World Cup 2017 in Aus/NZ + Fiji/Samoa Test

[miguel de cervantes]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/article-2562726/Australia-New-Zealand-host-2017-Rugby-League-World-Cup.html?ico=sport^headlines

Australia and New Zealand to co-host 2017 Rugby League World Cup

By Ian Laybourn, Press Association
PUBLISHED: 07:48 GMT, 19 February 2014 | UPDATED: 08:06 GMT, 19 February



Australia and New Zealand have been announced as co-hosts for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
The Rugby League International Federation opted to play it safe in awarding the 15th competition to two of the 'big three' ahead of South Africa, the only other bid on the table.

Chairman of the bid committee and RLIF vice-chairman Nigel Wood said: 'This was not a simple decision but with fans of international rugby league buoyed by the recent success of RLWC2013, we were determined to get it right.

+2

Award: Australia, who won the Rugby League World Cup last year, will host the tournament in 2017


'Both bids were thoroughly compelling but the joint Australia/New Zealand bid was selected as the one with the greatest chance of success in providing more compelling games in world class environments in front of big, passionate crowds.'
It will be the third time the two southern hemisphere rivals have staged the event together, after they were co-hosts in 1968 and 1977.
South Africa, who entered a team in the 1995 and 2008 World Cups, have only a fledging domestic game but argued they could help spread the game internationally and believed, as hosts, they would have been granted government recognition.
'The bid from South Africa was very strong, prepared professionally and clearly demonstrated a passion for rugby league that is growing by the day in that country,' Wood said.

+2

Co-hosts: New Zealand will join forces with Australia


Australia successfully staged the 2008 World Cup, managing to generate good crowds and a profit of around £2million which was ploughed back into the international game, but that was topped in 2013 by the effort organised by England and Wales.
A total of 457,483 fans watched the 28 matches in 2013, with sell-outs from Rochdale to Avignon and Halifax to Old Trafford, where the attendance of 74,468 for the final set a new record for international rugby league.
Wednesday’s announcement means the England team could be travelling to the southern hemisphere three times in the next four years.
Australia and New Zealand are due to co-host the 2014 Four Nations Series and there are plans to bring back the British and Irish Lions tour in 2016.
The RLIF is expected to announce details of the Four Nations tournament shortly.
Meanwhile, the NRL has announced that the Sydney Football Stadium will host the 2014 Anzac Test on Friday, May 2.
It will be the first time the Kangaroos have played the Kiwis in Sydney since the 2008 World Cup and their first outing since regaining the trophy at Old Trafford in November.
'Together with New Zealand we will stage a World Cup that will capture the imagination of fans and leave a lasting legacy for the sport,' said NRL chief executive Dave Smith.
'It's such an exciting time for the international game and members and fans across Australia and New Zealand now have a special opportunity to be part of it.
'There are unrivalled opportunities to continue growing international rugby league over the next four years and for the Kangaroos that starts with the Sydney Test against New Zealand in May.'
The NRL has also announced the Pacific Test between Fiji and Samoa will be held at at Penrith on Saturday, May 3, with the winners earning a place in the end-of-season Four Nations Series.

 

[man2iel_]

Great news! I look forward to attending. I would have liked South Africa to get it if only to help the plight of the game abroad. I believe South Africa, a proud rugby nation, has limitless potential as a rugby league playing nation. If they won the bid it would have been the injection the code in South Africa needed.

 

[Diesel]

After the last two successful WC's, I wouldn't be surprised if SA got a shot in 2021/25

 

[man2iel_]

After the last two successful WC's, I wouldn't be surprised if SA got a shot in 2021/25

I'd like to think so.

 

[Foreign Legion]

Didn't south Africa play in 2000 and not 2008?

 

[yakstorm]

One thing that was mentioned in the NZRL release, but seems to have not gotten much coverage everywhere else was this line:

The hosting proposal included games in Papua New Guinea, with the possibility of further fixtures staged in other Pacific Islands.

 

[Heritage XIII]

South Africa were too quite in the whole bidding process. It would have been good to know if they had sponsors, stadium/town bids etc but all was quite. You couldn't give them the rights based on promises.

