Rugby League World Cup
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Image:Rugby League World Cup.jpg The Rugby League World Cup is a tournament in which a number of the strongest rugby league nations participate in to determine which nation is supreme in the sport.
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History
Origins
The Rugby League World Cup sprang from French initiatives, who, had since 1935 been campaigning for a Rugby League World Cup. The idea was further pursued in 1951, post-war France, the pioneer of the concept was Paul Barriere, the President of the French Rugby League.
The following year, 1952, in January, the idea gained momentum, gaining the support of Rugby Football League secretary Bill Fallowfield, who in turn persuaded the Rugby League Council to support the concept. He succeeded. In latter stages of that same year, the Rugby League Council gave the concept of a Rugby League World Cup their support.
At a meeting held in Blackpool, England, November 1953, the International Board accepted Paul Barrie’s proposal that France should be the nation to host the inaugural Rugby League World Cup.
Tournament History
Initially, the four test nations (Australia, Great Britain, France and New Zealand) played each other in a league format. On some occasions the winner was the team that finished top of this league, whilst on other occasions the top two teams played off in a World Cup Final.
In 1975 the format was altered, with Great Britain being split into England and Wales. The tournament was not held in any one place; rather a series of matches around the world was used to determine the standings. No final was held that year.
The competition returned to the old format in 1977, but the world-wide league format was re-instigated in 1985. This time the matches were spread over three years, being specially designated test matches within the standard test series. This format was used twice, with World Cup Finals being held in 1988 and 1992.
In 1995 the competition was held in the United Kingdom to help celebrate the centenary of rugby league. The ten team format used proved successful, and the World Cup was further expanded to sixteen teams in 2000. This proved a step too far and the 2000 World Cup was not generally considered to be a success. Low attendance was recorded for many matches and the tournament did not make a profit.
The World Cup will next be held in Australia in 2008 with ten teams participating, followed by Great Britain in 2012 [1]
The original concept of a tournament involving only the top sides in the game has been carried forward to the Tri-Nations competition.
Participant nations
Australia, France and New Zealand are the only nations who have appeared at every Rugby League World Cup, Great Britain also have been at all, but participated as England, Wales and Scotland during some of the more recent tournaments.
The following list, are all the teams that have competed in a World Cup tournament since its inception.
