefits for the game are enormous. It will be an exciting and innovative tournament for our fans and it will also help to develop international Rugby League.

“It will be a fantastic way to showcase the game and I’d like to thank the NSW Government and Destination NSW for their support, as well as to the RLIF for their strong belief in this concept.”

The NRL will work with the RLIF on the finalisation of the participating nations for the tournament.

Mr Greenberg also acknowledged Downer, naming rights partners for the tournament, having previously been supporters of the NRL Nines concept as well as Kangaroos-Kiwis Test matches.

The NRL has also announced that Fox Sports would be the official broadcast partner of the Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s Sydney 2019. Fox Sports will broadcast every men’s and women’s match live nationally across the two days of competition.

RLIF CEO Nigel Wood said Sydney would be a fantastic location for the World Cup 9s concept to be showcased.

“The shorter form of Rugby League provides us with an exceptional competition to attract new fans, players and commercial partners to the sport across the world whilst appealing to our current supporter base and partners who love the speed and excitement of Nines,” Mr Wood said.

“The RLIF has the mission to showcase rugby league to the widest audience possible and through initiatives such as this, we are supporting that mission."

Kangaroos Coach Mal Meninga said the event would be an important concept to grow the game globally.

“I have no doubt that World Cup 9s will be a great way to expand the game at an international level,” Mr Meninga said. “I’m a real advocate for this concept based on what it can do for the international game.”

Mr Marshall said: “I am thrilled that Sydney will be the first city in the world to host the Rugby League World Cup 9s, which is expected to attract more than 13,300 overnight visitors to Sydney, injecting approximately $11 million into the NSW economy.”

Mr Ayres said: “NSW is the home of Rugby League in Australia and Western Sydney Stadium will provide the best sporting experience for fans anywhere in the country, making it the perfect location to host this event.

The Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s Sydney 2019 has been secured for Sydney by the New South Wales Government.
 

Springs09

Juniors
Messages
1,903
- Good to see they have announced dates + venue early. Disappointing to see only 12 mens and 4 womens teams.
- Good to see the NSW government putting effort into hosting RL events again
- 13,300 overnight visitors, what an oddly specific number.
 

Burns

First Grade
Messages
6,037
Teams?

Australia, New Zealand, England, Tonga, PNG, Samoa, Fiji

Which European ones? France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland?

Jamacia would be great. The likes of the United States, Serbia, Canada would also be good.

I can see their being a Maori and Indigenous team.
 

Burns

First Grade
Messages
6,037
All the money goes towards the RLIF right? Fox are paying to broadcast the games?
 

miguel de cervantes

First Grade
Messages
7,468
Should be awesome. Especially since the playing field should be a lot more level than as for 13s, which is the main detractor for the international game.

12 teams is enough for a first edition - costs and everything. Perhaps two more womens' teams would be better. Not sure who will be the 4th womens team. Hopefully Canada again.
 

jim_57

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
4,290
12 is ok for a start.

Aus, NZ, Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Tonga, England, France, Wales and Lebanon would all be there you'd imagine. Are there going to be qualifiers or will it just be a matter of picking the 12 from those who volunteer?

Could be a good platform for PNG, Fiji, France, Wales etc to show off show some young local talent.
 

Springs09

Juniors
Messages
1,903
Should be awesome. Especially since the playing field should be a lot more level than as for 13s, which is the main detractor for the international game.

12 teams is enough for a first edition - costs and everything. Perhaps two more womens' teams would be better. Not sure who will be the 4th womens team. Hopefully Canada again.

Samoa were runners-up at this years Commonwealth Games 9s. They better at least have a chance to qualify.

I can see the teams being Australia, NZ, England, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, PNG, Cook Islands, France, Wales, Lebanon and Jamaica or Italy.

Ireland, Scotland and Italy have RLWC qualifiers on, but Italy could probably put forth a team made up of Australian-based players that won't attend the qualifiers. USA will as well. Cook Islands will but as they will be drawn solely from Australian comps the costs will be lower.

They might have already but I would have preferred to see them extend invitations to see if some of the smaller countries could attend. 20 mens and 8 womens would have been more attractive.

