2008 Festival of World Cups

The 2008 Festival of World Cups was a series of rugby league world cupss held in Australia during 2008. The festival was staged in concurrence with the 2008 Men's Rugby League World Cup also in Australia and coincided with the centenary of rugby league celebrations in Australia.[1][2]

2008 (2008) Festival of World Cups  ()
Festival of World Cups logo
Host country Australia
2013 > 

The festival contained world cups for Student, Police, Women, Defence and Wheelchair teams.[2] The Universities tournament officially started the Festival in July ahead of the remaining competitions in October.[1]

Colin Love, the Rugby League World Cup 2008 Tournament Director and RLIF Chairman, stated "The festival highlights how the World Cup is embracing the Rugby League community and acknowledging its wide-ranging affiliates", adding "It’s a great opportunity to showcase the broad appeal of the game internationally".[2]

Festival schedule

The Festival of World Cups included:

Event[2] Dates[2] Areas/Venues[2] Winner
University4 July - 19 July 2008Griffith University and other Brisbane venues; Langlands Park (Final)Australia
Men25 October - 22 November 2008Twelve venues across four Australian states; Suncorp Stadium (Final)New Zealand
Police2 November - 15 November 2008Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast; Suncorp Stadium (Final)Fiji
Women2 November - 15 November 2008Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast; Suncorp Stadium (Final)New Zealand
Defence5 November - 16 November 2008Penrith, Townsville; Sydney Football Stadium (Final)Great Britain
Wheelchair7 November - 17 November 2008Sydney metropolitan areaEngland

University

The seventh University Rugby League World Cup was held in July, being the first of the six world cups to be held. The previous tournament was held in 2005 and won by New Zealand. The eight countries that took part were Australia, New Zealand, England, Greece, Scotland, Wales, France and Ireland.[3] Australia defeated England in the final, while Greece won the plate competition.

19 July 2008
Australian Universities 26 - 16 England Students

Men
Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup

The thirteenth Rugby League World Cup was held throughout October and November. Ten teams took part. Defending Champions and hosts Australia, New Zealand, England, France and Papua New Guinea all qualified automatically, while Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Ireland and Scotland all qualified through tournaments in 2006 and 2007. The final was held at Suncorp Stadium on 22 November.

22 November 2008
New Zealand 34 - 20 Australia

Police

The inaugural International Police Rugby League World Cup was held during November alongside the Women's Rugby League World Cup at Stockland Park. [4] The final was held as a curtain raiser to the first semi-final of the men's World Cup at Suncorp Stadium. AMP sponsored the event with organisers hoping would go towards the formation of an International Police Rugby League Federation.[5]

Group stage
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
New Zealand 340012036+848
Fiji 330117050+1206
Australia 32028076+44
Great Britain 310342126-842
Papua New Guinea 400440164-1240

Source:[6]

3rd/4th play-off
15 November 2008
Australia 22 - 2 Great Britain
Final
15 November 2008
Fiji Police 20 - 12 New Zealand Police

Women

The third Women's Rugby League World Cup was held at Stockland Park alongside the Police World Cup.[7] Eight teams took part including defending champions New Zealand.[8] The final was held at Suncorp Stadium on 15 November.[9]

15 November 2008
Australia 0 - 34 New Zealand
Report

Defence

The inaugural Defence Forces World Cup was held in Sydney with the final played at the Sydney Football Stadium as a curtain raiser to the second Semi Final of the Men's tournament. Five defence forces took part, New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands.[10][11]

Group stage
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
Great Britain 340019668+1288
Australia 330111063+476
New Zealand 320215380+734
Cook Islands 3103106128-222
Papua New Guinea 400422248-2260

Source:[6]

3rd/4th play-off
15 November 2008
New Zealand 32 - 10 Cook Islands
Final
16 November 2008
Australian Defence Forces 16 - 26 Great Britain Armed Forces
Report

Wheelchair
2008 (2008) Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup  ()
Number of teams4
Host country Australia
Tournaments
2013 > 

Four teams took part in the inaugural Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup which was held at indoor venues in Sydney. The four teams were France, Australia, England and a Barbarians V. New Zealand withdrew from the tournament.[12][13]

Group stage
Group stage
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
England 330013448+866
France 320117040+1304
Australia 310212878+502
Barbarians 30034270–2660
Results
7 November: Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen
England 34 – 26 Australia
Barbarians 0 – 108 France
10 November: Betts Stadium, Mount Druitt
England 74 – 4 Barbarians
Australia 14 – 44 France
12 November: Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen
Australia 88 – 0 Barbarians
France 18 – 26 England

Source:[6]

Finals
Semi-finals Final
      
1 England 66
4 Barbarians 0
England 44
Australia 12
3 Australia 22
2 France 20 3rd/4th play-off
France 52
Barbarians 0

Source:[6]

17 November 2008[14]
England 44 – 12 Australia
Report
Betts Stadium, Mount Druitt, Sydney

References
  1. "Universities World Cup Opened". Rugby League International Federation. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
  2. "Festival of World Cups Schedule". Rugby League International Federation. 8 May 2008. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
  3. 2008 Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup Archived 28 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine @ 2008 University Student Rugby League World Cup.
  4. Qld to Host Police World Cup Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine @ Queensland Police Service Rugby League
  5. AMP Sign up as World Cup Sponsors Archived 13 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine @ Queensland Police Service Rugby League
  6. "Results: 2008". RLEF. Archived from the original on 24 July 2009.
  7. Womens and Police Rugby League World Cup Sunshine Coast Events
  8. England Women’s Rugby League World Cup squad announced England RL
  9. Kiwi Ferns and NZ Police progress RLWC08, 14 November 2008
  10. Anzac clash first up in Defence League world cup @ NZDF, 7 November 2008
  11. Semi Final Warm Up Games @ RLWC08, 14 November 2008
  12. Wheelchair Rugby League tournament Archived 12 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine @ RLWC08, 8 November 2008
  13. Weelchair RLWC @ RLWC08, 14 November 2008
  14. "England Wheelchair Rugby League win the World Cup". Sport Focus. 17 November 2008. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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