2013 Rugby League World Cup

The 2013 Rugby League World Cup was the fourteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and took place in England, Wales, France and Ireland.[2][3][4][5] between 26 October and 30 November 2013.

2013 (2013) World Cup  ()
2013 RLWC
Number of teams14[1]
Host countries England
 Wales
 Ireland
 France
Winner Australia (10th title)

Matches played28
Attendance458,483 (16,374 per match)
Top scorerNew Zealand Shaun Johnson (76)
Top try scorerAustralia Brett Morris
Australia Jarryd Hayne
(9 tries each)
 < 2008
2017

It was the main event of the year's Festival of World Cups. Fourteen teams contested the tournament: Australia, England, New Zealand, Samoa, Wales, Fiji, France, Papua New Guinea, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, Cook Islands, Italy and the United States. The latter two were competing in the Rugby League World Cup for the first time.[citation needed]

New Zealand were the defending champions, having defeated Australia in 2008. Australia won the tournament, beating New Zealand 34–2 in the final to lift the trophy for the tenth time.[6][7]

In terms of attendance, exposure and revenue, the 2013 tournament is considered the most successful Rugby League World Cup to date.[8]

Organisation

Representatives of the game with the trophy at Leeds Central Library.

Background

The Rugby League International Federation confirmed this competition as a part of its international program. The RLIF announced a five-year plan to build up to the 2013 World Cup with Four Nations tournaments held in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The competition was part of the UK's "Golden Decade of Sport".[9]2013 was chosen as the year of the World Cup to avoid a clash with the London Olympics in 2012.[10] After 2013, the Cup will be held on a quadrennial cycle.

Host selection

In addition to the United Kingdom, Australia announced its intention to bid for the hosting rights, despite hosting the previous World Cup in 2008.[11] The Australian Rugby League had been preparing a rival bid due to the success of the 2008 event but the business plan presented by the Rugby Football League for the UK to be the host was accepted by the RLIF at a meeting in July 2009.[10][12] The event formed part of what was being dubbed a 'Golden Decade' in British Sport.[2]

The UK last hosted the World Cup in 2000, with the event generally being considered unsuccessful.[10]

The then Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles welcomed representatives of all 14 nations and tournament organisers with a reception at Clarence House.[citation needed]

Qualification

There were two qualifying pools for the remaining two World Cup places; a European and an Atlantic pool, with one side from each to qualify.

The European Qualifying group involved Italy, Lebanon, Russia and Serbia while the Atlantic Qualifying group involved Jamaica, South Africa and the USA.[13] In the Atlantic Qualifiers the United States and Jamaica defeated South Africa in the opening rounds leaving the final match between the two to determine who qualified for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. United States defeated Jamaica to qualify for their first ever Rugby League World Cup.[14]

Teams

The competition featured fourteen teams, compared to ten in 2008.[1] Originally around twenty teams were to be involved in qualification,[15] but subsequently the total number of teams involved in the tournament was fixed at nineteen. Twelve nations automatically qualified; the ten nations that contested the previous World Cup, Wales as winners of the 2009 European Nations Cup[16] and the Cook Islands as runners up in the 2009 Pacific Cup.[17]

TeamNicknameCoachCaptainRLIF rank
 Australia (14th appearance)The KangaroosTim SheensCameron Smith1
 Cook Islands (2nd appearance)The KukisDavid FairleighZeb Taia18
 England (5th appearance)The Wall of WhiteSteve McNamaraKevin Sinfield3
 Fiji (4th appearance)The BatiRick StonePetero Civoniceva7
 France (14th appearance)Les ChanticleersRichard AgarOlivier Elima4
 Ireland (3rd appearance)The WolfhoundsMark AstonLiam Finn9
 Italy (1st appearance)The AzzurriCarlo NapolitanoAnthony Minichiello13
 New Zealand (14th appearance)The KiwisStephen KearneySimon Mannering2
 Papua New Guinea (6th appearance)The KumulsAdrian LamNeville Costigan6
 Samoa (4th appearance)Toa SamoaMatt ParishHarrison Hansen8
 Scotland (3rd appearance)The BraveheartsSteve McCormackDanny Brough11
 Tonga (4th appearance)Mate Ma'a TongaCharlie TongaBrent Kite10
 United States (1st appearance)The TomahawksTerry MattersonJoseph Paulo12
 Wales (4th appearance)The DragonsIestyn HarrisCraig Kopczak5

Match officials

Rules and officiating panel: Daniel Anderson, Stuart Cummings and David Waite.[18]

