The 1995 Rugby League World Cup squads were made up of players from the national rugby league football teams of ten countries: Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tonga, Wales and Western Samoa.
Australia
Due to the Super League war, the Australian Rugby League did not select any player who had signed with Super League. As 100% of Australia's squad was sourced from Australian Rugby League-aligned players, several test players from the successful 1994 Kangaroo Tour were not selected for the World Cup, though a number of the team had played in the 3-0 Trans-Tasman Test series win over New Zealand earlier in the year.
Super League aligned Canberra Raiders players, including Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart took the ARL to court during 1995 in a bid to be able to play in the World Cup. The court found in their favour and ordered the ARL to consider all players for selection regardless of who they were aligned to. However, as one unnamed ARL official was quoted as saying, the ARL were only forced to consider Super League players, not select them. Just how many, if any, Super League players were considered for selection remains unknown and speculation remains that behind closed doors no Super League player was considered.
- Coach: Bob Fulton
- Manager: Geoff Carr[1]
*Gary Larson originally declined selection citing personal reasons. When Paul Harragon was injured he answered Bob Fulton's call to join the squad and ended up playing in the final at Wembley.
England
Long time Wigan, Great Britain and England back rower Denis Betts, playing for the Auckland Warriors in the Australian Rugby League premiership, made history by becoming the first player selected to captain England while not playing for a British club.
Coach: Phil Larder
Fiji
Coach: Graham Murray
Player | Games | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points | Position(s) | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orisi Cavuilati | 1 | – | – | – | – | Wing | Sydney Bulldogs |
Josaia Dakuitoga | 3 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Wing, Second-row | Penrith Panthers |
Samuela Davetawalu | 1 | – | – | – | – | Second-row | |
Apisalome Degei | 2 | – | – | – | – | Second-row | |
Malaki Kaunivalu | 3 | – | – | – | – | Prop | Sheffield Eagles |
Kiniviliame Koroibuleka | 1 | – | – | – | – | Wing | |
Niumaia Korovata | 2 | – | – | – | – | Wing | |
Samuela Marayawa | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Centre, Second-row | |
Noa Nadruku | 3 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Wing | Canberra Raiders |
Kaleveti Naisoro | 3 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Wing, Halfback | Parramatta Eels |
Pio Nakubuwai | 3 | – | – | – | – | Prop | |
Livai Nalagilagi (c) | 3 | – | – | – | – | Centre | |
Noa Nayacaklou | 3 | – | 3 | – | 6 | Five-eighth | |
Ian Sagaitu | 3 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Hooker, Second-row | |
Kaiava Salusalu | 1 | – | – | – | – | Prop | |
Fili Seru | 3 | 2 | – | – | 8 | Wing | South Queensland Crushers |
Waisale Sovatabua | 3 | 2 | – | – | 8 | Fullback, Wing, Centre | |
Savenaca Taga | 3 | 1 | 3 | – | 10 | Halfback | |
Illiesa Toga | 2 | – | – | – | – | Wing, Second-row | |
Jioji Vatubua | 3 | – | – | – | – | Centre, Wing | |
Waisale Vatubua | 1 | – | – | – | – | Wing | |
Ulaiasi Wainidroa | 2 | – | – | – | – |
France
Coach: Ivan Grésèque
New Zealand
Coach: Frank Endacott
Papua New Guinea
Coach: Joe Tokam
Player | Games | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points | Position(s) | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Angara | 1 | – | – | – | – | Second-row, Lock | |
Marcus Bai | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Wing | Port Moresby Vipers |
Ben Biri | 1 | – | – | – | – | Prop | |
David Buko | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Fullback, Wing | Goroka Lahanis |
Tuiyo Evei | 1 | – | – | – | – | Prop, Second-row | Goroka Lahanis |
Stanley Gene | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Five-eighth, Centre | Lae Bombers |
David Gomia | 2 | – | – | – | – | Wing, Centre | Mt. Hagen Eagles |
James Kops | 2 | – | – | – | – | Wing | |
