2000 Rugby League World Cup

Not to be confused with 2000 Women's Rugby League World Cup.

The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth World Cup for men’s national rugby league teams, held between 28 October and 25 November and hosted between the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. Australia won their ninth title by beating New Zealand 40-12 in the final at Old Trafford.

2000 Rugby League World Cup
Number of teams	16
Host countries	England  France  Ireland  Scotland  Wales
Winner	Australia (9th title)
Matches played	31
Attendance	263,921 (8,514 per match)
Top scorer	Mat Rogers (70)
Top try scorer	Wendell Sailor (10)
Tournaments  < 1995 2008 >

Following the success of the previous tournament, the World Cup was expanded to 16 teams and for the first time featured qualification rounds before the finals.

Alongside the men's tournament, it was also the same year when the inaugural Women's Rugby League World Cup was first played.

Summary

Following the success of the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, organisers decided to expand the 2000 tournament to 16 teams, 15 were invited while seven emerging nations were invited into a qualifying tournament to determine the 16th place.

The millennium World Cup attracted a record sponsorship of over £1 million from title Lincoln Financial Group, who had also sponsored Great Britain's Tests against New Zealand the previous year.^[1] The tournament also made a £2 million profit, despite attracting small crowds.^[2]

Despite its financial success the 2000 World Cup was seen as a failure, with too many blow out score lines and the inclusion of New Zealand Māori team being invited alongside the New Zealand National team. Despite being the only team to have to qualify to play in the World Cup, Lebanon were criticised for consisting entirely of Australians of Lebanese origin, which led to derisory comments in the media.^[3] The tournament also attracted criticism of its lack of marketing and poor crowds.

France performed creditably and had healthy attendances in games they hosted, while the much-derided Lebanon team also proved the catalyst for domestic competition in that country.

Qualifying

See also: 2000 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

Six countries – Lebanon, the United States, Morocco, Canada, Italy and Japan – competed for one available place in the tournament. Lebanon defeated the United States 62–8 in the final play-off match.

Teams

Further information: 2000 Rugby League World Cup squads

The 2000 World Cup tournament featured 16 teams:

Team	Captain	Coach
Australia	Brad Fittler	Chris Anderson
Cook Islands	Kevin Iro	Stan Martin
England	Andy Farrell	John Kear
Fiji	Lote Tuqiri	Don Furner
France	Fabien Devecchi	Gilles Dumas
Ireland	Terry O'Connor	Steve O'Neill and Andy Kelly
Lebanon	Darren Marroon	John Elias
New Zealand	Richie Barnett	Frank Endacott
Aotearoa Māori	Tawera Nikau	Cameron Bell
Papua New Guinea	Adrian Lam	Bob Bennett
Russia	Ian Rubin	Evgeniy Klebanov
Samoa	Willie Poching	Darrell Williams
Scotland	Danny Russell	Shaun McRae
South Africa	Jamie Bloem	Paul Matete
Tonga	Martin Masella	Murray Hurst
Wales	Iestyn Harris	Clive Griffiths

Venues

The games were played at various venues in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France.

The Twickenham Stadium in London, the home of the English rugby union was the host stadium for the opening ceremony and match featuring hosts England and defending champions Australia.^[4]