Pre-tournament matches

Before the World Cup it was announced that USA would face France in Toulouse,[20] Scotland would play Papua New Guinea at Featherstone,[21] England would play Italy at Salford,[22] New Zealand would play the Cook Islands in Doncaster[23] and England Knights would play Samoa at Salford.[24]

18 October 2013
France  18–22  United States
19 October 2013
Rochdale Hornets 0–78  Fiji
19 October 2013
England  14–15  Italy
19 October 2013
England Knights 52–16  Samoa
19 October 2013
Papua New Guinea  38–20  Scotland
Post Office Road, Featherstone[27]
20 October 2013
New Zealand  50–0  Cook Islands

Venues

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

The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was the host stadium for the opening ceremony and a double header featuring hosts England playing Australia and Wales taking on Italy.[17] The decision to play England vs Australia in Cardiff to open the tournament drew criticism from some in the press who believed that the game should have been played in England where a higher attendance could be expected, or at least a full house which would have looked better than the almost half empty Millennium Stadium.[29]

Headingley in Leeds, the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington, the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham and the DW Stadium in Wigan hosted the quarter-finals. Both semi-finals were hosted at Wembley Stadium, with the final held at Old Trafford.

London Manchester Cardiff
Wembley StadiumOld TraffordMillennium Stadium
Capacity: 90,000Capacity: 76,212Capacity: 74,500
Limerick Hull Wigan Huddersfield Leeds St. Helens
Thomond Park[30]KC StadiumDW StadiumJohn Smith's StadiumHeadingleyLangtree Park
Capacity: 26,500Capacity: 25,586Capacity: 25,133Capacity: 24,500Capacity: 21,062Capacity: 18,000
Avignon
Locations of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup host venues
Locations of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup host venues in Northern England
Warrington
Parc des SportsHalliwell Jones Stadium[31]
Capacity: 17,518Capacity: 15,200
Halifax Perpignan
The ShayStade Gilbert Brutus
Capacity: 14,061Capacity: 13,000
Bristol Salford
Memorial StadiumSalford City Stadium
Capacity: 12,100Capacity: 12,000
Leigh Wrexham Rochdale Hull Workington Neath
Leigh Sports VillageRacecourse GroundSpotlandCraven ParkDerwent Park[32]The Gnoll
Capacity: 11,000Capacity: 10,500Capacity: 10,249Capacity: 10,000Capacity: 10,000Capacity: 5,000

Match schedule

The match schedule was announced on 22 March 2012.[33] The Rugby League International Federation announced the kickoff times of the matches, with the opening kickoff to be held on 26 October in Cardiff, at 14:30 local time. The group stage matches will be played at 14:00, 14:30, 16:00, 16:30, 18:00, and 20:00 local time, with knockout stage matches at 13:00, 15:00, and 20:00 local time. The semi-finals will be played at 13:00 and 15:30 local time and the final, on 30 November 2013 at the Old Trafford stadium, at 14:30 local time.

Opening ceremony

The World Cup's Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony took place at the Millennium Stadium on 26 October. The ceremony saw 550 dancers perform, 500 amateur and 50 professional, including former players Martin Offiah and Gareth Thomas, both of whom are former Strictly Come Dancing contestants. The ceremony also featured live music and a light show. The ceremony preceded the opening matches of England versus Australia, versus Wales and Italy.[34][35][36]

Group stage

The draw, undertaken at the launch of the event in Manchester on 30 November 2010, involved four groups[17]The first two groups were made up of four teams whilst the other two groups feature three teams each. The quarter-final round was made up of the first three teams in the first two groups and the winners of each of the smaller groups. Group play involved a round robin in the larger groups, and a round robin in the smaller groups with an additional inter-group game for each team so all teams played three group games.[17]

Key to colours in group tables
Advances to knockout stage

Group A

England vs. Ireland, at the John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield. England won 42–0
PldWDLTFPFPA+/−Pts
 Australia33002011222+906
 England3201189640+564
 Fiji310284682–362
 Ireland3003314124–1100


26 October 2013
14:30
Australia  28–20  England
Try: Thurston 27' c
Bird 37' c
Slater 40' c
B. Morris 44' m
Boyd 71' m
Goal: Thurston (4/6) 27', 37', 40', 64'
Report[37]
Try: Hall 8' m
Cudjoe 20' c
G. Burgess 51' c
Charnley 76' m
Goal: Sinfield (2/4) 20', 51'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 45,052
Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: Johnathan Thurston (Australia)

