World Cup 08: Brisbane to host final

[Queenslander]

Brisbane to host cup final

April 19, 2007

NEXT year's rugby league World Cup final will be played in Brisbane.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie told parliament today the final would be played at Suncorp Stadium on November 22, and the stadium would also host a semi-final on November 15.

Other Queensland-based matches in the World Cup, which celebrates 100 years of rugby league, will be played at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville and the yet-to-be-built Skilled Stadium at Robina on the Gold Coast.

AAP

[Queenslander]

Yes Yes Yes!!! Sanity prevails.

This is a great day for Queensland rugby league. We will be able to show off our pride on an international scale.

[Dakink]

I think that is a great idea. The fans of Brisbane have suported international football way more than the Sydney fans. They deserve it.

Be interesting to see the turnout in the Sydney games.

[Queenslander]

An extra bit of news from http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsA...3/Default.aspx

Another regional centre, yet to be named, will host a pool match on November 11.

I wonder where it will be, Ipswich?, Sunshine Coast?, or possibly outback.... Places that come to mind are Longreach, Roma either would be a great display of getting the game out there.

[Steve]

Good stuff!
Other than the annual ANZAC test, we've been starved of international footy up this way.

[TITAN PETE]

Awesome news for Titans fans as we will be hosting matches at Robina

[Queenslander]

Some more World Cup 08 News is highlighted:

Queensland to host World Cup Final

Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 2:20 PM

The Rugby League International Federation has today confirmed that Queensland will host the final of the 2008 World Cup, a semi-final and at least three of the remaining 17 matches in the tournament.

The crowning moment of the game?s Centenary Season in Australia will be staged at Brisbane?s Suncorp Stadium on November 22.

NSW, the site of the first Rugby League game on Australian soil, has won the right to kick off the tournament with a showdown between Australia and New Zealand on October 25. It is also guaranteed a semi final and a minimum of five pool matches.

Ten nations will take part in the first World Cup on Australian soil since 1977 a year when League legends Arthur Beetson, Mick Cronin, and Graham Eadie led Australia to victory.

As well as Sydney and Brisbane, matches have been confirmed in Townsville, Robina, and Melbourne, with negotiations on-going at other key regional venues.

Tickets for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup matches will go on sale from August this year.

RLIF and ARL Chairman Mr Colin Love AM, RFL Chairman Mr Richard Lewis and New Zealand Chairman Mr Andrew Chalmers joined Australian and New Zealand team representatives for the announcements at Brisbane?s Suncorp Stadium today.

Coinciding with the release of key venues, the Nine Network has announced that it will telecast all six ?Super Pool? matches and each of the three finals during the four-week event.

IMG Media has secured the international television rights and Velocity Brand Management, the company behind the 2007 Cricket World Cup, has won the merchandise and licensing rights.

The Australian Rugby League has been appointed to host the 2008 tournament on behalf of the RLIF.

The announcements follow months of behind the scenes planning and 17 qualifying matches which have been taking place from centres as diverse as Ireland, London, Belgrade, Amsterdam, Moscow, Philadelphia and Sydney since September 2006.

?The World Cup tournament is well and truly making its way to Australia,? Mr Love said.

?The support we have received from governments, the corporate sector and broadcasters underlines just how much people are looking forward to the event next year.

?The ?Super Pool? format with Australia, England, New Zealand and PNG in one pool will give all nations a real chance to display their talent throughout the tournament.?

Nineteen nations are contesting the 2008 World Cup. Seven have already secured a berth in the 10-team tournament to be played in Australia from October 25 to Saturday November 22, 2008.

These include current World Cup holders and Tri Nations champions Australia who joined New Zealand, England, France and Papua New Guinea in gaining automatic entry to the tournament.

Fiji and Tonga have also qualified via the Pacific Cup and seven teams (Ireland, Lebanon, Russia, Scotland, Wales the USA and Samoa) are vying for the remaining three positions.

?Already the tournament has achieved an enormous amount in promoting the game in developing nations,? Mr Love said.

?There?s a real sense of anticipation building in those countries still working to qualify.

?Those who have missed out are already planning for next time and those that weren?t quite ready for the 2008 event are committed to building their competitions to be contenders in the future.