London	Cardiff	Trafford	Toulouse	Bolton
Twickenham Stadium	Millennium Stadium	Old Trafford (Venue of Final)	Stadium de Toulouse	Reebok Stadium
Capacity: 75,000	Capacity: 74,500	Capacity: 56,000	Capacity: 37,000	Capacity: 28,723
Huddersfield	London Trafford Cardiff Bolton Huddersfield Reading Leeds Watford Edinburgh St Helens Belfast Gloucester Widnes Hull (2) Gateshead Castleford Llanelli Wrexham Glasgow Workington Locations of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup host venues in the United Kingdom Dublin Locations of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup host venues in the Republic of Ireland Toulouse Paris Albi Carcassonne Locations of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup host venues in France			Reading
McAlpine Stadium				Madejski Stadium
Capacity: 24,500				Capacity: 24,161
Leeds				Watford
Headingley				Vicarage Road
Capacity: 22,000				Capacity: 21,577
Paris				Edinburgh
Stade Sébastien Charléty				Tynecastle Stadium
Capacity: 20,000				Capacity: 17,529
St. Helens				Belfast
Knowsley Road				Windsor Park
Capacity: 17,500				Capacity: 17,000
Gloucester				Widnes
Kingsholm Stadium				Autoquest Stadium
Capacity: 16,500				Capacity: 13,350
Albi				Hull
Stadium Municipal d'Albi				Craven Park
Capacity: 13,058				Capacity: 12,000
Gateshead				Castleford
Gateshead International Stadium				Wheldon Road
Capacity: 11,800				Capacity: 11,743
Llanelli				Wrexham
Stradey Park				Racecourse Ground
Capacity: 10,800				Capacity: 10,771
Hull	Glasgow	Workington	Carcassonne	Dublin
The Boulevard	Firhill Stadium	Derwent Park	Stade Albert Domec	Tolka Park
Capacity: 10,500	Capacity: 10,102	Capacity: 10,000	Capacity: 10,000	Capacity: 9,680

Group stage

Group A

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Australia	3	3	0	0	198	14	+184	6	Advance to knockout stage
2	England	3	2	0	1	144	36	+108	4
3	Fiji	3	1	0	2	56	144	−88	2
4	Russia	3	0	0	3	20	224	−204	0

Source: Rugby League Project

England	2–22	Australia
Goals: Farrell (1/1)	Summary	Tries: Sailor (2), Gidley, MacDougall Goals: Rogers (3/4)

28 October 2000 18:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)

Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 33,758 Referee: David Pakieto (New Zealand) Player of the Match: Brett Kimmorley (Australia)

Fiji	38–12	Russia
Try: Vunivalu (3), Tuqiri (2), Kuraduadua, Sovatabua Con: Tuqiri (5/7)	Summary	Try: Rullis, Ilyasov Con: Zhiltsov (1/1) Mitrofanov (1/1)

29 October 2000

Craven Park, Hull Attendance: 2,187[5] Referee: Russell Smith

---

Australia	66–8	Fiji
Try: Rogers (4), Girdler (2), Kennedy (2), Hindmarsh, Barrett, MacDougall, Gidley Con: Rogers (9/12)	Summary	Try: Cakacaka (m), Tuqiri (m) Con: ? (0/2)

1 November 2000

Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead Attendance: 4,197[6] Referee: Robert Connolly

1 November 2000

England	76–4	Russia
Try: Sinfield (3), Jamie Peacock (2), Long (2), Rowley (2), Walker, Stephenson, Hay, Deacon, Pryce Con: Farrell (5), Long (5)	Summary	Pen: Mitrofanov (2)

Knowsley Road, St Helens Attendance: 5,736 Referee: Bill Shrimpton

---

4 November 2000

England	66–10	Fiji
Try: Jamie Peacock (3), Wellens (2), Rogers (2), Naylor, Hay, Radlinski, Smith, Farrell Con: Farrell (9/12)	Summary	Try: Tuqiri (m), Navale (c), Con: Vunivalu (1/2)

Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds Attendance: 10,052 Referee: Thierry Alibert

4 November 2000

Australia	110–4	Russia
Try: Sailor (4), Girdler (3), Croker (2), Hindmarsh (2), Barrett (2), Johns, Tallis, Fletcher, Webcke, MacDougall, Gidley Con: Girdler (17/19)	Summary	Try: Matt Donovan Con: Mikhail Mitrofanov (0/2)

The Boulevard, Hull Attendance: 3,044 Referee: Stuart Cummings

Group B

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	New Zealand	3	3	0	0	206	28	+178	6	Advance to knockout stage
2	Wales	3	2	0	1	80	86	−6	4
3	Lebanon	3	0	1	2	44	110	−66	1
4	Cook Islands	3	0	1	2	38	144	−106	1

Source: Rugby League Project

New Zealand	64–0	Lebanon
Try: Jones (2), Carroll (2), Vainikolo (2), Talau (2), Barnett (2), Swain, Jellick Con: Jones (6), Paul (2)

29 October 2000

Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester Attendance: 2,496[7] Referee: Bill Harrigan

