The Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup, also known as the University Rugby League World Cup, first took place in 1986 in New Zealand, when the then five test nations each entered a side in what was the first non-first grade World Cup hosted by the Rugby League International Federation.[1]
The value of the Tertiary level to Rugby League in terms of spreading the sport, particularly in countries like Great Britain, France and New Zealand, led to a World Cup being created as an incentive to help grow this level of the game.[1]
Since 1986, five more tournaments have been held, and sixteen nations have taken part. The benefits the tournament has provided to the sport cannot be doubted, with strong Tertiary competitions now existing in England, Wales, France, New Zealand, Australia, and new ones developing.[1]
Whilst the 2008 tournament will not be the largest Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup ever held, it will still play an important role in the game at this level, continuing to give a platform for players and nations to strive for.[1]
New Zealand hosted the first World Cup. It focussed on the dominant rugby league playing nations of the time: Australia; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; France and Great Britain.[2]
World Cup 2 came to these shores in 1989. Great Britain were now split into the Home Nations, with England applying themselves most successfully to lose narrowly to Australia in the Final. This World Cup also witnessed the first appearance of Holland on the world rugby league stage.[2]
GROUP GAMES: Rnd 1 - Ireland Students 16 defeated Scotland Students 12 Rnd 1 - Australian Universities 18 defeated England Students 10 Rnd 1 - New Zealand Universities 20 drew with France Students 20 Rnd 1 - Wales Students 48 defeated Holland Students 10
Rnd 2 - Australian Universities 36 defeated Scotland Students 22 Rnd 2 - England Students 65 defeated Ireland Students 12 Rnd 2 - New Zealand Universities 28 defeated Wales Students 10 Rnd 2 - France Students 42 defeated Holland Students 12
Rnd 3 - Australian Universities 78 defeated New Zealand Universities 8 Rnd 3 - England Students 54 defeated Scotland Students 4 Rnd 3 - New Zealand Universities 50 defeated Holland Students 16 Rnd 3 - France Students 18 defeated Wales Students 4
CUP SEMI FINALS: England Students 20 defeated New Zealand Universities 10 Australian Universities 18 defeated France 2
CUP SEVENTH V EIGHTH FINAL: Scotland Students 20 defeated Holland Students 10
CUP FIFTH V SIXTH FINAL: Wales Students 48 defeated Ireland Students 12
CUP THIRD V FOURTH FINAL: France Students 28 defeated New Zealand Universities 16
CUP FINAL: Australian Universities 10 defeated England Students 5
WORLD CUP RANKINGS: 1. Australia 2. England 3. France 4. New Zealand 5. Wales 6. Ireland 7. Scotland 8. Holland
1992
The 1992 World Cup moved to Australia, and in addition to the continuing strength of the Australian student game, also saw the rise of the Pacific Islanders. Their senior teams were to make a big impression in the Halifax Centenary World Cup in 1995, but in 1992, Fiji, Samoa and in particular, Tonga, proved to be an instant hit.[2]
GROUP GAMES: Rnd 1 - England Students 38 defeated Ireland Students 4 Rnd 1 - Wales Students 20 defeated Fiji Students 18 Rnd 1 - Scotland Students 42 defeated Papua New Guinea Students 14 Rnd 1 - Australian Universities 32 defeated Tonga Students 6 Rnd 1 - New Zealand Universities 15 defeated Samoa Students 14
Rnd 2 - Tonga Students 36 defeated Papua New Guinea Students 12 Rnd 2 - New Zealand Universities 48 defeated Ireland Students 4 Rnd 2 - Fiji Students 34 defeated England Students 14 Rnd 2 - Australian Universities 38 defeated Scotland Students 10 Rnd 2 - Wales Students 7 defeated Samoa Students 6
Rnd 3 - Australian Universities 32 defeated Papua New Guinea Students 0 Rnd 3 - Tonga Students 56 defeated Scotland Students 12 Rnd 3 - New Zealand Universities 38 defeated Fiji Students 20 Rnd 3 - Wales Students 38 defeated Ireland Students 10 Rnd 3 - Samoa Students 24 defeated England Students 22
CUP QUARTER FINALS: Tonga Students 44 defeated England Students 20 New Zealand Universities 24 defeated Scotland Students 18 Wales Students 57 defeated Fiji Students 20 Australian Universities 74 defeated Samoa Students 14
CUP SEMI FINALS: Tonga Students 34 defeated New Zealand Universities 16 Australian Universities 35 defeated Wales Students 7
CUP FINAL: Australian Universities 32 defeated Tonga Students 0
WORLD CUP RANKINGS: 1. Australia 2. Tonga 3. New Zealand 4. Wales 5. Scotland 6. England 7. Fiji 8. Samoa 9. Papua New Guinea 10. Ireland
1996