28 October 2013
20:00
Fiji  32–14  Ireland
Try: Uate (3) 9' m, 64 m, 71 m
K. Naiqama 12' c
T. Sims 52' c
K. Sims 65' m
Goal: W. Naiqama (4/7) 12', 38', 52', 65'
Report[38]
Try: McCarthy 23' m
Blanch 76' m
Hasson 79' c
Goal: Richards (1/3) 80'
Spotland Stadium, Rochdale
Attendance: 8,872
Referee: Phil Bentham (England)
Player of the Match: Kevin Naiqama (Fiji)

2 November 2013
14:30
England  42–0  Ireland
Try: Hall (3) 2' m, 13' c, 22' m
Briscoe (2) 17' m, 19' c
Ferres 24' c
Watkins 57' c
Chase 69' c
Goal: Sinfield (4/7) 14', 20', 24', 57'
Widdop (1/1) 69'
Report[39]
John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 24,375*
Referee: Thierry Alibert (France)
Player of the Match: Ryan Hall (England)

2 November 2013
20:00
Australia  34–2  Fiji
Try: Papalii 15'c
Boyd 21' m
Jennings 31' c
Morris 42' c
Cherry-Evans 52' c
Lewis 66' c
Goal: Thurston (5/6) 15', 31', 42', 52', 67'
Report[40]
Goal: Noilea (1/1) 7'
Langtree Park, St. Helens
Attendance: 14,137
Referee: Richard Silverwood (England)
Player of the Match: Johnathan Thurston (Australia)

9 November 2013
14:30
England  34–12  Fiji
Try: Westwood 38' c
S. Burgess 41' c
Ferres 44' c
Hall (2) 49' c, 56' m
Burrow 53' c
Goal: Sinfield (5/6) 38', 43', 45', 49', 53'
Report[41]
Try: Vunakece 33' c
Radradra 72' c
Goal: Naiqama (2/2) 34', 73'
KC Stadium, Hull
Attendance: 25,114[41]
Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia)
Player of the Match: Sam Burgess (England)

9 November 2013
20:00
Australia  50–0  Ireland
Try: Hayne (2) 2' m, 76' c
Cronk (2) 11' c, 57' c
Bird 29' c
Morris 32' c
Slater 40' m
Cherry-Evans 60' c
Fifita 65' c
Goal: Smith (3/5) 11', 30', 33'
Parker (4/4) 57', 60', 66', 76'
Report[42]
Thomond Park, Limerick
Attendance: 5,021[43]
Referee: Phil Bentham (England)
Player of the Match: Daly Cherry-Evans

Group B

France vs New Zealand at Parc des Sports, Avignon. New Zealand won 48–0.
PldWDLTFPFPA+/−Pts
 New Zealand33002614634+1126
 Samoa3201148452+324
 France310221578–632
 Papua New Guinea3003522103–810


27 October 2013
16:00
Papua New Guinea  8–9  France
Try: MacDonald 17' m
Abavu 42' m
Goal: Mead (0/3)
Report[44]
Try: Bosc 6' c
Goal: Bosc (2/2) 7', 60'
Drop Goal: Barthau (1/1) 64'
MS3 Craven Park, Hull
Attendance: 7,481
Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia)
Player of the Match: William Barthau (France)

27 October 2013
18:00
New Zealand  42–24  Samoa
Try: Hoffman 11' c
Mannering (2) 15' c, 22' c
Tuivasa-Sheck 17' m
Vatuvei (3) 43' m, 49' m, 73' c
Luke 45' c
Goal: Johnson (5/8) 10', 15', 23', 46', 73'
Report[45]
Try: Roberts 39' m
Leilua 52' m
Manumalealii 57' m
Matagi 60' c
A. Winterstein 65' c
Goal: Milford (2/5) 61', 65'
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Attendance: 14,965
Referee: Richard Silverwood (England)
Player of the Match: Dean Whare (New Zealand)

1 November 2013
20:00
New Zealand  48–0  France
Try: Inu 6' c
Goodwin 24' c
Nu'uausala (2) 39' c, 75' c
Johnson (2) 51' c, 55' c
Eastwood 65' c
Tuivasa-Sheck 80' c
Goal: Johnson (8/8) 7', 26', 39', 51', 56', 66', 76', 80'
Report[46]
Parc des Sports, Avignon
Attendance: 17,518
Referee: Phil Bentham (England)
Player of the Match: Shaun Johnson (New Zealand)