Wales	38–6	Cook Islands
Try: Tassell (3), Jenkins, Briers, Cunningham Con: Harris (6/6) Pen.: Harris (1/1)		Try: Temata Con: Piakura (1/1)

29 October 2000

Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Attendance: 5,016[8] Referee: Thierry Alibert

---

2 November 2000

New Zealand	84–10	Cook Islands
Try: Vaealiki (2), Paul (2), Barnett (2), Lavea (2), Lauiti'iti, Vainikolo, Wiki, Cayless, Pongia, Vagana, Puletua Con: Lavea (12/15)		Try: Noovao Iro Con: Piakura (1/2)

Madejski Stadium, Reading Attendance: 3,982 Referee: Tim Mander

2 November 2000

Wales	24–22	Lebanon
Try: Harris (2), Davies, Cunningham, Sterling Con: Harris (2/5)		Try: Saleh (2), Coorey El Masri Con: El Masri (3/4)

Stradey Park, Llanelli Attendance: 1,497 Referee: David Pakieto

---

5 November 2000

Cook Islands	22–22	Lebanon
Try: Berryman (2), Toa, Joe Con: Berryman (2) Piakura		Try: El Masri (2), Touma, Saleh Con: El Masri (3/4)

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 17,612 Referee: Bill Shrimpton

5 November 2000

Wales	18–58	New Zealand
Try: Briers, Atcheson, Farrell Con: Harris (3/3)		Try: Vainikolo (3), Barnett (2), Lauiti'iti, Wiki, Vagana, Paul, Talau, Carroll Con: Paul (5) Lavea (2)

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 17,612 Referee: Russell Smith

Group C

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Papua New Guinea	3	3	0	0	69	42	+27	6	Advance to knockout stage
2	France	3	2	0	1	104	37	+67	4
3	Tonga	3	1	0	2	96	76	+20	2
4	South Africa	3	0	0	3	24	138	−114	0

Source: Rugby League Project

Papua New Guinea	23–20	France
Tries: Bai, Krewanty, Buko, Lam. Goals: Buko, Wilshere 2. Drop Goals: Lam.		Tries: Benausse, Dekkiche, Hechiche 2. Goals: Banquet 2.

28 October 2000

Charlety Stadium, Paris Attendance: 7,498 Referee: Steve Ganson[9]

Tonga	66–18	South Africa
Try: Vaikona 5' (c) D. Mann 7' (c) Vaikona 20' (c) Liava'a ?' (m) Masella ?' (m) Moala ?' (m) E. Mann 44' (m) Vaikona 46' (m) Lomi 51' (c) Vaikona 55' (c) Kaufusi ?' (?) D. Mann ?' (?) Mason ?' (?) Con: Moala (4/9) Mason (1/1)		Try: Breytenbach 17' (m) Barnard ?' (c) Best ?' (c) Con: ? (0/1) Bloem (2/2) Pen: O'Shea (1/1)

28 October 2000

Charlety Stadium, Paris Attendance: 7,498 Referee: Darren Hopewell[10]

---

France	28–8	Tonga
Try: Banquet ?' (c) Sirvent ?' (c) Dulac 66' (m) Garcia ?' (c) Jampy ?' (c) Con: Banquet (4/5) Pen: Banquet (0/2)		Try: D. Fisi'iahi ?' (m) P. Fisi'iahi 60' (m) Con: Moala (0/2)

1 November 2000

Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne Attendance: 10,288 Referee: Steve Clark

2 November 2000

Papua New Guinea	16–0	South Africa
Try: Aila 25' (c) Wilshere 31' (c) Paiyo 52' (m) Con: Wilshere (2/3)

Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Attendance: 4,313 Referee: Darren Hopewell

---

5 November 2000

France	56–6	South Africa
Try: Cassin 8' (c) Banquet 21' (c) Cassin 35' (c) Guisset 38' (c) Jampy ?' (c) Jampy ?' (c) Jampy 53' (c) Sirvent ?' (c) Tallec ?' (c) Con: Banquet (9/9) Pen: Banquet (1/1) 18'		Try: De Villiers ?' (m) Con: ? (0/1) Pen: Bloem (1/1) ?'

Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi Attendance: 7,969 Referee: Steve Clark

6 November 2000

Papua New Guinea	30–22	Tonga
Try: Mondo 19' (c) Gene 23' (m) Buko 35' (c) Karl ?' (m) Gene ?' (c) Con: Wiltshere (3/5) Pen: Wiltshere (2/2) 5', 42'		Try: Moala 10' (c) Mason 39' (c) Moala ?' (m) Vaikona ?' (m) Con: Moala (2/2) Pen: Moala (1/1) 7'

Saint-Esteve, Perpignan Attendance: 3,666 Referee: Steve Ganson

Group D

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup Group D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Ireland	3	3	0	0	78	38	+40	6	Advance to knockout stage
2	Samoa	3	2	0	1	57	58	−1	4
3	Aotearoa Māori	3	1	0	2	49	67	−18	2
4	Scotland	3	0	0	3	34	55	−21	0

Source: Rugby League Project

Ireland	30–16	Samoa
Tries: Joynt, Ricketson, Eagar, Carney, Prescott. Goals: Prescott 5		Tries: Leauma, Milford, Betham. Goals: Geros 2.

28 October 2000

Windsor Park, Belfast[11] Attendance: 3,207 Referee: Tim Mander Player of the Match: Barrie McDermott[12]

Scotland	16–17	Aotearoa Māori
Tries: Penny, Maiden, Bell Goals: Mackay, Crowther		Tries: Toopi 2, Kidwell Goals: Ngamu 2 Drop Goals: Ngamu

29 October 2000

Firhill Stadium, Glasgow Attendance: 2,008[13] Referee: Stuart Cummings

---

Ireland	18–6	Scotland
Tries: Sheridan, Withers. Goals: Prescott 5.		Tries: Arnold. Goals: Crowther.

1 November 2000

Tolka Park, Dublin Attendance: 1,782 Referee: Russell Smith

Samoa	21–16	Aotearoa Māori
Tries: Faafili 2, W Swann, Milford. Goals: Poching 2.		Tries: Mathews, Nelson, Rauhihi. Goals: Goodwin 2.

1 November 2000

Derwent Park, Workington Attendance: 4,107 Referee: Bill Harrigan

---

Ireland	30–16	Aotearoa Māori

4 November 2000

Tolka Park, Dublin Attendance: 3,164 Referee: Bill Harrigan

Scotland	12–20	Samoa

5 November 2000

Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 1,579 Referee: David Pakieto

Knockout stage

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage

The top 2 teams from each pool advanced to the quarter-finals.

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	11 November – Leeds
	Ireland	16
					18 November – Bolton
	England	26
					England	6
	12 November – Castleford
					New Zealand	49
	New Zealand	54
									25 November – Manchester
	France	6
									New Zealand	12
	11 November – Watford
									Australia	40
	Australia	66
					19 November – Huddersfield
	Samoa	10
					Australia	46
	12 November – Widnes
					Wales	22
	Papua New Guinea	8
	Wales	22

Quarter-finals

Australia	66–10	Samoa
	Summary

11 November 2000

Vicarage Road, Watford Attendance: 5,404 Referee: Stuart Cummings (England)

---

England	26–16	Ireland
	Summary

11 November 2000 18:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)

Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds Attendance: 15,405 Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)

---

New Zealand	54–6	France
	Summary

12 November 2000

Mend-a-Hose Jungle, Castleford Attendance: 5,158 Referee: Bill Harrigan (Australia)

---

Wales	22–8	Papua New Guinea
	Summary

12 November 2000

Auto Quest Stadium, Widnes Attendance: 5,211 Referee: David Pakieto (New Zealand)

Semi-finals

New Zealand	49–6	England
	Summary

18 November 2000

Reebok Stadium, Bolton Attendance: 16,032 Referee: Tim Mander (Australia) Player of the Match: Stephen Kearney (New Zealand)

---

Australia	46–22	Wales
	Summary

19 November 2000

McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield Attendance: 8,114 Referee: Russell Smith (England)

