Wikipedia

2000 Rugby League World Cup

The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup. It was held in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, and took place between 28 October and 25 November 2000. Sixteen national teams competed in four groups of four, playing each other once over three weekly rounds before a series of play-offs that culminated in the final between Australia and New Zealand. Tournament favourites Australia defeated New Zealand in the final, claiming their sixth consecutive and ninth total Rugby League World Cup title. Australian winger Wendell Sailor was named player of the tournament.

2000 (2000) Rugby League World Cup  ()
2000 World Cup logo
Number of teams16
Host countries England
 France
 Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales
Winner Australia (9th title)
Matches played31
Attendance263,921 (8,514 per match)
Top scorerAustralia Mat Rogers (70)
Top try scorerAustralia Wendell Sailor (10)
Tournaments
 < 1995
2008 > 

Summary edit

Building on the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, it was decided to expand the format further, with the number of teams rising from 10 to 16. As before, an Emerging Nations Tournament was held alongside the main event.

The millennium World Cup attracted a record sponsorship of over £1 million from Lincoln Financial Group, who had also sponsored Great Britain's Tests against New Zealand the previous autumn.[1]

The 2000 World Cup was not considered a great success.[citation needed] There were too many mismatches in the early stages, and some of the teams lacked credibility. Notably the inclusion of a side representing New Zealand's Māori population, Aotearoa Māori, alongside the full New Zealand team, and a Lebanon side consisting entirely of Australians of Lebanese origin, led to derisory comments in the media.[2] The tournament's organisers also attracted criticism regarding marketing and ticketing. For these reasons crowds at the tournament were low; also torrential rainstorms and the crisis on Britain's railways following the Hatfield rail crash did not help encourage spectators.[citation needed]

There were however some positives: the tournament returned a profit of more than £2 million despite the small crowds it attracted;[3] the French performed creditably, and attendance for the games held in France was encouraging. The much-derided Lebanon team also proved the catalyst for domestic competition in that country.

On the competition side of things, favourites Australia[4] and New Zealand cut a swathe through the tournament, with several dominant performances setting up an obvious final clash. New Zealand's 49–6 semi-final dispatch of England, coupled with Australia only hitting the lead in their semi-final against Wales with 23 minutes remaining, had New Zealand installed as favourites in some quarters. However, it was Australia who prevailed in a tense, absorbing finale. Australia only led 18–12 with 15 minutes remaining, but a glut of possession saw them finish strongly – scoring four late tries to give the appearance of an easy victory.

Qualifying edit

See also: 2000 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

Six countries – Lebanon, the United States, Morocco, Canada, Italy and Japan – competed for one available place in the tournament. Lebanon defeated the United States 62–8 in the final play-off match.

Teams edit

Further information: 2000 Rugby League World Cup squads

The 2000 World Cup tournament features 16 teams:

Venues edit

The games were played at various venues in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France.

The Twickenham Stadium in London, the home of the English rugby union was the host stadium for the opening ceremony and match featuring hosts England and defending champions Australia.[5]

  London   Cardiff   Trafford   Toulouse   Bolton
Twickenham Stadium Millennium Stadium Old Trafford
(Venue of Final) 		Stadium de Toulouse Reebok Stadium
Capacity: 75,000 Capacity: 74,500 Capacity: 56,000 Capacity: 37,000 Capacity: 28,723
         
  Huddersfield
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Locations of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup host venues in the United Kingdom
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Locations of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup host venues in the Republic of Ireland
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Locations of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup host venues in France
   Reading
McAlpine Stadium Madejski Stadium
Capacity: 24,500 Capacity: 24,161
   
  Leeds   Watford
Headingley Vicarage Road
Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 21,577
   
  Paris   Edinburgh
Stade Sébastien Charléty Tynecastle Stadium
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 17,529
   
  St. Helens   Belfast
Knowsley Road Windsor Park
Capacity: 17,500 Capacity: 17,000
   
  Gloucester   Widnes
Kingsholm Stadium Autoquest Stadium
Capacity: 16,500 Capacity: 13,350
   
  Albi   Hull
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Craven Park
Capacity: 13,058 Capacity: 12,000
   
  Gateshead   Castleford
Gateshead International Stadium Wheldon Road
Capacity: 11,800 Capacity: 11,743
   
  Llanelli   Wrexham
Stradey Park Racecourse Ground
Capacity: 10,800 Capacity: 10,771
   