?There?s enormous enthusiasm for the game internationally and the spirit of World Cups in all sports is to respect the so-called minnows as much as the established stars.

?To that end, the work of coaches like Tim Sheens (Russia), Jim Dymock (Tonga), John Monie (France), and Adrian Lam (PNG) in nurturing the skills of these aspiring players also deserves special mention.

?On one level this tournament will celebrate a lot of hard work by many enthusiastic individuals who are growing the game?s reach and who deserve recognition.

?It will also, as shown in last year?s Tri-Nations final, showcase the remarkable rivalries of traditional powers such as Australia, England and New Zealand.

?It?s a compelling event not only for Rugby League fans but for all sports fans.

?Australian?s love to give an ?underdog? a go and World Cups are a celebration of that very spirit.?

Source: NRL

[qld power]

any more details like tenative venues and dates for the world cup for games

[Queenslander]

any more details like tenative venues and dates for the world cup for games

Its still early days, as the above article states the only confirmed locations and dates are:

Suncorp Stadium:

Final: November 22nd 2008
Semi-Final: November 15th 2008
+ At least three pool matches

Telstra Stadium:

Opening: October 25th 2008
+ Five pool matches

Dairy Farmers Stadium: Unknown games and dates

Robina Stadium: As above

Telstra Dome: As above

Other Regional Centres: Unknown games and dates

Tickets go on sale August 2007

[Queenslander]

any more details like tenative venues and dates for the world cup for games

Its still early days, as the above article states the only confirmed locations and dates are:

Suncorp Stadium:

Final: November 22nd 2008
Semi-Final: November 15th 2008
+ At least three pool matches

Sydney (Assuming Telstra Stadium):

Opening: October 25th 2008
Semi-Final: Unknown Date
+ Five pool matches

Dairy Farmers Stadium: Unknown games and dates

Skilled Park (Robina): As above

Telstra Dome: As above

Other Regional Centres: Unknown games and dates

Tickets go on sale August 2007

[Steelers]

WOOHOO!

That is what I wanted to hear! We deserved the final, and having games at Dairy Farmers and Robina is even better! And I think it is good to see a compromise was met and Sydney was given the opener. SANITY PREVAILS!

[Steel Dragon]

Steelers said it. No, actually, I said it! I proposed this exact solution in the discussion thread on this topic a couple of months ago. The only pity is, more than likely it was not Queensland's good support of internationals in recent years that got them over the line, but the big fat check from Peter Beatie. Oh well, that's the way the world works.

Jason

[Grimmace]

Good on QLD for getting it.

Interesting read in the telegraph yesterday that QLD offered 3 million for the WC Final. Where as NSW only offered $1 million

[~lee~]

bbc.co.uk

2008 World Cup pools:
Pool 1: Australia, New Zealand, England, Papua New Guinea
Pool 2: France, Fiji, winner Euro A Pool 2
Pool 3: Tonga, winner repechage, winner Euro A Pool 1

2008 World Cup schedule:
Saturday, October 25: Australia v New Zealand
Sunday Oct 26: England v Papua New Guinea
Sunday October 26: Euro A Pool 1 v Tonga
Sunday October 26: France v Euro A Pool 2
Friday October 31: Fiji v France
Friday Oct 31: Tonga v Repechage
Saturday November 1: New Zealand v Papua New Guinea
Sunday November 2: Australia v England
Wednesday November 5: Euro A Pool 2 v Fiji
Wednesday November 5: Euro A Pool 1 v Repechage
Saturday November 8: England v New Zealand
Sunday November 9: Papua New Guinea v Australia
Monday November 10: Semi-final qualifier for Pool two and Pool three winners
Tuesday November 11: Ranking match, Pool 2 second place v Pool 3 third place
Friday November 14: Ranking match, Pool 2 third place v Pool 3 third place
Friday November 14: Ranking match, Pool 1 fourth place v semi-final qualifier loser
Saturday November 15: Semi-final one
Sunday November 16: Semi-final two
Saturday November 22: Final

[Queenslander]

The Courier Mail states that the SCG will hold the "centenary test" against Australia and New Zealand during the world cup.

Also Rockhampton is another likely venue for a Queensland World Cup game.