2000 (2000) Rugby League World Cup  ()
2000 World Cup logo
Number of teams16
Host countries England
 France
 Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales
Winner Australia (9th title)
Matches played31
Attendance263,921 (8,514 per match)
Top scorerAustralia Mat Rogers (70)
Top try scorerAustralia Wendell Sailor (10)
Tournaments
 < 1995
2008 > 

The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup. It was held in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, and took place between 28 October and 25 November 2000. Sixteen national teams competed in four groups of four, playing each other once over three weekly rounds before a series of play-offs that culminated in the final between Australia and New Zealand. Tournament favourites Australia defeated New Zealand in the final, claiming their sixth consecutive and ninth total Rugby League World Cup title. Australian winger Wendell Sailor was named player of the tournament.

Summary

Building on the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, it was decided to expand the format further, with the number of teams rising from 10 to 16. As before, an Emerging Nations Tournament was held alongside the main event.

The millennium World Cup attracted a record sponsorship of over £1 million from Lincoln Financial Group, who had also sponsored Great Britain's Tests against New Zealand the previous autumn.[1]

The 2000 World Cup was not considered a great success. There were too many mismatches in the early stages, and some of the teams lacked credibility. Notably the inclusion of a side representing New Zealand's Māori population, Aotearoa Māori, alongside the full New Zealand team, and a Lebanon side consisting entirely of Australians of Lebanese origin, led to derisory comments in the media.[2] The tournament's organisers also attracted criticism regarding marketing and ticketing. For these reasons crowds at the tournament were low; also torrential rainstorms and the crisis on Britain's railways following the Hatfield rail crash did not help encourage spectators.

There were however some positives: the tournament returned a profit of more than £2 million despite the small crowds it attracted;[3] the French performed creditably, and attendance for the games held in France was encouraging. The much-derided Lebanon team also proved the catalyst for domestic competition in that country.

On the competition side of things, favourites Australia[4] and New Zealand cut a swathe through the tournament, with several dominant performances setting up an obvious final clash. New Zealand's 49–6 semi-final dispatch of England, coupled with Australia only hitting the lead in their semi-final against Wales with 23 minutes remaining, had New Zealand installed as favourites in some quarters. However, it was Australia who prevailed in a tense, absorbing finale. Australia only led 18–12 with 15 minutes remaining, but a glut of possession saw them finish strongly – scoring four late tries to give the appearance of an easy victory.

Qualifying

Six countries – Lebanon, the United States, Morocco, Canada, Italy and Japan – competed for one available place in the tournament. Lebanon defeated the United States 62–8 in the final play-off match.

Teams

The 2000 World Cup tournament features 16 teams:

Venues

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

The Twickenham Stadium in London, the home of the English rugby union was the host stadium for the opening ceremony and match featuring hosts England and defending champions Australia.[5]

England London Wales Cardiff England Trafford France Toulouse England Bolton
Twickenham Stadium Millennium Stadium Old Trafford
(Venue of Final)		 Stadium de Toulouse Reebok Stadium
Capacity: 75,000 Capacity: 74,500 Capacity: 56,000 Capacity: 37,000 Capacity: 28,723
England Huddersfield
Locations of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup host venues in the Republic of Ireland
Locations of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup host venues in France
 England Reading
McAlpine Stadium Madejski Stadium
Capacity: 24,500 Capacity: 24,161
England Leeds England Watford
Headingley Vicarage Road
Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 21,577
France Paris Scotland Edinburgh
Stade Sébastien Charléty Tynecastle Stadium
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 17,529
England St. Helens Northern Ireland Belfast
Knowsley Road Windsor Park
Capacity: 17,500 Capacity: 17,000
England Gloucester England Widnes
Kingsholm Stadium Autoquest Stadium
Capacity: 16,500 Capacity: 13,350
France Albi England Hull
Stadium Municipal d'Albi Craven Park
Capacity: 13,058 Capacity: 12,000
England Gateshead England Castleford
Gateshead International Stadium Wheldon Road
Capacity: 11,800 Capacity: 11,743
Wales Llanelli Wales Wrexham
Stradey Park Racecourse Ground
Capacity: 10,800 Capacity: 10,771
England Hull Scotland Glasgow England Workington France Carcassonne Republic of Ireland Dublin
The Boulevard Firhill Stadium Derwent Park Stade Albert Domec Tolka Park
Capacity: 10,500 Capacity: 10,102 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 9,680

