DIEHARD
12-10-07, 11:35 PM
Official Rugby League World Cup 2008
Edition # 1 - 12/10/07
Australian coach Ricky Stuart says his players have received a World Cup wake up call with alarm bells ringing on every front.
With the 2008 World Cup venues now locked in and an announcement on ticket on sale dates only days away, the excitement and challenge of what the World Cup means is hitting home.
Camped in New Zealand, where the team has witnessed first hand the national disappointment that came with the All Blacks' fall from grace in Rugby's World Cup, the Kangaroos are wary not to underestimate their opponents on Rugby League's grandest stage.
"Tonga's 44 - 6 victory against a Junior Kangaroos team boasting a host of NRL experience gave everyone in the squad a bit of a shock," Kangaroos centre Mark Gasnier said today.
"That on the back of PNG finishing with a draw against the Prime Minister's XIII is a reminder to us all of just what can happen.
"Fiji and Samoa will also have a wealth of talented players with NRL experience to choose from, ensuring there will be no easy games throughout the tournament."
. "I know the guys here are really passionate about being a part of the World Cup on home soil in the Centenary of the game in Australia.
"As for our pool I think people would be mad to underestimate PNG's ability to spring an upset with guys like Adrian Lam helping out behind the scenes."
So enthused is Gasnier about the World Cup that he has agreed to be Australia's player representative at a World Cup meeting in England next month. Stuart says that it's been rewarding to see his players switch into World Cup mode.
"Big events like this take a lot of planning and you tend to think they are a long way off," he said.
"But seeing the venues finalised, watching how seriously some of the other nations are taking their planning and seeing first hand the price of World Cup failure has really kicked the players into gear..
"When we play New Zealand on Sunday we will be careful to be focused on the job at hand but for the young players in particular it is a real chance for them to stick up their hand for next year and I know they are aware of that."
...........................
Stay tuned for an announcement on RLWC 08 ticketing next week.
Prices and on-sale dates will be made public in a matter of days.
Keep logging onto RLWC 08 for all the latest information. Don't forget to check out the competition at the end of this newletter for your chance to win some of those tickets
...........................
The battle for the final three positions in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup is on in earnest with age old rivalries being fuelled between Scotland and Wales in Euro Pool 2.
They are two of seven nations fighting for the remaining three World Cup positions.
Scotland took round one by six points and Wales need to win by more than that margin to secure automatic qualification on November 4 at Glasgow.
The loser will have to go into the dreaded repechage where one mistake will spell the end of a team's campaign.
The key fixture on the other side is Ireland v Lebabon on Saturday, November 3, at Dewsbury.
Both Ireland and Lebanon are on equal wins but Ireland have the edge on for and against.
The winner of this match will also qualify automatically as the winner of Euro Pool 1, while the loser will go to the repechage unless Russia can produce back to back upsets and force their way through.
The repechage will see four teams (runners up in euro pools one and two) and the USA and Samoa play off over three matches to decide just one position.
Such is the interest in these equations that Sky Sports in the UK has ensured that they will have the rights to the last five qualifying games as well as all 18 world Cup matches next year.
"The Opening Ceremony for the World Cup will take place at the Sydney Football Stadium on October 26, 2008 but for many players the World Cup is already well and truly underway," RLIF Chairman and Rugby League World Cup Tournament Director Mr Colin Love said today.
..........................
RLWC 08 organisers say the announcement of ticket prices this week will continue the tournament's philosophy of ensuring that as many Australians as possible get the chance to see the best Rugby League players in the world.
The tournament will span across 12 different venues, three states and the ACT and is already proving a major tourist attraction for overseas and interstate visitors.
While the prestige of the event will be a key attraction for the corporate market organisers have ensured that the matches will be affordable for families and every day fans.
"This is a major international tournament and given the demand that will exist for some of the premium matches in particular, we wanted to ensure that every day fans could still enjoy as many matches as possible," RLIF Chairman and Rugby League World Cup Tournament Director, Mr Colin Love AM, said today.
"This is an event not only for Rugby League fans but for anyone who enjoys international sport.
"Coordinating the ticketing programme is a huge logistical exercise across twelve different venues, opening ceremonies and finals and we will be working to give all fans a real chance to access tickets.
.............................
The RLWC08's decision to award the Opening Ceremony to the Sydney Football Stadium has completed a full schedule of matches for the tournament.
RLWC08 subscribers are now the first to have not only that schedule but also the planned kick off times for the event.