4 November 2013
20:00
Papua New Guinea  4–38  Samoa
Try: Nandye 45' m
Goal: Eliab (0/1)
Report[47]
Try: Matagi 2' c
A. Winterstein (3) 9' m, 25' c, 79' m
Godinet 15' c
Roberts 37' c
Sue 61' c
Goal: Milford (5/7) 2', 15', 25', 38', 61'
MS3 Craven Park, Hull
Attendance: 6,871
Referee: Shayne Hayne (Australia)
Player of the Match: Anthony Milford (Samoa)

8 November 2013
20:00
New Zealand  56–10  Papua New Guinea
Try: Goodwin 4' c
Tuivasa-Sheck (2) 7' c, 11' c
Williams (3) 15' c, 27' c, 40' c
Nu'uausala 30' m
Whare (2) 50' c, 56' c
Taylor 67' m
Goal: Johnson (8/10) 4', 8', 12', 16', 28', 40', 51', 58'
Report[48]
Try: Aiye 41' c
Albert 78' m
Goal: Paniu (1/2) 43'
Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 18,180
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Player of the Match: Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)

11 November 2013
20:00
France  6–22  Samoa
Try: Escaré 32' c
Goal: Bosc 33'
Report[49]
Try: Vidot 4' c
Milford 46' c
Godinet 61' m
Moors 74' c
Goal: Milford (3/4) 4', 47', 75'
Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
Attendance: 11,576
Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: Anthony Milford (Samoa)

Group C

Scotland vs. Italy at Derwent Park, Workington. The game finished 30–30.
PldWDLTFPFPA+/−Pts
 Scotland3210137862+165
 Tonga3201126242+204
 Italy311111626203


29 October 2013
20:00
Tonga  24–26  Scotland
Try: Fisiiahi 9' m
S. Manu (2) 41' c, 56 m
Seluini 49' m
W. Manu 61' c
Goal: Langi (2/5) 43', 62'
Report[50]
Try: Russell (2) 13' c, 72 c
Fisher 32' c
Carter 38' c
Goal: Brough (5/6) 14', 20', 32', 39', 72'
Derwent Park, Workington
Attendance: 7,630
Referee: Shayne Hayne (Australia)
Player of the Match: Sika Manu (Tonga)

3 November 2013
16:00
Scotland  30–30  Italy
Try: Russell 20' c
Linnett 25' c
Addy 41' c
Hellewell (2) 49' c, 69' m
Goal: Brough (5/6) 14', 21', 25', 41', 49'
Report[51]
Try: Ciraldo 31' c
Nasso (2) 37' c, 45' c
Centrone 52' c
A. Minichiello 58' c
Goal: Mantellato (5/5) 31', 37', 45', 53', 58'
Derwent Park, Workington
Attendance: 7,280
Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: Ray Nasso (Italy)

10 November 2013
16:00
Tonga  16–0  Italy
Try: Manu 47' c
Foster 64' m
Terepo 79' m
Goal: Langi (2/3) 40', 48'
Report[52]
The Shay, Halifax
Attendance: 10,266
Referee: Ben Thaler (England)
Player of the Match: Fuifui Moimoi (Tonga)

Group D

PldWDLTFPFPA+/−Pts
 United States3201136458+64
 Cook Islands3102126478–142
 Wales3003115684–280


30 October 2013
20:00
United States  32–20  Cook Islands
Try: Faraimo 13' m
Petersen 16' m
Joseph Paulo 42' m
Samoa 59' c
Offerdahl 71' c
Priestley 73' c
Goal: Joseph Paulo (4/8) 25', 59', 74', 77'
Report[53]
Try: Takairangi 3' c
Low 36' m
Lulia 47' m
Peyroux 62' c
Goal: Rapana (2/4) 4', 63'
Memorial Stadium, Bristol
Attendance: 7,247
Referee: Ben Thaler (England)
Player of the Match: Joseph Paulo (United States)

3 November 2013
14:00
Wales  16–24  United States
Try: Roets 16' m, 75' c
Walker 77' c
Goal: White (2/3) 76', 78'
Report[54]
Try: Newton (2) 20' m, 63' c
Petersen 33' m
Paulo 54' m
Samoa 60' c
Goal: Paulo (2/5) 60', 64'
The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Attendance: 8,019
Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia)
Player of the Match: Joseph Paulo (United States)

