The 2008 Rugby League World Cup featured the national teams (selected from twenty-four-man squads) of ten nations: Australia, England, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, France, Scotland, Ireland, Samoa and Tonga.[1][2]
[edit] Pool A
Head Coach: Ricky Stuart (
)
Head Coach: Tony Smith /
Asst. coach: Steve McNamara
Head coach: Stephen Kearney 
Asst. coach: Wayne Bennett
- Brent Webb and Jeff Lima were originally named but withdrew due to injury on the 7th October. Evarn Tuimavave and Jason Nightingale were there replacements[5]
- Iosia Soliola was originally named but withdrew due to injury on the 21st October. He was replaced by Bronson Harrison.[6]
Head Coach: Adrian Lam (
)[7][8]
[edit] Pool B
Head Coach: Joe Dakuitoga (
)
Head Coach: John Monie ()
Except for Edinburgh Eagles stand-off Paddy Couper, all of the Scottish team's players were selected under the grandparent rule.[9] Head Coach: Steve McCormack (
)
[edit] Pool C
Head Coach: Andy Kelly (
)
- Brett White was originally named but withdrew due to injury on the 9th of October. He was replaced by Brendan Guilfoyle.[11]
- Shannon McDonnell has also withdrawn due to injury. He was replaced by Shayne McMenemy.[12][13]
Head Coach: John Ackland ()
Head Coach: Jim Dymock (
)
- Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki were originally named for Tonga but were ruled ineligible by the Rugby League International Federation after both switched from Tonga to New Zealand in 2007. A New South Wales court later ruled that they could join the team after the 12th of November, making them available if Tonga made the Semi Finals.[14][15]
- Fraser and Louis Anderson both were originally named but withdrew due to injury. They were replaced by Kim Usai and Sam Moa.
- Anthony Tupou was originally named but withdrew on the 9th of October after being called into the Australian squad.[3]
[edit] Welcome to Country
As part of the official opening of the World Cup on 26 October, an exhibition game was played between an Aboriginal selection and a New Zealand Māori side.[16]
[edit] Indigenous Dreamtime Team
Head Coach: Neil Henry ()
Head Coach: Luke Goodwin ()[17][18]
[edit] Notes and references
[edit] Positions
| Northern Hemisphere terms | Southern Hemisphere terms |
-
- FB — Fullback
- WG — Wing
- CE — Centre
- SO — Stand-off
- SH — Scrum-half
- PR — Prop
- HK — Hooker
- SR — Second-Row
- LF — Loose-forward
- UB — Utility Back
- N/A
| -
- FB — Fullback
- WG — Wing
- CE — Centre
- FE — Five-Eighth
- HB — Halfback
- PR — Prop
- HK — Hooker
- SR — Second-Row
- LK — Lock
- UB — Utility Back
- UH — Utility Half
|
[edit] References
- ^ Two More Vodafone Warriors in World Cup Teams @ NZ Warriors, 8th October, 2008.
- ^ Fiji, Ireland, Samoa, Scotland and Tonga sides @ Official RLWC08 site, 8th October, 2008.
- ^ a b Tupou a Kangaroo again, replaces Crocker @ NRL Official website, 09 Oct 2008
- ^ Broncos duo join Kangaroos @ NRL Official Site, 16 Oct 2008
- ^ Tuimavave becomes Seventh Vodafone Warrior in Kiwis World Cup Squad @ NZ Warriors, 9th October, 2008.
- ^ Shattered Soliola out of World Cup @ NZ Herald, Oct 22, 2008
- ^ PNG will shock big guns, says Costigan @ NRL Official site, 13 Oct 2008
- ^ Kumuls get Pidgin lesson @ NRL Official site, 21 Oct 2008
- ^ Roberts, Chris (2008-10-25). "Scotland side for Rugby League of Nations has one home-bred Scot". Scottish Daily Record (dailyrecord.co.uk). http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/rugby-news/2008/10/25/ey-up-lad-it-s-the-scotland-side-with-one-scot-86908-20837470/. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
- ^ Paddy Coupar a true Braveheart @ NRL Official Site, 17 Oct 2008
- ^ White withdraws from Ireland WCup squad @ NRL Official website, 09 Oct 2008
- ^ Ireland seething over treatment @ NZ Herald, Oct 14, 2008.
- ^ Ireland suffer White injury blow @ BBC, 9 October 2008
- ^ Moimoi, Tuiaki cannot play for Tonga @ NRL Official website, 11 Oct 2008
- ^ Tonga welcome court ruling on NRL duo @ RLWC Official Website, 28 October, 2008
- ^ Indigenous Dreamtime team named @ Official RLWC08 site, 11th October, 2008.
- ^ NZ Maori name coaching staff for World Cup curtain raiser @ RL World Cup, June 14th 2008. Accessed 2009-06-24. Archived 2009-07-23.
- ^ Maori side to play Indigenous @ RLWC08 Official Site, 22 October, 2008.
[edit] External links
| Rugby League World Cup | | | Tournaments | | | | Qualifying | 1954 · 1957 · 1960 · 1968 · 1970 · 1972 · 1975 · 1977 · 1985–88 · 1989–92 · 1995 · 2000 · 2008 | | | Squads | 1954 · 1957 · 1960 · 1968 · 1970 · 1972 · 1975 · 1977 · 1985–88 · 1989–92 · 1995 · 2000 · 2008 | |
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