Group stage

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Australia 3 3 0 0 198 14 +184 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  England 3 2 0 1 144 36 +108 4
3  Fiji 3 1 0 2 56 144 −88 2
4  Russia 3 0 0 3 20 224 −204 0
28 October 2000
18:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
England  2–22  Australia
Goals: Farrell (1/1)
 Summary
 Tries: Sailor (2), Gidley, MacDougall
Goals: Rogers (3/4)
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 33,758
Referee: David Pakieto (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: Brett Kimmorley (Australia)
29 October 2000
Fiji  38–12  Russia
Try: Vunivalu (3),
Tuqiri (2),
Kuraduadua,
Sovatabua
Con: Tuqiri (5/7)		 Summary
 Try: Rullis,
Ilyasov
Con: Zhiltsov (1/1)
Mitrofanov (1/1)
Craven Park, Hull
Attendance: 2,187[6]
Referee: Russell Smith
1 November 2000
Australia  66–8  Fiji
Try: Rogers (4),
Girdler (2),
Kennedy (2),
Hindmarsh,
Barrett,
MacDougall,
Gidley
Con: Rogers (9/12)		 Summary
 Try: Cakacaka (m),
Tuqiri (m)
Con: ? (0/2)
Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead
Attendance: 4,197[7]
Referee: Robert Connolly
1 November 2000
England 76–4 Russia
Try: Sinfield (3),
Jamie Peacock (2),
Long (2),
Rowley (2),
Walker,
Stephenson,
Hay,
Deacon,
Pryce
Con: Farrell (5),
Long (5)		SummaryPen: Mitrofanov (2)
Knowsley Road, St Helens
Attendance: 5,736
Referee: Bill Shrimpton
4 November 2000
England 66–10 Fiji
Try: Jamie Peacock (3),
Wellens (2),
Rogers (2),
Naylor,
Hay,
Radlinski,
Smith,
Farrell
Con: Farrell (9/12)		SummaryTry: Tuqiri (m),
Navale (c),
Con: Vunivalu (1/2)
Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 10,052
Referee: Thierry Alibert
4 November 2000
Australia 110–4 Russia
Try: Sailor (4),
Girdler (3),
Croker (2),
Hindmarsh (2),
Barrett (2),
Johns,
Tallis,
Fletcher,
Webcke,
MacDougall,
Gidley
Con: Girdler (17/19)		SummaryTry: Matt Donovan
Con: Mikhail Mitrofanov (0/2)
The Boulevard, Hull
Attendance: 3,044
Referee: Stuart Cummings

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  New Zealand 3 3 0 0 206 28 +178 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  Wales 3 2 0 1 80 86 −6 4
3  Lebanon 3 0 1 2 44 110 −66 1
4  Cook Islands 3 0 1 2 38 144 −106 1
29 October 2000
New Zealand  64–0  Lebanon
Try: Jones (2),
Carroll (2),
Vainikolo (2),
Talau (2),
Barnett (2),
Swain,
Jellick
Con: Jones (6),
Paul (2)
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Attendance: 2,496[8]
Referee: Bill Harrigan
29 October 2000
Wales  38–6  Cook Islands
Try: Tassell (3),
Jenkins,
Briers,
Cunningham
Con: Harris (6/6)
Pen.: Harris (1/1)		 Try: Temata
Con: Piakura (1/1)
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Attendance: 5,016[9]
Referee: Thierry Alibert
2 November 2000
New Zealand 84–10 Cook Islands
Try: Vaealiki (2),
Paul (2),
Barnett (2),
Lavea (2),
Lauiti'iti,
Vainikolo,
Wiki,
Cayless,
Pongia,
Vagana,
Puletua
Con: Lavea (12/15)		Try: Noovao
Iro
Con: Piakura (1/2)
Madejski Stadium, Reading
Attendance: 3,982
Referee: Tim Mander
2 November 2000
Wales 24–22 Lebanon
Try: Harris (2),
Davies,
Cunningham,
Sterling
Con: Harris (2/5)		Try: Saleh (2),
Coorey
El Masri
Con: El Masri (3/4)
Stradey Park, Llanelli
Attendance: 1,497
Referee: David Pakieto
5 November 2000
Cook Islands 22–22 Lebanon
Try: Berryman (2),
Toa,
Joe
Con: Berryman (2)
Piakura		Try: El Masri (2),
Touma,
Saleh
Con: El Masri (3/4)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 17,612
Referee: Bill Shrimpton
5 November 2000
Wales 18–58 New Zealand
Try: Briers,
Atcheson,
Farrell
Con: Harris (3/3)		Try: Vainikolo (3),
Barnett (2),
Lauiti'iti,
Wiki,
Vagana,
Paul,
Talau,
Carroll
Con: Paul (5)
Lavea (2)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 17,612
Referee: Russell Smith