10 November 2013
14:00
Wales  24–28  Cook Islands
Try: Massam 14' m
White 51' c
Lloyd 67' c
Roets (2) 60' m, 76' m
Goal: White (1/3) 52'
Jones (1/2) 68'
Report[55]
Try: Fepuleai 8' c
K. Lulia 31' m
John 39' c
Peyroux 46' c
Ford 72' c
Goal: Taripo (4/5) 9', 40', 47', 73'
The Gnoll, Neath
Attendance: 3,270
Referee: Richard Silverwood (England)
Player of the Match: Elliot Kear (Wales)

Inter-group matches

26 October 2013
16:30
Wales  16–32  Italy
Try: B. Evans 15' c
Lloyd 38' c
Kear 43' m
Goal: White (2/3) 15', 38'
Report[56]
Try: Guerra (2) 9' c, 21' c
Mantellato 47' m
Tedesco 69' m
Centrone 71' m
M. Minichiello 80' c
Goal: Mantellato (4/7) 9', 22', 28', 80'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 45,052
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Player of the Match: Josh Mantellato (Italy)

5 November 2013
20:00
Tonga  22–16  Cook Islands
Try: Fisiiahi 7' c
Taumalolo 31' c
Hurrell 39' m
Taufua 62' m
Goal: Langi (3/5) 7, 31', 37'
Report[57]
Try: Taripo (3) 12' c, 19' m, 43' c
Goal: Taripo (2/2) 12', 43'
Rapana (0/1)
Leigh Sports Village, Leigh
Attendance: 10,554
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Player of the Match: Chris Taripo (Cook Islands)

7 November 2013
20:00
Scotland  22–8  United States
Try: Phillips 51' m
Russell 55' c
Douglas 63' c
Hurst 80' c
Goal: Brough (3/4) 55', 63', 80'
Report[58]
Try: Freed 8' m
Welch 23' m
Goal: Paulo (0/2)
Salford City Stadium, Salford
Attendance: 6,041
Referee: Thierry Alibert (France)
Player of the Match: Matty Russell (Scotland)

Knockout stage

Quarter-final No. 3 England vs. France at the DW Stadium, Wigan. England won 34–6
Quarter-final No. 4 Samoa vs. Fiji at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Wariington. Fiji won 22–4

The quarter-finals followed the group stage, with three teams from each of Groups A and B and one team from each of Groups C and D qualifying.

All times listed below are in Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) for English and Welsh venues.

QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
         
A1  Australia62
D1  United States0
A1  Australia64
A3  Fiji0
B2  Samoa4
A3  Fiji22
A1  Australia34
B1  New Zealand2
A2  England34
B3  France6
A2  England18
B1  New Zealand20
B1  New Zealand40
C1  Scotland4

Quarter-finals

15 November 2013
20:00
New Zealand  40–4  Scotland
Try: Goodwin (2) 8' m, 71' m
Bromwich 15' c
Tuivasa-Sheck (2) 20' m, 50' c
Pritchard 27' c
Johnson 30' c
Vatuvei 58' m
Goal: Johnson (4/8) 17, 28', 31', 51'
Report[59]
Try: Hurst 67' m
Goal: Brough (0/1)
Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 16,207
Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia)
Player of the Match: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)

16 November 2013
13:00
Australia  62–0  United States
Try: Hayne (4) 3' m, 57' c, 70' c, 79' c
Inglis (2) 11' c, 50' c
Morris (4) 21' m, 26' m, 35' m, 39' m
Smith 23' c
Cronk 28' c
Goal: Thurston (7/12) 12', 23', 28', 50', 57', 70', 79'
Report[60]
The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Attendance: 5,762
Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: Brett Morris

16 November 2013
20:00
England  34–6  France
Try: Charnley (2) 11' c, 25' m
Hall (2) 18' c, 28' c
O'Loughlin 47' c
Ferres 77' c
Goal: Sinfield (5/6) 11', 18', 28', 47', 77'
Report[61]
Duport 5' c
Goal: Bosc (1/1) 5'
DW Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 22,276
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Player of the Match: Sam Tomkins

17 November 2013
15:00
Samoa  4–22  Fiji
Try: Winterstein 58' mReport[62]
Try: Groom 5' c
W. Naiqama 32' c
Roqica 78' c
Goal: W. Naiqama (5/5) 5', 8', 32', 71', 78'
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Attendance: 12,766
Referee: Richard Silverwood (England)
Player of the Match: Aaron Groom

Semi-finals

23 November 2013
13:00
New Zealand  20–18  England
Try: Tuivasa-Sheck (2) 31' c, 44' m
Johnson 80' c
Goal: Johnson (4/5) 33', 38', 53' 80'
Report[63]
Try: O'Loughlin 16' c
Watkins 58' m
S. Burgess 67' c
Goal: Sinfield (3/4) 17', 25', 68'
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 67,545
Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia)
Player of the Match: Sam Burgess