The Halifax Student Rugby League 1996 World Cup in England again saw an increase in the number of teams taking part, but unfortunately for the home nations, still no home success. Japan entered the rugby league world stage for the first time, and the USA carried on the good work of their senior side in 1995, by not only participating, but beating the Irish. France proved to be the most successful of the European teams.[2] Australian Rugby League sent to England a senior referee on tour for the first time selected from the Australian Referees State Associations (Mr Reg Banush) who referee a final between the best players selected from all the competing nations, to play in a game: Northern Hemisphere verses Southern Hemisphere. This game was played under the EU flag of nations to show support to the "good will of sport", this game was played with a very high quality of skill by the selected players from both sides
GROUP GAMES: Rnd 1 - France Students 29 defeated England Students 2 Rnd 1 - Scotland Students 90 defeated Japan Students 4 Rnd 1 - Samoa Students 16 defeated New Zealand Universities 4 Rnd 1 - Russia Students 57 defeated South Africa Students 30 Rnd 1 - Australian Universities 50 defeated Wales Students 4 Rnd 1 - USA Students 22 defeated Ireland Students 20
Rnd 2 - Scotland Students 10 defeated England Students 4 Rnd 2 - France Students 76 defeated Japan Students 0 Rnd 2 - New Zealand Universities 62 defeated USA Students 10 Rnd 2 - Samoa Students 42 defeated Ireland Students 16 Rnd 2 - Australian Universities 68 defeated South Africa Students 12 Rnd 2 - Russian Students 12 defeated Wales Students 8
Rnd 3 - Samoa Students 82 defeated USA Students 6 Rnd 3 - France Students 36 defeated Scotland Students 2 Rnd 3 - New Zealand Universities 66 defeated Ireland Students 0 Rnd 3 - England Students 76 defeated Japan Students 18 Rnd 3 - Australian Universities 52 defeated Russia Students 5 Rnd 3 - South Africa Students 30 defeated Wales Students 28
PLATE SEMI FINALS: Wales Students 42 defeated USA Students 18 Ireland Students 66 defeated Japan Students 10
PLATE PLAY OFF: USA Students 54 defeated Japan Students 10
PLATE FINAL: Wales Students 20 defeated Ireland Students 12
BOWL SEMI FINALS: South Africa Students 44 defeated Scotland Students 16 England Students 32 defeated Russian Students 18
BOWL PLAY OFF: Russian Students 26 defeated Scotland Students 20
BOWL FINAL: South Africa Students 22 defeated England Students 20
CUP SEMI FINALS: Samoa Students 28 defeated France Students 22 Australian Universities 26 defeated New Zealand Universities 6
CUP PLAY OFF: New Zealand Universities 22 defeated France Students 20
CUP FINAL: Australian Universities 38 defeated Samoa Students 16
WORLD CUP RANKINGS: 1. Australia 2. Samoa 3. New Zealand 4. France 5. South Africa 6. England 7. Russia 8. Scotland 9. Wales 10. Ireland 11. USA 12. Japan
1999
The Independent Student Rugby League World Cup 1999 was a memorable fortnight of tremendous action and excitement. Many treasured and lasting memories will have been made of the event, won impressively by New Zealand, but contributed enormously to by all who take part.[2]
GROUP A GAMES: 3 Oct - Russian Students 50 defeated Japan Students 8 6 Oct - France Students 27 defeated Russian Students 10 9 Oct - France Students 62 defeated Japan Students 14
GROUP B GAMES: 3 Oct - Wales Students 72 defeated Canadian Students 12 6 Oct - New Zealand Universities 88 defeated Canadian Students 0 9 Oct - New Zealand Universities 46 defeated Wales Students 10
GROUP C GAMES: 3 Oct - Scotland Students 26 drew with South Africa Students 16 6 Oct - England Students 34 defeated South Africa Students 18 9 Oct - England Students 20 defeated Scotland Students 4
GROUP D GAMES: 3 Oct - Ireland Students 50 defeated USA Students 0 6 Oct - Australian Universities 74 defeated USA Students 2 9 Oct - Australian Universities 40 defeated Ireland Students 10
PLATE SEMI FINALS: Scotland Students 70 defeated Japan Students 10 Canadian Students 16 defeated USA Students 12
PLATE PLAY OFF: USA Students 46 defeated Japan Students 16
PLATE FINAL: Scotland Students 26 defeated Canadian Students 16
BOWL SEMI FINALS: Russian Students 22 defeated South Africa Students 10 Ireland Students 26 defeated Wales Students 16
BOWL PLAY OFF: Wales Students 26 defeated South Africa Students 24
BOWL FINAL: Russian Students 25 defeated Ireland Students 24
CUP SEMI FINALS: England Students 10 defeated France Students 7 New Zealand Universities 25 defeated Australian Universities 14
CUP PLAY OFF: Australian Universities 78 defeated France Students 0
CUP FINAL: New Zealand Universities 46 defeated England Students 16
WORLD CUP RANKINGS: 1. New Zealand 2. England 3. Australia 4. France 5. Russia 6. Ireland 7. Wales 8. South Africa 9. Scotland 10. Canada 11. USA 12. Japan
2005