Gideon Kouoru | 2 | – | – | – | – | Wing, Lock | |
Adrian Lam (c) | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Halfback | Sydney City Roosters |
Bruce Mamando | 2 | – | – | – | – | Prop, Second-row, Lock | Canberra Raiders |
John Okul | 2 | – | – | – | – | Fullback, Wing, Centre | Sydney Bulldogs |
Elias Paiyo | 2 | 1 | 5 | – | 14 | Centre, Halfback, Hooker | Port Moresby Vipers |
David Reeka | 1 | – | – | – | – | Lae Bombers | |
Lucas Solbat | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Prop | Rabaul Gurias |
Robert Tela | 1 | – | – | – | – | Centre, Five-eighth | Enga Mioks |
Max Tiri | 2 | – | – | – | – | Second-row | Mt. Hagen Eagles |
David Westley | 2 | – | – | – | – | Prop | Canberra Raiders |
Nande Yer | 2 | – | – | – | – | Prop, Second-row | Mendi Muruks |
South Africa
Coach: Tony Fisher
Player | Games | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points | Position(s) | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jaco Alberts | 2 | – | – | – | – | Second-row, Lock | |
Barend Alkema | 3 | – | – | – | – | Five-eighth, Halfback | |
Andrew Ballot | 3 | – | – | – | – | Wing, Centre, Second-row | |
Jaco Booysen (c) | 3 | – | – | – | – | Prop | |
Willem Boshoff | 3 | – | – | – | – | Centre, Wing | |
Francois Cloete | 3 | – | – | – | – | Five-eighth, Hooker | |
Guy Coombe | 3 | – | – | – | – | Centre, Wing | |
Tim Fourie | 3 | – | – | – | – | Centre, Second-row | |
Kost Human | 2 | – | – | – | – | Second-row | |
Justin Jennings | 1 | – | – | – | – | Hooker | |
Mark Johnson | 3 | – | – | – | – | Wing | London Crusaders |
Elmar Lubbe | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||
Edwin Ludic | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||
John Mudgeway | 1 | – | – | – | – | Lock | |
Eugene Powell | 1 | – | – | – | – | Prop | |
Nico Serfontein | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||
Kobus Van Deventer | 3 | – | – | – | – | Halfback, Hooker | |
Jaco Van Niekerk | 2 | – | – | – | – | Prop | |
Pierre Van Wyke | 3 | – | 4 | – | 8 | Fullback, Five-eighth | |
Jaco Visser | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||
Gideon Watts | 3 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Prop | |
Gerald Williams | 3 | – | – | – | – | Second-row |
Tonga
Coach: Mike McClennan
Player | Games | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points | Position(s) | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asa Amone | 2 | – | 6 | – | 12 | Fullback, Centre | |
Salesi Finau | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Wing | Warrington Wolves |
Awen Guttenbeil | 2 | 2 | – | – | 8 | Second-row, Prop | |
Liuaki Hansen | 2 | – | – | – | – | Prop | Widnes Vikings |
Solomon Haumono | 2 | – | – | – | – | Prop, Second-row | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles |
Phil Howlett | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Centre, Five-eighth | Parramatta Eels |
Talite Liava'a | 1 | – | – | – | – | Prop | |
Tauʻalupe Liku | 1 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Leigh Centurions | |
Duane Mann (c) | 2 | – | – | – | – | Hooker | Auckland Warriors |
George Mann | 2 | – | – | – | – | Prop, Second-row | Leeds Rhinos |
Martin Masella | 2 | – | – | – | – | Prop | Illawarra Steelers |
Una Taufa | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | Wing | |
Taukolo Tonga | 1 | – | – | – | – | Centre, Wing, Second-row | |
Tevita Vaikona | 2 | – | – | – | – | Wing | Hull Sharks |
Jimmy Veikoso | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 | Wing | |
Willie Wolfgramm | 2 | 2 | – | – | 8 | Halfback, Five-eighth |
- Luke Leilua, Angelo Dymock, Mateaki Mafi, Frank Watene and Andrew Tangata-Toa were all named in the squad but did not play a game.
- Tonga were hit with the withdrawals of Jim Dymock and John Hopoate, who were both included in the Australian squad, and Gorden Tallis and Albert Fulivai, who both withdrew due to injury.[2]
Wales
Coach: Clive Griffiths
Western Samoa
Coach: Graham Lowe
References
- ↑ Masters, Roy (30 October 1995). "Roos on top of the world". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
External links
- 1995 Rugby League World Cup Squads rugbyleagueproject.org
- 1995 Rugby League World Cup Squads The Vault