WORLD CUP
The best men’s national teams compete in the Rugby League World Cup, an international rugby league competition. The World Cup for any type of rugby football was first staged in France in 1954, and the competition is run by the International Rugby League.
The French proposal to establish a competition in 1931 and again in 1951 was the first to bring up the notion of a rugby league World Cup in the 1930s. The format, regularity, and scale of the event have changed greatly throughout time. The Paul Barriere Trophy, named after Paul Barriere, the French Rugby League President in the 1940s and 1950s, is presented to the victors. Australia has won the competition eleven times, Great Britain has done so three times, and New Zealand has done it once.
HISTORY
The French, who had been pushing for a competition since 1935, were the ones who came up with the idea for the Rugby League World Cup. Paul Barriere, the President of the French Rugby League, first proposed the notion in 1951. Bill Fallow Field, the secretary of the Rugby Football League, got the Rugby League Council to support the idea in 1952. The International Board agreed to Paul Barriere’s suggestion that France host the initial competition to be referred to as the “Rugby World Cup” at a meeting in Blackpool, England, in 1953. The event included teams from Britain, Australia, and New Zealand in addition to the hosts.
Great Britain won the 1954 Rugby League World Cup after defeating France on November 13 in Paris to take home the trophy.
Three years after the first World Cup’s success, Australia hosted another competition to commemorate 50 years of rugby league there. Teams competed against one another in league play, in contrast to the previous tournament. It was therefore determined that the league’s top-finishing team would be crowned champion. On their own turf, Australia triumphed.
The subsequent World Cup, staged in England this time, wouldn’t occur for another three years until 1960. It would be Great Britain’s second victory in the competition. Despite the home team winning, the World Cup saw low attendance as a result of the first-ever live broadcast of matches.
2022 RUGBY WORLD CUP
12 months later than planned, but bigger, better and bolder than ever before. For the first time ever, the men’s, women’s, and wheelchair competitions will all take place at the same time, showcasing the top athletes in the sport.
The biggest and best Rugby League World Cup in history will come to an exciting conclusion in exactly one year in a spectacular weekend in Manchester that includes the wheelchair final followed by the men’s and women’s double-header final at Old Trafford.
Five weeks of top-notch athletic activity get underway at St. James’ Park in Newcastle on October 15 before the women’s tournament gets underway at Headingly Stadium in Leeds on November 1 and the wheelchair competition gets underway at the storied Copper Box in London on November 3.