GROUP A GAMES: 2 July - Australian Universities 66 defeated Scotland Students 4 2 July - New Zealand Universities 46 defeated Wales Students 0 6 July - Australian Universities 32 defeated New Zealand Universities 14 6 July - Wales Students 31 defeated Scotland Students 16 10 July - Australian Universities 74 defeated Wales Students 6 10 July - New Zealand Universities 70 defeated Scotland Students 4
GROUP B GAMES: 4 July - England Students 35 defeated France Students 18 4 July - Pacific Islanders 48 defeated Ireland Students 46 6 July - England Students 26 defeated Ireland Students 4 6 July - France Students 28 defeated Pacific Islanders 6 10 July - England Students 30 defeated Pacific Islanders 24 10 July - France Students 82 defeated Ireland Students 18
SHIELD SEMI FINALS: 12 July - Wales Students 25 defeated Ireland Students 10 12 July - Pacific Islands 30 defeated Scotland Students 16
SHIELD THIRD V FOURTH FINAL: 15 July - Scotland Students 13 defeated Ireland Students 4
SHIELD FINAL: 15 July - Pacific Islands 74 defeated Wales Students 18
CUP SEMI FINALS: 13 July - Australian Universities 20 defeated France Students 0 13 July - New Zealand Universities 34 defeated England Students 8
CUP THIRD V FOURTH FINAL: 16 July - France Students 31 defeated England Students 12
CUP FINAL: 17 July - Australian Universities 8 lost to New Zealand Universities 17
WORLD CUP RANKINGS: 1. New Zealand 2. Australia 3. France 4. England 5. Pacific Islands 6. Wales 7. Scotland 8. Ireland
Eight teams participated in the 2008 Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup in Australia. The tournament was won by Australia, who defeated England in the final. Greece won the pool competition.
Eight participating nations competed in the eighth Student Rugby League Cup, which was held in the Northern English cities of Bradford, Batley, Castleford, Dewsbury and Leeds in early July. It was also the first time that Russia sent a team to compete.
Group A Games Rnd 1: 4 July: New Zealand defeated Russia 122–0 Australia defeated Scotland 96–0
Group B Games, Rnd 1: 4 July: Wales defeated South Africa 30–10 England defeated Ireland 54–6
Group A Games, Rnd 2: 7 July: Scotland defeated Russia 46–4 Australia defeated New Zealand 34–16
Group B Games, Rnd 2: 7 July: South Africa defeated Ireland 42–24 England defeated Wales 46–12
Group A Games, Rnd 3: 10 July: New Zealand defeated Scotland 58–22 Australia defeated Russia 108–0
Group B Games, Rnd 3: 10 July: Wales defeated Ireland 56–4 England defeated South Africa 52–14
7th Play-off game: 12 July: Ireland defeated Russia 42–18
5th Play-off game: 12 July: South Africa defeated Scotland 64–10
Semi-finals: 12 July: Australia defeated Wales 42–10 12 July: England defeated New Zealand (in golden point extra time) 18–17
Final at the Headingley Ground, Leeds: 14 July: Australia defeated England 26–16
Before the renamed Universities World Cup began in Western Sydney, New Zealand caused a surprise by withdrawing four months before the competition through not being able to afford the high fees imposed by the tournament organisers. This left Australia the only competing nation left that had competed in every World Cup, from when the original tournament was founded and hosted by New Zealand 31 years previously. To stop a bye from occurring between Australia and the four home nations, a Pacific Islands team made up of Australian students of Pacific Island origin, was finalized three weeks before the tournament began in early July at Ringrose Park, St Mary's Stadium, New Era Stadium, Windsor Sporting Complex and finals venue, Pepper Stadium in Penrith.
Rnd 1 7 July: Pacific Islands 48, Ireland 4 Rnd 1 7 July: Scotland 48, Wales 18 Rnd 1 7 July: Australia 54, England 10
Rnd 2 9 July: Scotland 38, Ireland 24 Rnd 2 9 July: England 22, Wales 4 Rnd 2 9 July: Australia 68, Pacific Islands 16
Rnd 3 12 July: England 30, Scotland 20 Rnd 3 12 July: Pacific Islands 40, Wales 12 Rnd 3 12 July: Australia 46, Ireland 8
5th Playoff Game
14 July: Wales 28, Ireland 16; Halftime: Wales 16–6
Semi Finals
14 July: Australia 46, England 18; Halftime: Australia 22–6 14 July: Pacific Islands 44, Scotland 12; Halftime: Pacific Islands 16–4
Biggest Win: 2013 New Zealand Students 122 defeated Russia Students 0 2013 Australia Students 108 defeated Russia Students 0 1996 Scotland Students 90 defeated Japan Students 4 1999 New Zealand Universities 88 defeated Canadian Students 0 1996 Samoa Students 82 defeated USA Students 6 1996 France Students 76 defeated Japan Students 0 1999 Australian Universities 74 defeated USA Students 2
Tournament Wins: 1986 New Zealand 1989 Australia 1992 Australia 1996 Australia 1999 New Zealand 2005 New Zealand 2008 Australia 2013 Australia 2017 Australia
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Australia (2017)