  Hull   Glasgow   Workington   Carcassonne   Dublin
The Boulevard Firhill Stadium Derwent Park Stade Albert Domec Tolka Park
Capacity: 10,500 Capacity: 10,102 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 9,680
         

Group stage edit

Group A edit

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   Australia 3 3 0 0 198 14 +184 6 Advance to knockout stage
2   England 3 2 0 1 144 36 +108 4
3   Fiji 3 1 0 2 56 144 −88 2
4   Russia 3 0 0 3 20 224 −204 0
Source: Rugby League Project
28 October 2000
18:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
England   2–22   Australia
Goals: Farrell (1/1)
 Summary
 Tries: Sailor (2), Gidley, MacDougall
Goals: Rogers (3/4)
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 33,758
Referee: David Pakieto (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: Brett Kimmorley (Australia)
29 October 2000
Fiji   38–12   Russia
Try: Vunivalu (3),
Tuqiri (2),
Kuraduadua,
Sovatabua
Con: Tuqiri (5/7) 		Summary
 Try: Rullis,
Ilyasov
Con: Zhiltsov (1/1)
Mitrofanov (1/1)
Craven Park, Hull
Attendance: 2,187[6]
Referee: Russell Smith
1 November 2000
Australia   66–8   Fiji
Try: Rogers (4),
Girdler (2),
Kennedy (2),
Hindmarsh,
Barrett,
MacDougall,
Gidley
Con: Rogers (9/12) 		Summary
 Try: Cakacaka (m),
Tuqiri (m)
Con: ? (0/2)
Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead
Attendance: 4,197[7]
Referee: Robert Connolly
1 November 2000
England  76–4  Russia
Try: Sinfield (3),
Jamie Peacock (2),
Long (2),
Rowley (2),
Walker,
Stephenson,
Hay,
Deacon,
Pryce
Con: Farrell (5),
Long (5)		SummaryPen: Mitrofanov (2)
Knowsley Road, St Helens
Attendance: 5,736
Referee: Bill Shrimpton
4 November 2000
England  66–10  Fiji
Try: Jamie Peacock (3),
Wellens (2),
Rogers (2),
Naylor,
Hay,
Radlinski,
Smith,
Farrell
Con: Farrell (9/12)		SummaryTry: Tuqiri (m),
Navale (c),
Con: Vunivalu (1/2)
Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 10,052
Referee: Thierry Alibert
4 November 2000
Australia  110–4  Russia
Try: Sailor (4),
Girdler (3),
Croker (2),
Hindmarsh (2),
Barrett (2),
Johns,
Tallis,
Fletcher,
Webcke,
MacDougall,
Gidley
Con: Girdler (17/19)		SummaryTry: Matt Donovan
Con: Mikhail Mitrofanov (0/2)
The Boulevard, Hull
Attendance: 3,044
Referee: Stuart Cummings

Group B edit

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   New Zealand 3 3 0 0 206 28 +178 6 Advance to knockout stage
2   Wales 3 2 0 1 80 86 −6 4
3   Lebanon 3 0 1 2 44 110 −66 1
4   Cook Islands 3 0 1 2 38 144 −106 1
Source: Rugby League Project
29 October 2000
New Zealand   64–0   Lebanon
Try: Jones (2),
Carroll (2),
Vainikolo (2),
Talau (2),
Barnett (2),
Swain,
Jellick
Con: Jones (6),
Paul (2)
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Attendance: 2,496[8]
Referee: Bill Harrigan
29 October 2000
Wales   38–6   Cook Islands
Try: Tassell (3),
Jenkins,
Briers,
Cunningham
Con: Harris (6/6)
Pen.: Harris (1/1) 		Try: Temata
Con: Piakura (1/1)
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Attendance: 5,016[9]
Referee: Thierry Alibert
2 November 2000
New Zealand  84–10  Cook Islands
Try: Vaealiki (2),
Paul (2),
Barnett (2),
Lavea (2),
Lauiti'iti,
Vainikolo,
Wiki,
Cayless,
Pongia,
Vagana,
Puletua
Con: Lavea (12/15)		Try: Noovao
Iro
Con: Piakura (1/2)
Madejski Stadium, Reading
Attendance: 3,982
Referee: Tim Mander
2 November 2000
Wales  24–22  Lebanon
Try: Harris (2),
Davies,
Cunningham,
Sterling
Con: Harris (2/5)		Try: Saleh (2),
Coorey
El Masri
Con: El Masri (3/4)
Stradey Park, Llanelli
Attendance: 1,497
Referee: David Pakieto
5 November 2000
Cook Islands  22–22  Lebanon
Try: Berryman (2),
Toa,
Joe
Con: Berryman (2)
Piakura		Try: El Masri (2),
Touma,
Saleh
Con: El Masri (3/4)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 17,612
Referee: Bill Shrimpton
5 November 2000
Wales  18–58  New Zealand
Try: Briers,
Atcheson,
Farrell
Con: Harris (3/3)		Try: Vainikolo (3),
Barnett (2),
Lauiti'iti,
Wiki,
Vagana,
Paul,
Talau,
Carroll
Con: Paul (5)
Lavea (2)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 17,612
Referee: Russell Smith