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Papua New Guinea 3 3 0 0 69 42 +27 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  France 3 2 0 1 104 37 +67 4
3  Tonga 3 1 0 2 96 76 +20 2
4  South Africa 3 0 0 3 24 138 −114 0
28 October 2000
Papua New Guinea  23–20  France
Tries: Bai, Krewanty, Buko, Lam.
Goals: Buko, Wilshere 2.
Drop Goals: Lam.		 Tries: Benausse, Dekkiche, Hechiche 2.
Goals: Banquet 2.
Charlety Stadium, Paris
Attendance: 7,498
Referee: Steve Ganson[10]
28 October 2000
Tonga  66–18  South Africa
Try: Vaikona 5' (c)
D. Mann 7' (c)
Vaikona 20' (c)
Liava'a ?' (m)
Masella ?' (m)
Moala ?' (m)
E. Mann 44' (m)
Vaikona 46' (m)
Lomi 51' (c)
Vaikona 55' (c)
Kaufusi ?' (?)
D. Mann ?' (?)
Mason ?' (?)
Con: Moala (4/9)
Mason (1/1)		 Try: Breytenbach 17' (m)
Barnard ?' (c)
Best ?' (c)
Con: ? (0/1)
Bloem (2/2)
Pen: O'Shea (1/1)
Charlety Stadium, Paris
Attendance: 7,498
Referee: Darren Hopewell[11]
1 November 2000
France  28–8  Tonga
Try: Banquet ?' (c)
Sirvent ?' (c)
Dulac 66' (m)
Garcia ?' (c)
Jampy ?' (c)
Con: Banquet (4/5)
Pen: Banquet (0/2)		 Try: D. Fisi'iahi ?' (m)
P. Fisi'iahi 60' (m)
Con: Moala (0/2)
Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 10,288
Referee: Steve Clark
2 November 2000
Papua New Guinea 16–0 South Africa
Try: Aila 25' (c)
Wilshere 31' (c)
Paiyo 52' (m)
Con: Wilshere (2/3)
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 4,313
Referee: Darren Hopewell
5 November 2000
France 56–6 South Africa
Try: Cassin 8' (c)
Banquet 21' (c)
Cassin 35' (c)
Guisset 38' (c)
Jampy ?' (c)
Jampy ?' (c)
Jampy 53' (c)
Sirvent ?' (c)
Tallec ?' (c)
Con: Banquet (9/9)
Pen: Banquet (1/1) 18'		Try: De Villiers ?' (m)
Con: ? (0/1)
Pen: Bloem (1/1) ?'
Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi
Attendance: 7,969
Referee: Steve Clark
6 November 2000
Papua New Guinea 30–22 Tonga
Try: Mondo 19' (c)
Gene 23' (m)
Buko 35' (c)
Karl ?' (m)
Gene ?' (c)
Con: Wiltshere (3/5)
Pen: Wiltshere (2/2) 5', 42'		Try: Moala 10' (c)
Mason 39' (c)
Moala ?' (m)
Vaikona ?' (m)
Con: Moala (2/2)
Pen: Moala (1/1) 7'
Saint-Esteve, Perpignan
Attendance: 3,666
Referee: Steve Ganson