 

[Usain Bolt]

I'm guessing Eden Park will host a semi and Suncorp/ANZ will host the other? Final will probably be at Suncorp/ANZ as well

 

[PARRA_FAN]

No surprise really. As much we like to see a different country host a WC, I just think it was too early for South Africa to host it in 3 years time.

We don't hear a lot in terms of Rugby League over there so 3 years preparation is probably not enough.

Maybe in 2021 or 2025.

Good to see Australia and New Zealand as co hosts.

As for the final, I wouldn't be surprised if Auckland decides to bid for the final.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Didn't south Africa play in 2000 and not 2008?

Yes 1995 and 2000 automatically picked.

Unlike, 2008 and 2013 where they had to play qualifying matches.

 

[Springs]

I'd rather NZ host the final.

Have either 2 quarters in each and 1 semi in each, or 3 quarters in Australia with 1 semi in each.

Also I'd keep the scheduling open. No use having New Zealand play a semi against England in Brisbane while Australia plays whoever in Auckland.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Meanwhile, the NRL has announced that the Sydney Football Stadium will host the 2014 Anzac Test on Friday, May 2.
It will be the first time the Kangaroos have played the Kiwis in Sydney since the 2008 World Cup and their first outing since regaining the trophy at Old Trafford in November.
'Together with New Zealand we will stage a World Cup that will capture the imagination of fans and leave a lasting legacy for the sport,' said NRL chief executive Dave Smith.
'It's such an exciting time for the international game and members and fans across Australia and New Zealand now have a special opportunity to be part of it.
'There are unrivalled opportunities to continue growing international rugby league over the next four years and for the Kangaroos that starts with the Sydney Test against New Zealand in May.'
The NRL has also announced the Pacific Test between Fiji and Samoa will be held at at Penrith on Saturday, May 3, with the winners earning a place in the end-of-season Four Nations Series.

First Sydney test in I think 4 years and theres more to come at the end of the year.

Also good to see that one off test actually has a bit more meaning to it. A place in the 4 nations.

Should be a good one. The last clash was an exciting match at Hull.

 

[hutch]

No mention of tonga and png?

 

[deluded pom?]

Now that it's been confirmed, the NZRL and the ARL should be touting the games out to tender to the highest bidders. The earlier we can resolve who is playing in the WC (please no wholesale automatics) the sooner the organisers can get on with their job and hopefully deliver another successful WC.

 

[byrner]

It would also be good to know where the next WC willbe prior to the previous being completed.
This would allow smaller bidders more time to organise sponsors etc.

In reality this was probably the only way they could have gone. Although SA would have been great for us dreamers, they need to followup with a third successful profit making WC.

 

[georgesnmith]

the last WC here was quite a good event, laying the platform to go forward.

with david smith now running the game in a more strategic fashion and with the money in the game now 2017 will be the best ever.

i like the idea of PNG getting games as well as potentially the rest of the pacific.

have tonga or samoa ever had RUWC games held there?

the final should be at ANZ stadium lets back our marketing to sell it out

one semi in NZ the other brisbane or Melbourne.

we can use club grounds for the smaller nations whilst england, nz, australia should be at the larger grounds.

with a dedicated program of internationals together with a cashed up ARLC we could easily supplant union in places like samoa, fiji and tonga.

 

[roughyedspud]

bit of a balls up in the article...


the GB tour down under is in 2015...not 2016....the 4nation is up here in 2016

 

[Bronco Rob]

Its a real shame that the Fiji vs Samoa game is not being played in Suva. Imagine the response this game would get there and with the problems the Fijian RU are having it would have been a timely boost for RL in Fiji. I don't know who made the decision to play it in Western Sydney but again another example of our short-sightedness as a sport.

 

[stormbati]

Not sure why Fiji has to play a qualifying match. The last 2 world cups they've finished semi finalists but neither time they qualify automatically.

 

[Rodney]

Not sure why Fiji has to play a qualifying match. The last 2 world cups they've finished semi finalists but neither time they qualify automatically.

I'm pretty sure every 4 nations now has a qualifier.
the English one has the European cup and the Australasian used to have the pacific cup.