1995 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament

The 1995 Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championship was held alongside the Centenary Rugby League World Cup. Although the competition received little build-up or promotion, the novelty value of the teams taking part encouraged relatively large crowds, and the competition was a success. A crowd of 4,147 was present at Gigg Lane, Bury for the final between the Cook Islands and Ireland.[1]

1995 (1995) Emerging Nations World Championship  ()
Number of teams7
Host country England
Winner Cook Islands (1st title)

Matches played10
Attendance24,260 (2,426 per match)
Top scorerCook Islands Meti Noovao (50 points)
Top try scorerCook Islands James Cuthers (7 tries)
2000

Squads

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Cook Islands

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Player Club Tries Goals Field Goals Points
Turara Bates Titikaveka Bulldogs 0 0 0 0
Craig Bowen Illawarra Steelers 3 0 0 12
James Cuthers Otahuhu Leopards 7 0 0 28
Ali Davys Brisbane Broncos 0 0 1 1
Tama Henry Tupapa-Maraerenga Panthers 0 0 0 0
Bob Hunter Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles 2 0 0 8
Martin Iro Titikaveka Bulldogs 0 0 0 0
Lefour Jack Tupapa-Maraerenga Panthers 0 0 0 0
Denvour Johnston Wellington Rugby League 2 0 0 8
Alec Kermode Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles 1 0 0 4
Lloyd Matapo Titikaveka Bulldogs 0 0 0 0
Piri Matapo Titikaveka Bulldogs 0 0 0 0
Meti Noovao Auckland City Vulcans 3 19 0 50
Andrew Paitai Tupapa-Maraerenga Panthers 0 0 0 0
Richard Piakura Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles 0 1 0 2
Sonny Shepherd Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles 4 0 0 16
Taoro Strickland Tupapa-Maraerenga Panthers 0 0 0 0
Tangimetua Tangimetua Ngatantiia-Matavera Sea Eagles 0 0 0 0
Ngere Tariu Tupapa-Maraerenga Panthers 6 0 0 24
Jason Temu Oldham 0 0 0 0
Tungane Tini Tupap-Maraerenga Panthers 0 0 0 0
Tiri Toa Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles 2 0 0 8
Allan Tuara Tupap-Maraerenga Panthers 2 0 0 8

Ireland

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Player Club Tries Goals Field Goals Points
Michael Browne Tallaght Tigers 1 0 0 4
Leo Casey Featherstone Rovers 1 0 0 4
Sean Cleary Dublin Blues Rugby League 0 0 0 0
Phelim Comerford Dublin Blues Rugby League 2 12 0 32
Martin Crompton Oldham 1 0 0 4
Eric Doyle Dublin Blues Rugby League 0 0 0 0
Des Foy Oldham 2 0 0 8
Gavin Gordon Bangor Vikings 4 0 0 16
Gary Grainey Leigh Miners Welfare ARLFC 2 0 0 8
Liam Horrigan Woolston Rovers 1 0 0 4
Seamus McCallion Bramley RLFC 0 0 0 0
Craig McElhatton Bradford Dudley Hill 1 0 0 4
Eugene McEntaggert Dublin Blues Rugby League 0 0 0 0
Anthony Nuttall Newsome Magpies 0 0 0 0
Conor O'Sullivan Dublin Blues Rugby League 1 0 0 4
Paul Owens Bradford Dudley Hill 0 0 0 0
George Slicker Halifax 0 0 0 0
Richard Smith Bradford Northern 1 0 0 4
Rickey Smith Bangor Vikings 1 0 0 4
Bryan Smyth Illingworth ARLFC 0 0 0 0
Paul Topping Oldham 0 0 0 0

Venues

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The games were played at various venues in England. The Final was played at Gigg Lane in Bury.

Bury Castleford Warrington Rochdale
Gigg Lane Wheldon Road Wilderspool Stadium Spotland Stadium
Capacity: 11,840 Capacity: 11,775 Capacity: 10,200 Capacity: 9,961
     
Leigh Featherstone Northampton Dewsbury
Hilton Park Post Office Road Sixfields Stadium Crown Flatt
Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 9,850 Capacity: 7,798 Capacity: 5,100
     

Group stage

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Group A

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Team Played Won Drew Lost For Against Diff Points
  Cook Islands 3 3 0 0 143 38 +105 6
  Scotland 3 2 0 1 82 46 +36 4
  Russia 3 1 0 2 57 118 −61 2
  United States 3 0 0 3 50 130 −80 0
  • Cook Islands advanced to the final.
16 October 1995
Scotland  34–9  Russia
Post Office Road, Featherstone

18 October 1995
Cook Islands   58–20   Russia
18 October 1995
Scotland   38–16   United States

20 October 1995
Cook Islands   21–10   Scotland
20 October 1995
Russia   28–26   United States

Group B

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Team Played Won Drew Lost For Against Diff Points
  Ireland 2 2 0 0 90 32 +58 4
  Moldova 2 1 0 1 50 67 -17 2
  Morocco 2 0 0 2 25 66 −41 0
  • Ireland advanced to the final.
16 October 1995
Ireland   48–26   Moldova

18 October 1995
Moldova   24–19   Morocco

20 October 1995
Ireland   42–6   Morocco

Final

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Final
24 October 1995
Cook Islands   22–6   Ireland
Summary
Gigg Lane, Bury
Attendance: 4,147
Referee: Dennis Hale (England)
Player of the Match: Ali Davys (Cook Islands)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Emerging Nations Cup 1995". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
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  • "World Cup 1995 details". The Vault. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  • Rugby league Emerging Nations Tournament Official Brochure, 1995
  • The Rugby League World Cup book, League Publications Ltd, 2000