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Ireland 3 3 0 0 78 38 +40 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  Samoa 3 2 0 1 57 58 −1 4
3  Aotearoa Māori 3 1 0 2 49 67 −18 2
4  Scotland 3 0 0 3 34 55 −21 0
28 October 2000
Ireland  30–16  Samoa
Tries: Joynt, Ricketson, Eagar, Carney, Prescott.
Goals: Prescott 5		 Tries: Leauma, Milford, Betham.
Goals: Geros 2.
Windsor Park, Belfast[12]
Attendance: 3,207
Referee: Tim Mander
Player of the Match: Barrie McDermott[13]
29 October 2000
Scotland  16–17  Aotearoa Māori
Tries: Penny, Maiden, Bell
Goals: Mackay, Crowther		 Tries: Toopi 2, Kidwell
Goals: Ngamu 2
Drop Goals: Ngamu
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
Attendance: 2,008[14]
Referee: Stuart Cummings
1 November 2000
Ireland  18–6  Scotland
Tries: Sheridan, Withers.
Goals: Prescott 5.		 Tries: Arnold.
Goals: Crowther.
Tolka Park, Dublin
Attendance: 1,782
Referee: Russell Smith
1 November 2000
Samoa  21–16  Aotearoa Māori
Tries: Faafili 2, W Swann, Milford.
Goals: Poching 2.		 Tries: Mathews, Nelson, Rauhihi.
Goals: Goodwin 2.
Derwent Park, Workington
Attendance: 4,107
Referee: Bill Harrigan
4 November 2000
Ireland  30–16  Aotearoa Māori
Tolka Park, Dublin
Attendance: 3,164
Referee: Bill Harrigan
5 November 2000
Scotland  12–20  Samoa
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 1,579
Referee: David Pakieto

Knockout stage

The top 2 teams from each pool advanced to the quarter-finals.

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
11 November – Leeds
 
 
 Ireland16
 
18 November – Bolton
 
 England26
 
 England6
 
12 November – Castleford
 
 New Zealand49
 
 New Zealand54
 
25 November – Manchester
 
 France6
 
 New Zealand12
 
11 November – Watford
 
 Australia40
 
 Australia66
 
19 November – Huddersfield
 
 Samoa10
 
 Australia46
 
12 November – Widnes
 
 Wales22
 
 Papua New Guinea8
 
 
 Wales22
 

Quarter-finals

11 November 2000
Australia  66–10  Samoa
Summary
Vicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 5,404
Referee: Stuart Cummings (England)
11 November 2000
18:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
England  26–16  Ireland
Summary
Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 15,405
Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)
12 November 2000
New Zealand  54–6  France
Summary
12 November 2000
Wales  22–8  Papua New Guinea
Summary

Semi-finals

18 November 2000
New Zealand  49–6  England
Summary
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Attendance: 16,032
Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)
Player of the Match: Stephen Kearney (New Zealand)
19 November 2000
Australia  46–22  Wales
Summary
McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 8,114
Referee: Russell Smith (England)

Final

25 November 2000
Australia  40–12  New Zealand
Tries: Gidley 26'
Hindmarsh 46'
Lockyer 53'
Sailor (2) 66', 69'
Fittler 74'
Barrett 76'
Goals:
Rogers (6/7)		 Summary
 Tries:
Vainikolo 50'
Carroll 57'
Goals:
H. Paul (2/2)
Old Trafford, Manchester[15]
Attendance: 44,329
Referee: Stuart Cummings (England)
Player of the Match: Wendell Sailor (Australia)

Try scorers

10
9
6
5
4
3
2
1

References

  1. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (20 April 1999). "World Cup to get pounds 1m backing". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  2. ↑ Wilson, Andy (26 October 2000). "Maori role-model army signal intent". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  3. ↑ "World Cup returns profit". BBC Sport. 27 November 2000. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  4. ↑ Davies, Jonathan (22 October 2000). "Roll up and glory in the best". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  5. ↑ "England draw Australia in 2013 Rugby League World Cup". BBC News. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  6. ↑ Hampson, Andy (2000). "Fiji 38 Russia 12". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  7. ↑ Hampson, Andy (2000). "Australia 68 Fiji 8". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  8. ↑ Baldock, Andrew (2000). "New Zealand 64 Lebanon 0". PA Sport. sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  9. ↑ Laybourn, Ian (2000). "Wales 38 Cook Islands 6". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  10. ↑ Hannan, Tony (2000). "France 20 Papua New Guinea 23". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  11. ↑ Hannan, Tony (2000). "South Africa 18 Tonga 66". PA Sport. sportinglife.com. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  12. ↑ Longmore, Andrew (27 August 2000). "League joins peace process". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  13. ↑ "Rugby League Scores, Fixtures & Results - Sporting Life". www.sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  14. ↑ "Rugby League Scores, Fixtures & Results - Sporting Life". www.sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "Australia vs. New Zealand - Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
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