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DIEHARD
07-11-07, 10:23 AM
http://www.rlwc08.com/pix/news/RLWC08_UK_Open.jpg

In photo from left to right: Scotland - Danny Brough, New Zealand - Roy Asotasi, France - Eric Anselme, Fiji - Waisale Suka, Australia - Mark Gasnier, England - Jamie Pea****, Tonga - Lopini Paea, Ireland - Eamon O'Carroll, PNG - Keith Peters

As tickets go on sale tomorrow for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, the competing nations have gathered in England for the last time before heading to Australia in October 2008.

The meeting of the nine countries already through to the main draw (and the four still fighting for the final berth) outlined every aspect of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Rugby League World Cup ’08 officials detailed television agreements that will ensure coverage across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and the Middle East; New Media platforms that will provide access across internet platforms; ticketing programmes across all 18 matches and a tournament draw that will ensure quality games throughout the 29-day event.

Rugby League World Cup ’08 Tournament Director and Rugby League International Federation Chairman, Mr Colin Love AM, outlined a tournament schedule that has already sparked tremendous interest from overseas tourists and which promises exciting matches at every turn.

Official travel agencies for World Cup XIII have been allocated key seating for the event and early registrations of interest suggest that thousands of English fans are preparing to head to Australia in 2008.

First preference for this seating will go to those fans seeking to come to Australia for extended tours with a further allocation of tickets available early next year.

The tournament begins when England takes on PNG on October 25 in Townsville, with the official opening ceremony a day later as host nation Australia plays New Zealand at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The final will be played in front of what promises to be a capacity crowd at one of the world’s great Rugby League venues - Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium - November 22.

“The game has made some great strides in rebuilding international competition in recent years,” Mr Love said.

“Australia is finding itself constantly tested by New Zealand and Great Britain, while French Rugby League is re-emerging on the back of some strong performances against the top three nations and after seeing Catalans Dragons reach the Challenge Cup Final.

“We have seen the likes of Tonga and PNG score some surprise results against Australian teams and a look across both the English Super League and the NRL provides a reminder of the number of talented players coming through who are from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds.

“In the case of the Pacific Island nations, in particular, I think the World Cup will see some formidable teams begin to emerge.

“A strong World Cup tournament is the key to helping develop emerging countries and in providing future infrastructure for the international game.

“There’s a lot of work ahead but, given the support we have had from Federal and State Governments in Australia, from broadcasters and the stadium operators, I’m confident that we already have a very solid foundation in place.”

Rugby League World Cup XIII will take in 12 different venues, three states and the Australian Capital Territory.

The English itinerary will begin at the gateway to the Barrier Reef, Townsville, and take in Newcastle and Melbourne before the finals.

The encounter between Australia and England not only marks 100 years since a fledgling Australian team headed to the UK for its first official Rugby League Test series, but it also combines the sites of Melbourne with the world famous Spring Racing Carnival, coinciding with the weekend of the Victoria Derby at Flemington Racecourse.

“It is a tournament that has any number of matches that would attract large audiences in their own right,” Mr Love said.

“It is a series of events spread across a wide range of areas to ensure that every fan has a chance to be a part of the 2008 World Cup.”

For media enquiries please call: John Brady +61 (0)2 9339 8524; 0408 881 222
Pat Tsanis +61 (0)2 9237 0747; 0403 262 656

Andy Whitelam +44 (0)1132375049; 07770 993 366

Craig Spence +44 (0)1132375581; 07921 899 106

http://www.rugbyleagueworldcup.com

DIEHARD
08-11-07, 09:55 AM
League takes on the world

IT was not just about the launch of next year's World Cup. It was about the future of international rugby league and the wonderful path believed to be ahead.

World Cup tournament director Colin Love has no doubt that next year's World Cup in Australia will be the catalyst for the game to grow at a rate never before seen.

The comparison is simple: The Rugby League International Federation believes the game is on the same launch pad as rugby union when it staged its inaugural World Cup 20 years ago.

"And if you look at what they have done in 20 years - I think we will get to that stage a lot sooner than that," Love said.

This year's Rugby World Cup in France sold 2.2 million tickets and generated tens of millions of dollars.

Love knows the comparisons with the success of the soccer and rugby World Cups will be made throughout the lead-up to next year's event, often unfavourably.

Yet he maintains this tournament is a starting point.

With more than $20 million invested, next year's tournament is already on track to be the most successful ever and there is broad confidence that it will gain enough momentum to demand follow-up tournaments every four years.

Nine of the 10 nations playing in next year's league World Cup - the final place is still being contested - were represented at the launch in Leeds, England.

Mark Gasnier stood in for Kangaroos captain Darren Lockyer, who is on his honeymoon.

With Australia's dominance challenged in recent years, Gasnier believes the World Cup provides the type of challenge that has previously defined great Australian teams.

"We haven't been the most dominant team over the past 30 years for no reason," he said.

"But if you look at the results of the last World Cups, a lot of times they did it tough.

"And two years ago we lost to New Zealand, and last year we won by one point.

"This is a good stepping stone for the game. It will open the eyes of the public and the administration, that rugby league can be international."

In the quest for global recognition, the best example remains Samoa.

Former New Zealand stars such as Nigel Vagana and Ali Lauiti'iti are now playing for their native Samoa to try to qualify them for the one remaining spot.

Gasnier hopes more players will play for their homelands rather than being lured by heavyweights such as Australia and New Zealand.

"If we can get a system in place where teams like Samoa and Tonga, these nations that provide good players, if we can provide a junior structure for them and have them be proud to play for their team, it will be great," he said.

An international board met after Tuesday's launch, pencilling in plans for a qualifying system to provide clear-cut guidelines in time for the World Cup after next.

"We want to generate revenue which is going to be available to the development on the international game," Love said. "Up until now we haven't had the resources to do that."

In the past, only the Tri-Nations series between Australia, NZ and Great Britain have generated money.

"So this is a means of developing the international game by generating revenue from an event like this," Love said.

A key part to Love's confidence has been the changing tastes of sporting crowds, if not society in general.

The success of the Rugby World Cup reflects the changing appeal of major events, where crowds are now as happy to be involved as much for the event itself, and not just the measure of the contest therein.

Daily Telegraph

DIEHARD
08-11-07, 09:58 AM
World Cup Launch on SLTV

With the 2008 Rugby League World Cup less than a year away, the Rugby League International Federation have unveiled full details of the tournament.

They staged a special event in the UK which brought together the competing nations and allowed members of the media to find out more about what will be a huge festival for the world game.

In a special edition of SL TV we spoke to some of the players who are hoping to be involved in next year's tournament....

Click here for the interviews (http://www.superleague.co.uk/ClientData/sltv/worldcuplaunch.wmv)

http://www.superleague.co.uk