It's time for you to start planning your RLWC 08 experience!
http://www.rlwc08.com
Edition # 1 - 12/10/07
Australian coach Ricky Stuart says his players have received a World Cup wake up call with alarm bells ringing on every front.
With the 2008 World Cup venues now locked in and an announcement on ticket on sale dates only days away, the excitement and challenge of what the World Cup means is hitting home.
Camped in New Zealand, where the team has witnessed first hand the national disappointment that came with the All Blacks' fall from grace in Rugby's World Cup, the Kangaroos are wary not to underestimate their opponents on Rugby League's grandest stage.
"Tonga's 44 - 6 victory against a Junior Kangaroos team boasting a host of NRL experience gave everyone in the squad a bit of a shock," Kangaroos centre Mark Gasnier said today.
"That on the back of PNG finishing with a draw against the Prime Minister's XIII is a reminder to us all of just what can happen.
"Fiji and Samoa will also have a wealth of talented players with NRL experience to choose from, ensuring there will be no easy games throughout the tournament."
. "I know the guys here are really passionate about being a part of the World Cup on home soil in the Centenary of the game in Australia.
"As for our pool I think people would be mad to underestimate PNG's ability to spring an upset with guys like Adrian Lam helping out behind the scenes."
So enthused is Gasnier about the World Cup that he has agreed to be Australia's player representative at a World Cup meeting in England next month. Stuart says that it's been rewarding to see his players switch into World Cup mode.
"Big events like this take a lot of planning and you tend to think they are a long way off," he said.
"But seeing the venues finalised, watching how seriously some of the other nations are taking their planning and seeing first hand the price of World Cup failure has really kicked the players into gear..
"When we play New Zealand on Sunday we will be careful to be focused on the job at hand but for the young players in particular it is a real chance for them to stick up their hand for next year and I know they are aware of that."
...........................
Stay tuned for an announcement on RLWC 08 ticketing next week.
Prices and on-sale dates will be made public in a matter of days.
Keep logging onto RLWC 08 for all the latest information. Don't forget to check out the competition at the end of this newletter for your chance to win some of those tickets
...........................
The battle for the final three positions in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup is on in earnest with age old rivalries being fuelled between Scotland and Wales in Euro Pool 2.
They are two of seven nations fighting for the remaining three World Cup positions.
Scotland took round one by six points and Wales need to win by more than that margin to secure automatic qualification on November 4 at Glasgow.
The loser will have to go into the dreaded repechage where one mistake will spell the end of a team's campaign.
The key fixture on the other side is Ireland v Lebabon on Saturday, November 3, at Dewsbury.
Both Ireland and Lebanon are on equal wins but Ireland have the edge on for and against.
The winner of this match will also qualify automatically as the winner of Euro Pool 1, while the loser will go to the repechage unless Russia can produce back to back upsets and force their way through.
The repechage will see four teams (runners up in euro pools one and two) and the USA and Samoa play off over three matches to decide just one position.
Such is the interest in these equations that Sky Sports in the UK has ensured that they will have the rights to the last five qualifying games as well as all 18 world Cup matches next year.
"The Opening Ceremony for the World Cup will take place at the Sydney Football Stadium on October 26, 2008 but for many players the World Cup is already well and truly underway," RLIF Chairman and Rugby League World Cup Tournament Director Mr Colin Love said today.
..........................
RLWC 08 organisers say the announcement of ticket prices this week will continue the tournament's philosophy of ensuring that as many Australians as possible get the chance to see the best Rugby League players in the world.
The tournament will span across 12 different venues, three states and the ACT and is already proving a major tourist attraction for overseas and interstate visitors.
While the prestige of the event will be a key attraction for the corporate market organisers have ensured that the matches will be affordable for families and every day fans.
"This is a major international tournament and given the demand that will exist for some of the premium matches in particular, we wanted to ensure that every day fans could still enjoy as many matches as possible," RLIF Chairman and Rugby League World Cup Tournament Director, Mr Colin Love AM, said today.
"This is an event not only for Rugby League fans but for anyone who enjoys international sport.
"Coordinating the ticketing programme is a huge logistical exercise across twelve different venues, opening ceremonies and finals and we will be working to give all fans a real chance to access tickets.
.............................
The RLWC08's decision to award the Opening Ceremony to the Sydney Football Stadium has completed a full schedule of matches for the tournament.
RLWC08 subscribers are now the first to have not only that schedule but also the planned kick off times for the event.
It's time for you to start planning your RLWC 08 experience!
http://www.rlwc08.com