The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since its inauguration in 1954, and the first since the 2000 tournament. The tournament was held in Australia from 26 October, culminating in the final between Australia and New Zealand on 22 November.
Douglas Charles Howlett is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player. He was primarily a wing, but he also sometimes played as a fullback.
Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine rugby coach who is currently the backs coach at Leinster Rugby. He was a rugby union footballer who played fly-half or centre; his last club was Club Newman, in the first division of the URBA championship. He was also a key player for Argentina, having played 15 years for the national team. His twin brother Manuel was also a Puma. In June 2015 he was appointed coach of Argentina XV. Contepomi was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in November 2017.
Stephen William Borthwick is an English rugby union coach and former player who is currently the head coach of the England national team. As a player, he played as a lock for Bath and Saracens. At international level, he played for England 57 times from his debut in 2001; he served as captain from 2008 until he was dropped from the side in 2010.
Jérôme Guisset is a French former professional rugby league footballer. He most recently played for the Catalans Dragons as prop or second-row, but he retired at the end of the 2010 season, and is now the assistant coach at the club.
Grégory Mounis is a French former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played for Catalans Dragons in the Super League competition. Equally comfortable at second-row or at loose forward, Mounis became the first French captain of Catalans in 2007 and featured in every Super League season for the club between 2006 and 2016, having made his debut in the club's inaugural Super League match against Wigan Warriors in 2006.
Thomas Bosc is a French former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League. Having spent his entire professional career with the Dragons, he is the club's all-time leading points scorer and is considered one of the finest French players to have played for the club.
Teddy Sadaoui is a French professional rugby league footballer who plays for AS Carcassonne in the French Rugby League Championship. A France international representative centre, he previously played for Catalans Dragons of Super League and was released at the end of 2006's Super League XI.
Jamal Fakir is a Moroccan rugby league footballer who plays as a prop or second-row for the Lézignan Sangliers club in the Elite One Championship.
Nicholas James Easter is an English rugby union coach and former player. He played as a Number 8 for Orrell, Harlequins and the England national team.
Alan Quinlan is a retired Irish rugby union player. He played for Munster and was registered to All-Ireland League side Shannon. He retired from rugby in May 2011.
Sébastien Planas is a French rugby league footballer who plays for Toulouse Olympique in the Betfred Championship. He has captained the club. He plays as a second-row or centre.
Sébastien Raguin is a French former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League; he played as a second-row or centre. He is the current first team coach for Toulouse Olympique in the RFL League 1.
Donnacha Ryan is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. Ryan spent most of his career representing his native province Munster, spending 13 seasons at the club, before moving to French club Racing 92 in 2017, where he spent the final four seasons of his playing career before retiring and joining the coaching team at La Rochelle ahead of the 2021–22 season. He played primarily as a lock, but could also play as a flanker.
Cyril Stacul is a French professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or centre for the Lézignan Sangliers in the Elite One Championship and has played for France at international level.
Frédéric Vaccari is a French professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Palau Broncos in the French Elite One Championship. A France international representative wing, he previously played for Catalans Dragons in the Super League and for Toulouse Olympique and Villeneuve Leopards in the French Elite One Championship.
Karl Fairbank is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Bradford Northern, as a prop, or second-row, and has coached at club level for Halifax Under-21s.
Olivia DeMerchant is a Canadian rugby union player. She has represented Canada at the 2014, 2017 and 2021 Rugby World Cup's.
Yusuke Kizu is a Japanese rugby union player who generally plays as a prop represents Japan internationally and plays for Toyota Verblitz in the Japanese Top League. He was included in the Japanese squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup which was held in Japan for the first time and for the first time in Asia.
Nakajima Isileli is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union player who generally plays as a prop represents Japan internationally and plays for Kobelco Steelers in the Japanese Top League.