Group C edit

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   Papua New Guinea 3 3 0 0 69 42 +27 6 Advance to knockout stage
2   France 3 2 0 1 104 37 +67 4
3   Tonga 3 1 0 2 96 76 +20 2
4   South Africa 3 0 0 3 24 138 −114 0
Source: Rugby League Project
28 October 2000
Papua New Guinea   23–20   France
Tries: Bai, Krewanty, Buko, Lam.
Goals: Buko, Wilshere 2.
Drop Goals: Lam. 		Tries: Benausse, Dekkiche, Hechiche 2.
Goals: Banquet 2.
Charlety Stadium, Paris
Attendance: 7,498
Referee: Steve Ganson[10]
28 October 2000
Tonga   66–18   South Africa
Try: Vaikona 5' (c)
D. Mann 7' (c)
Vaikona 20' (c)
Liava'a ?' (m)
Masella ?' (m)
Moala ?' (m)
E. Mann 44' (m)
Vaikona 46' (m)
Lomi 51' (c)
Vaikona 55' (c)
Kaufusi ?' (?)
D. Mann ?' (?)
Mason ?' (?)
Con: Moala (4/9)
Mason (1/1) 		Try: Breytenbach 17' (m)
Barnard ?' (c)
Best ?' (c)
Con: ? (0/1)
Bloem (2/2)
Pen: O'Shea (1/1)
Charlety Stadium, Paris
Attendance: 7,498
Referee: Darren Hopewell[11]
1 November 2000
France   28–8   Tonga
Try: Banquet ?' (c)
Sirvent ?' (c)
Dulac 66' (m)
Garcia ?' (c)
Jampy ?' (c)
Con: Banquet (4/5)
Pen: Banquet (0/2) 		Try: D. Fisi'iahi ?' (m)
P. Fisi'iahi 60' (m)
Con: Moala (0/2)
Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 10,288
Referee: Steve Clark
2 November 2000
Papua New Guinea  16–0  South Africa
Try: Aila 25' (c)
Wilshere 31' (c)
Paiyo 52' (m)
Con: Wilshere (2/3)
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 4,313
Referee: Darren Hopewell
5 November 2000
France  56–6  South Africa
Try: Cassin 8' (c)
Banquet 21' (c)
Cassin 35' (c)
Guisset 38' (c)
Jampy ?' (c)
Jampy ?' (c)
Jampy 53' (c)
Sirvent ?' (c)
Tallec ?' (c)
Con: Banquet (9/9)
Pen: Banquet (1/1) 18'		Try: De Villiers ?' (m)
Con: ? (0/1)
Pen: Bloem (1/1) ?'
Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi
Attendance: 7,969
Referee: Steve Clark
6 November 2000
Papua New Guinea  30–22  Tonga
Try: Mondo 19' (c)
Gene 23' (m)
Buko 35' (c)
Karl ?' (m)
Gene ?' (c)
Con: Wiltshere (3/5)
Pen: Wiltshere (2/2) 5', 42'		Try: Moala 10' (c)
Mason 39' (c)
Moala ?' (m)
Vaikona ?' (m)
Con: Moala (2/2)
Pen: Moala (1/1) 7'
Saint-Esteve, Perpignan
Attendance: 3,666
Referee: Steve Ganson

