1995 (1995) World Cup  ()
Number of teams	10
Host country	United Kingdom
Winner	Australia (8th title)
Matches played	15
Attendance	265,609 (17,707 per match)
Points scored	718 (47.87 per match)
Top scorer	Andrew Johns (62)
Top try scorer	Steven Menzies (6)
Tournaments  < 1989 - 1992 2000 >

In 1995 the eleventh Rugby League World Cup was held in the United Kingdom. Badged the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport, the tournament was envisaged as a celebration of rugby league^[1]. The size of the competition was doubled with four additional teams being invited to the tournament and Great Britain being split between England and Wales (Scotland and Ireland taking part in the Emerging Nations Tournament). In addition, an Emerging Nations Tournament was held alongside the main event, giving teams that had failed to qualify a chance of silverware.

The tournament had been preceded by doubts and pessimism; many feared that it would produce one-sided-matches that would be unattractive to supporters. The forthcoming Super League war hung over the tournament, with the Australian Rugby League refusing to pick players who had signed for the rival competition.^[2]

In the event, the fears proved unfounded, and the cup was acclaimed a great success. Although many early matches did prove as one-sided as feared, fans still flocked to see "exotic" nations such as Fiji, Tonga and South Africa, mainly for the novelty value of such encounters. Large home crowds for the group involving Wales proved particularly encouraging.

The final between Australia and England drew a crowd of 66,540 to Wembley Stadium.

Contents 1 Teams 2 Group 1 2.1 Results 2.2 Final standings 3 Group 2 3.1 Results 3.2 Final standings 4 Group 3 4.1 Results 4.2 Final standings 5 Knockout stage 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Teams

Ten teams competed in the Centenary World Cup: Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tonga, Wales and Western Samoa.^[3] It was the first time since the 1975 World Series that the Great Britain team was split into England and Wales. Fiji, South Africa, Tonga and Western Samoa were all making their World Cup debuts.

[edit] Group 1

[edit] Results

1995-10-07	England	20–16	Australia	Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 41,271

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1995-10-08	Fiji	52–6	South Africa	Cougar Park, Keighley Attendance: 4,845

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1995-10-10	Australia	86–6	South Africa	Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead Attendance: 9,181

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1995-10-11	England	46–0	Fiji	Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 26,263

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1995-10-14	Australia	66–0[4]	Fiji	McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield Attendance: 7,127 Referee: Eddie Ward

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1995-10-14	England	46–0	South Africa	Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 14,041

[edit] Final standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
England	3	3	0	0	112	16	+96	6
Australia	3	2	0	1	168	26	+142	4
Fiji	3	1	0	2	52	118	−66	2
South Africa	3	0	0	3	12	184	−172	0

[edit] Group 2

[edit] Results

1995-10-08	New Zealand	25–24	Tonga	Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington Attendance: 8,083

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1995-10-10	Papua New Guinea	28–28	Tonga	The Boulevard, Hull Attendance: 5,121

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1995-10-13	New Zealand	22–6	Papua New Guinea	Knowsley Road, St Helens Attendance: 8,679

[edit] Final standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
New Zealand	2	2	0	0	47	30	+17	4
Tonga	2	0	1	1	52	53	−1	1
Papua New Guinea	2	0	1	1	34	50	−16	1

[edit] Group 3

[edit] Results

1995-10-09	Wales	28–6	France	Ninian Park, Cardiff Attendance: 10,250

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1995-10-12	France	10–56	Western Samoa	Ninian Park, Cardiff Attendance: 2,173

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1995-10-15	Wales	22–10	Western Samoa	Vetch Field, Swansea Attendance: 15,385

[edit] Final standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
Wales	2	2	0	0	50	16	+34	4
Western Samoa	2	1	0	1	66	32	+34	2
France	2	0	0	2	16	84	−68	0

[edit] Knockout stage

	Semi-finals				Final
	October 21- Old Trafford, Manchester Attendance: 30,042 Man of the Match: Bobbie Goulding
	England	25
	Wales	10
					October 28 - Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 66,540
					England	8
					Australia	16
	October 22 - McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield Attendance: 16,608
	Australia	30
	New Zealand	20

Australia went into the final having lost three of the past four games at Wembley (the last being the World Cup final of 1992) and with 11 of their 17 players under the age of 24.^[5] They'd also won their semi-final against New Zealand only after a period of extra time.^[6]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• 1995 World Cup audio highlights
• 1995 World Cup Final at rlphotos.com
• 1995 World Cup data at hunterlink.net.au
• 1995 World Cup at rlwc2008.com
• 1995 World Cup at rlhalloffame.org.uk
• 1995 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject.com
• 1995 World Cup at 188-rugby-league.co.uk

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