23 November 2013
15:30
Australia  64–0  Fiji
Try: Thurston 9' c
Darius Boyd (2) 15' m, 59' c
Cronk 19' c
Hayne (3) 22' c, 37' c, 68' c
Papalii 35'c
Tamou 53' c
Morris 72' c
Fifita 79' c
Goal: Thurston (10/11) 10', 20', 23', 36', 39', 55', 60', 69', 73', 80'
Report[64]
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 67,545
Referee: Richard Silverwood (England)
Player of the Match: Johnathan Thurston

Final

30 November 2013
14:30
New Zealand  2–34  Australia
Tries:



Goals:
Shaun Johnson (1/1) 16'
Report[65]
Tries:
Billy Slater (2) 19' c, 41' c
Cooper Cronk 30' c
Brett Morris (2) 52' c, 72' c
Goals:
Johnathan Thurston (7/7) 4', 19', 30', 35', 41', 52', 72'
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 74,468[66]
Referee: Richard Silverwood (England)
Player of the Match: Johnathan Thurston (Australia)

Try scorers

9 tries
8 tries
5 tries
4 tries
3 tries
2 tries
1 try

Attendances

Seven grounds achieved sell-out crowds, with four setting stadium records. Games held in both Wales and Ireland were watched by the biggest crowds ever for rugby league internationals in those countries.[67] The final was played in front of the largest crowd ever to attend an international rugby league fixture.[68]

DateTeamsVenueLocationAttendance
26 October 2013  Australia  EnglandMillennium StadiumCardiff45,052
26 October 2013  Wales  ItalyMillennium StadiumCardiff45,052
27 October 2013  Papua New Guinea  FranceCraven ParkHull7,481
27 October 2013  New Zealand  SamoaHalliwell Jones StadiumWarrington14,965
28 October 2013  Fiji  IrelandSpotlandRochdale8,872
29 October 2013  Tonga  ScotlandDerwent ParkWorkington7,630
30 October 2013  United States  Cook IslandsMemorial StadiumBristol7,247
1 November 2013  New Zealand  FranceParc des SportsAvignon17,158
2 November 2013  England  IrelandJohn Smith's StadiumHuddersfield24,375
2 November 2013  Australia  FijiLangtree ParkSt. Helens14,137
3 November 2013  Wales  United StatesRacecourse GroundWrexham8,019
3 November 2013  Scotland  ItalyDerwent ParkWorkington7,280[69]
4 November 2013  Papua New Guinea  SamoaCraven ParkHull6,871
5 November 2013  Tonga  Cook IslandsLeigh Sports VillageLeigh10,554
7 November 2013  Scotland  United StatesAJ Bell StadiumEccles6,041
8 November 2013  New Zealand  Papua New GuineaHeadingleyLeeds18,180
9 November 2013  England  FijiKC StadiumHull25,114
9 November 2013  Australia  IrelandThomond ParkLimerick5,021
10 November 2013  Wales  Cook IslandsThe GnollNeath3,720
10 November 2013  Tonga  ItalyThe ShayHalifax10,226
11 November 2013  France  SamoaStade Gilbert BrutusPerpignan11,576
15 November 2013  New Zealand  ScotlandHeadingleyLeeds16,207
16 November 2013  Australia  United StatesRacecourse GroundWrexham5,762
16 November 2013  England  FranceDW StadiumWigan22,276
17 November 2013  Samoa  FijiHalliwell Jones StadiumWarrington12,776
23 November 2013  New Zealand  EnglandWembleyLondon67,545
23 November 2013  Australia  FijiWembleyLondon67,545
30 November 2013  Australia  New ZealandOld TraffordTrafford74,468

Broadcasting

CountryChannel televising all matches
 Australia7mate[70]
 FrancebeIN Sport[71]
 IrelandSetanta Sports 1[72]
North Africa and the Middle EastOSN[73]
 New ZealandSky Sport[74]
 Papua New GuineaEM TV[75]
 United KingdomPremier Sports*

* The BBC and Premier Sports jointly televised seven live matches with the remaining 21 live matches exclusive to Premier Sports. The jointly live matches were England's Group A matches (BBC One),[76][77][78] an inter-group match between Wales and Italy[79] and a quarter-final[80] (both on BBC Two), a semi-final[81] and the final[82] (both on BBC One). The jointly televised quarter-final and semi-final involved England.

References

External links