2008 Rugby League World Cup - Wikipedia - Recent changes [en]

The '''2008 Rugby League World Cup''' was the thirteenth [[Rugby League World Cup|World Cup]] for men’s rugby league national teams. It was held between 26 October and 22 November and was won by [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]], who defeated Australia 34–20 in the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup final|final]] in one of the greatest upsets in the sports history.

The '''2008 Rugby League World Cup''' was the thirteenth [[Rugby League World Cup|World Cup]] for men’s rugby league national teams. It was held between 26 October and 22 November and was won by [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]], who defeated Australia 34–20 in the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup final|final]] in one of the greatest upsets in the sports history.

Originally there was a plan to hold a World Cup in Australia in 2004,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/rugby_league/world_cup_2000/1034927.stm |title=McDonald defends World Cup |publisher=BBC |access-date=12 November 2008| date=22 November 2000| location=London}}</ref> however the lack of competitiveness at the 2000 World Cup and rise of the [[Rugby League Tri-Nations|Tri-Nations]] between Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain meant that plans for another World Cup were shelved.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2004/01/01/slwhal01.xml |title=Lewis backs Australia for World Cup – Telegraph |work=The Daily Telegraph |author=John Whalley<!--Last Updated: 6:37PM GMT 31 December 2003-->|date= 1 January 2004|access-date=12 November 2008| location=London}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Originally there was a plan to hold a World Cup in Australia in 2004,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/rugby_league/world_cup_2000/1034927.stm |title=McDonald defends World Cup |publisher=BBC |access-date=12 November 2008| date=22 November 2000| location=London}}</ref> however the lack of competitiveness at the 2000 World Cup and rise of the [[Rugby League Tri-Nations|Tri-Nations]] between Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain meant that plans for another World Cup were shelved.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2370497/Lewis-backs-Australia-for-World-Cup.html |title=Lewis backs Australia for World Cup – Telegraph |work=The Daily Telegraph |author=John Whalley<!--Last Updated: 6:37PM GMT 31 December 2003-->|date= 1 January 2004|access-date=12 November 2008| location=London}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

For the World Cup to regain some credibility, the number of teams was reduced to ten with Australia, England, France, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand automatically qualifying and a qualifying tournament to determine the other five teams. The tournament ended a year of celebrations commemorating the [[Centenary of Rugby League|centenary]] of the game in the [[southern hemisphere]] and was part of the [[Festival of World Cups]].

For the World Cup to regain some credibility, the number of teams was reduced to ten with Australia, England, France, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand automatically qualifying and a qualifying tournament to determine the other five teams. The tournament ended a year of celebrations commemorating the [[Centenary of Rugby League|centenary]] of the game in the [[southern hemisphere]] and was part of the [[Festival of World Cups]].