It's the one opportunity we get to have a big number of teams on the one stage - see teams like Serbia, Canada, Russia, Spain, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Norway, Philippines, Vanuatu, Chile, South Africa etc. on the same stage as tier 1 nations.
 

Stallion

First Grade
Messages
7,467
So dissappointing that this is only shown on pay tv! It should be simulcast at least! It's basically limiting the audience to a third of potential viewers. A very poor outcome for : the general public and creating a greater awareness for international rugby league.. But happy with the timing and choice of venue. Hope the ticket prices are reasonable!
 
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Pommy

Coach
Messages
14,657
Teams?

Australia, New Zealand, England, Tonga, PNG, Samoa, Fiji

Which European ones? France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland?

Jamacia would be great. The likes of the United States, Serbia, Canada would also be good.

I can see their being a Maori and Indigenous team.

It’s an RLIF event so non national sides seems unlikely.
 

roughyedspud

Coach
Messages
12,181
It'll be the top 12 RLIF ranked teams..

So,after moment,that's

Australia
Nz
England
Tonga
Fiji
Samoa
Scotland
France
Lebanon
PNG
Ireland
Wales..

So no USA,Canada,Jamaica,Serbia,Russia,cooks, south Africa etc..

We should have atleast gone to 16 teams to mirror the RLWC
 

Springs09

Juniors
Messages
1,903
It'll be the top 12 RLIF ranked teams..

So,after moment,that's

Australia
Nz
England
Tonga
Fiji
Samoa
Scotland
France
Lebanon
PNG
Ireland
Wales..

So no USA,Canada,Jamaica,Serbia,Russia,cooks, south Africa etc..

We should have atleast gone to 16 teams to mirror the RLWC

Has there been anything that has said this?

It would be odd to base it purely on rankings from the full 13s game.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
65,411
Great stuff, would have been good to have 16 teams but its a start. I reckon Ill fly over for it, great chance to visit the new WSS.
 

titoelcolombiano

First Grade
Messages
5,276
Since there doesn't appear there will be qualifiers, we should firstly, ensure a mix of nations that will be good for the spectacle and nations have the best domestic structures in place, the ones doing the most to spread the game:

Australia
England
New Zealand
France
PNG
Wales
Ireland
USA
Lebanon
Fiji
Tonga
Samoa

I would like to see some structure put around the 9's moving forward too, otherwise it will just be nations cobbling together teams once every 4 years like the way the 13's world cup was not too long ago. I've always thought that an annual circuit should eventually grow from this that has its own contracted players (i.e. non NRL or SL players) so that 9's is played all RL season in different cities exactly as RU 7's is. Recently retired starts like Thurston, Slater etc should play to give it some X factor and put bums on seats to play alongside up and coming juniors and fringe domestic players.

PNG - National Football Stadium
Townsville - NQ Stadium
Brisbane - Dolphin Oval (Suncorp is a little overkill while the concept is in its infancy)
Newcastle
Sydney - WSS
Auckland - Mt Smart
Wigan - DW
Leeds - Headingly Carnegie
Perpignan - Gilbert Brutus

Heartlands to start with, stick with it and let it grow.
 

miguel de cervantes

First Grade
Messages
7,468
Good idea ^^^. For once in their life, RLIF should think about the flow on effects for the participating nations for once rather than just $$$. Having Serbia, Jamaica, Canada etc there instead of Australia-NRL_Lebanon/Italy is so, so, so much more beneficial to the game back in these countries.
 

Coastbloke

Bench
Messages
4,051
Tito, I notice in your post you have Dolphin Oval instead of Suncorp because of possible overkill in the tournament's infancy. As a compromise, what do you think of Gold Coast Stadium instead? A weekend of International 9s in mid october on QLD's holiday strips sounds sensational. Maybe a free music night on the Saturday at Broadbeach like their free Blues festival. What a weekend..!! :open_mouth:
 

Pommy

Coach
Messages
14,657
Good idea ^^^. For once in their life, RLIF should think about the flow on effects for the participating nations for once rather than just $$$. Having Serbia, Jamaica, Canada etc there instead of Australia-NRL_Lebanon/Italy is so, so, so much more beneficial to the game back in these countries.

Depends which Jamaica side plays is an Australia Italy any worse than and English Jamaica?
 

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