Final

Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup final

Australia	40–12	New Zealand
Tries: Gidley 26' Hindmarsh 46' Lockyer 53' Sailor (2) 66', 69' Fittler 74' Barrett 76' Goals: Rogers (6/7)	Summary	Tries: Vainikolo 50' Carroll 57' Goals: H. Paul (2/2)

25 November 2000

Old Trafford, Manchester[14] Attendance: 44,329 Referee: Stuart Cummings Player of the Match: Wendell Sailor

Try scorers

10

• Wendell Sailor

9

• Lesley Vainikolo

6

• Ryan Girdler
• Jamie Peacock
• Richie Barnett
• Willie Talau

5

• Bryan Fletcher
• Adam MacDougall
• Robbie Paul

4

• Trent Barrett
• Brad Fittler
• Matthew Gidley
• Nathan Hindmarsh
• Mat Rogers
• Lote Tuqiri
• Pascal Jampy
• Tonie Carroll
• Brian Leauma
• Tevita Vaikona
• Lee Briers
• Kris Tassell

3

• Andrew Johns
• Ben Kennedy
• Darren Lockyer
• Kevin Sinfield
• Tony Smith
• Atunasia Vunivialu
• Claude Sirvent
• Michael Withers
• Hazem El Masri
• Hassan Saleh
• Nigel Vagana
• Ruben Wiki
• Shane Laloata
• Laloa Milford
• Fifita Moala

2

• Jason Croker
• Scott Hill
• Steve Berryman
• Andy Hay
• Sean Long
• Darren Rogers
• Paul Rowley
• Chev Walker
• Paul Wellens
• Frédéric Banquet
• Jean-Emmanuel Cassin
• Rachid Hechiche
• Brian Carney
• Ryan Sheridan
• Brian Jellick
• Stacey Jones
• Stephen Kearney
• Ali Lauiti'iti
• Tasesa Lavea
• Quentin Pongia
• Logan Swann
• David Vaealiki
• Boycie Nelson
• Clinton Toopi
• David Buko
• Stanley Gene
• John Wilshere
• Henry Fa'afili
• David Solomona
• Duane Mann
• Willie Mason
• Iestyn Harris
• Wes Davies

1

• Craig Gower
• Brett Kimmorley
• Gorden Tallis
• Shane Webcke
• Kevin Iro
• Leroy Joe
• Meti Noovao
• Karl Temata
• Tiri Toa
• Paul Deacon
• Andy Farrell
• Scott Naylor
• Leon Pryce
• Kris Radlinski
• Keith Senior
• Francis Stephenson
• Patrice Benausse
• Yacine Dekkiche
• Arnaud Dulac
• Jean-Marc Garcia
• Jérôme Guisset
• Julien Rinaldi
• Gael Tallec
• Tabua Cakacaka
• Jone Kuraduadua
• Eparama Navale
• Waisale Sovatabua
• David Barnhill
• Martin Crompton
• Michael Eagar
• Mark Forster
• Chris Joynt
• Tommy Martyn
• Steve Prescott
• Luke Ricketson
• Michael Coorey
• Travis Touma
• Richie Blackmore
• Nathan Cayless
• Henry Paul
• Tony Puletua
• Matt Rua
• Craig Smith
• David Kidwell
• Wairangi Koopu
• Steve Matthews
• Paul Rauhihi
• Hare Te Rangi
• Eddie Aila
• Marcus Bai
• Raymond Karl
• Alex Krewanty
• Adrian Lam
• Michael Mondo
• Elias Paiyo
• Lucas Solbat
• Matt Donovan
• Robert Ilyasov
• Joel Rullis
• Monty Betham
• Willie Swann
• Danny Arnold
• Geoff Bell
• David Maiden
• Lee Penny
• Scott Rhodes
• Adrian Vowles
• Daniel Foster
• Paul Fisiiahi
• David Fisiiahi
• Lipina Kaufusi
• Talite Liava'a
• Nelson Lomi
• Esau Mann
• Martin Masella
• Willie Wolfgramm
• Leon Barnard
• Brian Best
• Coenraad Breytenbach
• Quinton De Villiers
• Paul Atcheson
• Jason Critchley
• Keiron Cunningham
• Anthony Farrell
• Mick Jenkins
• Paul Sterling
• Ian Watson