2000 Rugby League World Cup

Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox rugby league international tournament

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.

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tournament also made a £2 million profit, despite attracting small crowds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="wilson-maori26 October 2000">Template:Cite web</ref> 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

Template:See also

Six countries – Template:Rlnt, the Template:Rlnt, Template:Rlnt, Template:Rlnt, Template:Rlnt and Template:Rlnt – competed for one available place in the tournament. Lebanon defeated the United States 62–8 in the final play-off match.

Teams

Template:Further The 2000 World Cup tournament featured 16 teams:

Team	Captain	Coach
Template:Rl	Brad Fittler	Chris Anderson
Template:Rl	Kevin Iro	Template:Flagicon Stan Martin
Template:Rl	Andy Farrell	John Kear
Template:Rl	Lote Tuqiri	Template:Flagicon Don Furner
Template:Rl	Fabien Devecchi	Gilles Dumas
Template:Rl	Terry O'Connor	Template:Flagicon Steve O'Neill and Template:Flagicon Andy Kelly
Template:Rl	Darren Marroon	John Elias
Template:Rl	Richie Barnett	Frank Endacott
Template:Rl	Tawera Nikau	Cameron Bell
Template:Rl	Adrian Lam	Template:Flagicon Bob Bennett
Template:Rl	Ian Rubin	Evgeniy Klebanov
Template:Rl	Willie Poching	Template:Flagicon Darrell Williams
Template:Rl	Danny Russell	Template:Flagicon Shaun McRae
Template:Rl	Jamie Bloem	Template:Flagicon Paul Matete
Template:Rl	Martin Masella	Template:Flagicon Murray Hurst
Template:Rl	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.<ref name="BBC Sport 30 November 2010">Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Flagicon London	Template:Flagicon Cardiff	Template:Flagicon Trafford	Template:Flagicon Toulouse	Template:Flagicon 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

Template:Flagicon Huddersfield	Template:Location map+ Template:Location map Template:Location map+			Template:Flagicon Reading
McAlpine Stadium				Madejski Stadium
Capacity: 24,500				Capacity: 24,161

Template:Flagicon Leeds				Template:Flagicon Watford
Headingley				Vicarage Road
Capacity: 22,000				Capacity: 21,577

Template:Flagicon Paris				Template:Flagicon Edinburgh
Stade Sébastien Charléty				Tynecastle Stadium
Capacity: 20,000				Capacity: 17,529

Template:Flagicon St. Helens				Template:Flagicon Belfast
Knowsley Road				Windsor Park
Capacity: 17,500				Capacity: 17,000

Template:Flagicon Gloucester				Template:Flagicon Widnes
Kingsholm Stadium				Autoquest Stadium
Capacity: 16,500				Capacity: 13,350

Template:Flagicon Albi				Template:Flagicon Hull
Stadium Municipal d'Albi				Craven Park
Capacity: 13,058				Capacity: 12,000

Template:Flagicon Gateshead				Template:Flagicon Castleford
Gateshead International Stadium				Wheldon Road
Capacity: 11,800				Capacity: 11,743

Template:Flagicon Llanelli				Template:Flagicon Wrexham
Stradey Park				Racecourse Ground
Capacity: 10,800				Capacity: 10,771

Template:Flagicon Hull	Template:Flagicon Glasgow	Template:Flagicon Workington	Template:Flagicon Carcassonne	Template:Flagicon 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