Festival of World Cups
Encyclopedia
The Festival of World Cups was a series of rugby league
World Cups
held in Australia
during 2008. The Festival was being staged in Australia during 2008 to coincide with their Centenary of Rugby League celebrations. The centrepiece of the Festival was the men's 2008 Rugby League World Cup
. In addition to this tournament, there were also world cups being held for University, Police, Women, Defence and Wheelchair teams.
The Universities tournament officially started the Festival. Colin Love
, the Rugby League World Cup 2008 Tournament Director and RLIF
Chairman, stated "The festival highlights how the World Cup is embracing the Rugby League community and acknowledging its wide-ranging affiliates", adding "It’s a great opportunity to showcase the broad appeal of the game internationally".
in 2006 and 2007. The final was held at Suncorp Stadium on the 22nd of November.
sponsored the event with organisers hoping would go towards the formation of an International Police Rugby League Federation.
took part, New Zealand
, Australia
, Great Britain
, Paupa New Guinea and the Cook Islands.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
World Cups
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
held in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
during 2008. The Festival was being staged in Australia during 2008 to coincide with their Centenary of Rugby League celebrations. The centrepiece of the Festival was the men's 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
. In addition to this tournament, there were also world cups being held for University, Police, Women, Defence and Wheelchair teams.
The Universities tournament officially started the Festival. Colin Love
Colin Love
Colin Love AM, is currently the chairman of the Rugby League International Federation, New South Wales Rugby League and has been the chairman of the Australian Rugby League since 1999...
, the Rugby League World Cup 2008 Tournament Director and RLIF
Rugby League International Federation
The Rugby League International Federation is the world governing body of rugby league football. It was formed in 1998 in Sydney, Australia. Its purpose is to, "foster, develop, extend, govern and administer the game of Rugby League throughout the world". Its headquarters are in Sydney, Australia,...
Chairman, stated "The festival highlights how the World Cup is embracing the Rugby League community and acknowledging its wide-ranging affiliates", adding "It’s a great opportunity to showcase the broad appeal of the game internationally".
Festival schedule
The Festival of World Cups includes:| Event | Dates | Areas/Venues | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| University | 4 July - 19 July 2008 | Griffith University Griffith University Griffith University is a public, coeducational, research university located in the southeastern region of the Australian state of Queensland. The university has five satellite campuses located in the Gold Coast, Logan City and in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank. Current... and other Brisbane Brisbane Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of... venues; Langlands Park Langlands Park Langlands Park is a sporting venue in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo, close to Stones Corner. It is the home ground of the Easts Tigers, a rugby league team that competes in the Queensland Cup.-History:... (Final) |
Australia |
| Men | 25 October - 22 November 2008 | Twelve venues across four Australian states; Suncorp Stadium (Final) | New Zealand |
| Police | 2 November - 15 November 2008 | Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast, Queensland The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in... ; Suncorp Stadium (Final) |
Fiji |
| Women | 2 November - 15 November 2008 | Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast; Suncorp Stadium (Final) | New Zealand |
| Defence | 5 November - 16 November 2008 | Penrith Penrith, New South Wales Penrith is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is located west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Penrith... , Townsville Townsville, Queensland Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census... ; Sydney Football Stadium (Final) |
Great Britain |
| Wheelchair | 7 November - 17 November 2008 | Sydney metropolitan area | England |
University
The seventh University Rugby League World Cup was held in July, being the first of the six world cups to be held. The previous tournament was held in 2005 and won by New Zealand. The eight countries that took part were Australia, New Zealand, England, Greece, Scotland, Wales, France and Ireland. Australia defeated England in the final, while Greece won the plate competition.| 2008 Tertiary Student World Cup |
|---|
 Australia Fourth Title |
Men
The thirteenth Rugby League World Cup was held throughout October and November. Ten teams took part. Defending Champions and hosts Australia, New Zealand, England, France and Paupa New Guinea all qualified automatically, while Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Ireland and Scotland all qualified through tournaments2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
There were ten places available in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, held in Australia.-Qualified teams:Pacific6 teams qualified for the World Cup. 3 qualified automatically, with the top 2 in the Pacific qualifying group also reaching the finals. Samoa finished third in the Pacific qualifying group...
in 2006 and 2007. The final was held at Suncorp Stadium on the 22nd of November.
| 2008 Men's World Cup |
|---|
 New Zealand First Title |
Police
The inaugural International Police Rugby League World Cup was held during November alongside the Women's Rugby League World Cup at Stockland Park. The final was held as a curtain raiser to the first semi-final of the men's World Cup at Suncorp Stadium. AMPAMP Limited
AMP Limited is an Australian financial corporation. It operates primarily in Australia and New Zealand. AMP formed in 1849 as the Australian Mutual Provident Society, a non-profit life insurance company. In 1998 it was demutualised and listed on the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges...
sponsored the event with organisers hoping would go towards the formation of an International Police Rugby League Federation.
| 2008 International Police World Cup |
|---|
 Fiji First Title |
Women
The third Women's Rugby League World Cup was held at Stockland Park alongside the Police World Cup. Eight teams took part including defending champions New Zealand. The final was held at Suncorp Stadium on the 15th of November.| 2008 Women's World Cup |
|---|
New Zealand Third Title |
Defence
The inaugural Defence Forces World Cup was held in Sydney with the final played at the Sydney Football Stadium as a curtain raiser to the second Semi Final of the Men's tournament. Five defence forcesArmed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
took part, New Zealand
New Zealand Defence Force
The New Zealand Defence Force consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy; the New Zealand Army; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Commander-in-Chief of the NZDF is His Excellency Rt. Hon...
, Australia
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
, Great Britain
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
, Paupa New Guinea and the Cook Islands.
| 2008 Defence Forces World Cup |
|---|
 Great Britain First Title |
Wheelchair
Four teams took part in the inaugural Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup which was held at indoor venues in Sydney. The four teams were France, Australia, England and a Barbarians V. New Zealand withdrew from the tournament.| 2008 Wheelchair World Cup |
|---|
 England First Title |