Group D edit

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup Group D
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   Ireland 3 3 0 0 78 38 +40 6 Advance to knockout stage
2   Samoa 3 2 0 1 57 58 −1 4
3   Aotearoa Māori 3 1 0 2 49 67 −18 2
4   Scotland 3 0 0 3 34 55 −21 0
Source: Rugby League Project
28 October 2000
Ireland   30–16   Samoa
Tries: Joynt, Ricketson, Eagar, Carney, Prescott.
Goals: Prescott 5 		Tries: Leauma, Milford, Betham.
Goals: Geros 2.
Windsor Park, Belfast[12]
Attendance: 3,207
Referee: Tim Mander
Player of the Match: Barrie McDermott[13]
29 October 2000
Scotland   16–17   Aotearoa Māori
Tries: Penny, Maiden, Bell
Goals: Mackay, Crowther 		Tries: Toopi 2, Kidwell
Goals: Ngamu 2
Drop Goals: Ngamu
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
Attendance: 2,008[14]
Referee: Stuart Cummings
1 November 2000
Ireland   18–6   Scotland
Tries: Sheridan, Withers.
Goals: Prescott 5. 		Tries: Arnold.
Goals: Crowther.
Tolka Park, Dublin
Attendance: 1,782
Referee: Russell Smith
1 November 2000
Samoa   21–16   Aotearoa Māori
Tries: Faafili 2, W Swann, Milford.
Goals: Poching 2. 		Tries: Mathews, Nelson, Rauhihi.
Goals: Goodwin 2.
Derwent Park, Workington
Attendance: 4,107
Referee: Bill Harrigan
4 November 2000
Ireland   30–16   Aotearoa Māori
Tolka Park, Dublin
Attendance: 3,164
Referee: Bill Harrigan
5 November 2000
Scotland   12–20   Samoa
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 1,579
Referee: David Pakieto

Knockout stage edit

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage

The top 2 teams from each pool advanced to the quarter-finals.

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
11 November – Leeds
 
 
  Ireland16
 
18 November – Bolton
 
  England26
 
  England6
 
12 November – Castleford
 
  New Zealand49
 
  New Zealand54
 
25 November – Manchester
 
  France6
 
  New Zealand12
 
11 November – Watford
 
  Australia40
 
  Australia66
 
19 November – Huddersfield
 
  Samoa10
 
  Australia46
 
12 November – Widnes
 
  Wales22
 
  Papua New Guinea8
 
 
  Wales22
 

Quarter-finals edit

11 November 2000
Australia   66–10   Samoa
Summary
Vicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 5,404
Referee: Stuart Cummings (England)
11 November 2000
18:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
England   26–16   Ireland
Summary
Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 15,405
Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)
12 November 2000
New Zealand   54–6   France
Summary
12 November 2000
Wales   22–8   Papua New Guinea
Summary


Semi-finals edit

18 November 2000
New Zealand   49–6   England
Summary
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Attendance: 16,032
Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)
Player of the Match: Stephen Kearney (New Zealand)
19 November 2000
Australia   46–22   Wales
Summary
McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 8,114
Referee: Russell Smith (England)


Final edit

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup final
25 November 2000
Australia   40–12   New Zealand
Tries: Gidley 26'
Hindmarsh 46'
Lockyer 53'
Sailor (2) 66', 69'
Fittler 74'
Barrett 76'
Goals:
Rogers (6/7) 		Summary
 Tries:
Vainikolo 50'
Carroll 57'
Goals:
H. Paul (2/2)
Old Trafford, Manchester[15]
Attendance: 44,329
Referee: Stuart Cummings (England)
Player of the Match: Wendell Sailor (Australia)

Try scorers edit

10
9
6
5
4
3
2
1

References edit

  1. ^ Hadfield, Dave (20 April 1999). "World Cup to get pounds 1m backing". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  2. ^ Wilson, Andy (26 October 2000). "Maori role-model army signal intent". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  3. ^ "World Cup returns profit". BBC Sport. 27 November 2000. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  4. ^ Davies, Jonathan (22 October 2000). "Roll up and glory in the best". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  5. ^ "England draw Australia in 2013 Rugby League World Cup". BBC News. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  6. ^ Hampson, Andy (2000). "Fiji 38 Russia 12". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  7. ^ Hampson, Andy (2000). "Australia 68 Fiji 8". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  8. ^ Baldock, Andrew (2000). "New Zealand 64 Lebanon 0". PA Sport. sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  9. ^ Laybourn, Ian (2000). "Wales 38 Cook Islands 6". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  10. ^ Hannan, Tony (2000). "France 20 Papua New Guinea 23". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  11. ^ Hannan, Tony (2000). "South Africa 18 Tonga 66". PA Sport. sportinglife.com. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  12. ^ Longmore, Andrew (27 August 2000). "League joins peace process". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2010.[dead link]
  13. ^ "Rugby League Scores, Fixtures & Results - Sporting Life". www.sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Rugby League Scores, Fixtures & Results - Sporting Life". www.sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Australia vs. New Zealand - Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2018.

External links edit

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