Wales coach John Kear comments on Rugby League World Cup 2017 draw

Wales could enjoy trips to Port Moresby, Townsville, Cairns, Perth and Canberra, all for the first time, if they can qualify for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

 

The Rugby League World Cup 2017 (RLWC2017) Organising Committee (OC) today announced the Draw for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from 27 October – 2 December 2017.

 

Wales still need to overcome a three-time group this autumn to qualify. They take on Serbia in Llanelli on Saturday 15^th October before travelling to Monza to face Italy a fortnight later. The winner of this group goes straight through to the finals with the runners up taking on the second place side from Ireland, Spain and Russia in a play-off in Leigh on November 4^th. Go to http://www.walesrugbyleague.co.uk/wales/match_tickets to buy tickets for Wales v Serbia.

 

If Wales win this autumn’s group, they will take the place of European Qualifier 1 and will start their campaign in Papua New Guinea on Saturday 28^th October 2017 before going on to meet Fiji in Townsville on Sunday 5^th November in a fiery double header before finishing their qualifying campaign a week later in Perth on Sunday 12^th November when they will take on Ireland, Spain or Russia. The Perth date is another double header which also sees England take on France.

 

If Wales qualify via the play-offs, they will take the place of European Qualifier 3 and will start the tournament in Cairns on Sunday 29^th October 2017 taking on Ireland, Spain or Russia in a double header that also sees Scotland take on Tonga. They would then travel to Townsville to take on USA on November 5^th in other game of the aforementioned the double header before taking on Fiji in Canberra on Friday 10^th November.

 

Wales’ head coach John Kear said: “All the games we could be playing in the World Cup will be very difficult. Papua New Guinea on their own soil will especially be difficult. They’ve beaten Great Britain in the past over there so it’ll be tough. But that’s why you go into World Cups, to test yourself. Fiji also will be difficult as we saw in the last two World Cups and we’ve seen how well USA can do as well.”

 

Kear especially welcomed the potential of a double header in Perth which could see Wales take on Ireland before the guaranteed clash of England v France.

 

“I coached both England and France in the past so that would be a very nice event if it happens,” Kear adds. “Perth’s a great city, I was there with Sheffield Eagles almost 20 years ago when we played in the World Club Challenge. It’s very much a Europeanised city and an all European occasion there would be nice.

 

“However our focus now is to qualify and once we’ve done that, we can put our energy and resources into progressing. Our focus now is Llanelli when we take on Serbia on October 15^thwhere we’re spreading the game once again in the South Wales corridor. If we’re successful there, then the game in Monza could be a great experience for everybody. I’m excited by this autumn’s games and should we be successful, which I’m confident we will be, then the World Cup in Australia will be a once in a lifetime experience for players, officials and supporters alike.”

 

Melbourne Rectangular Stadium will host a blockbuster opening match of the RLWC2017, when the home nation – the Kangaroos – begin their campaign under lights against England on Friday 27 October.

 

On Saturday 28 October, the Kiwis first pool match will be played at the home of Rugby League in New Zealand – Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium – when they take on Pacific rivals Samoa.

 

In October 2015, the RLWC2017 OC announced Papua New Guinea (PNG) as a hosting partner of the World Cup, with Port Moresby to host the PNG Kumuls’ three pool matches against two European Qualifiers and the USA.  The first match is scheduled for Saturday 28 October and in a country where Rugby League is the national sport, the passionate fans of PNG are sure to embrace the sport’s pinnacle event.

 

The winner of the RLWC2017 will be decided at Brisbane Stadium on Saturday 2 December, as the two finalists battle it out for the right to hold aloft the Paul Barrière trophy and claim the title of World Cup winners.

 

The RLWC2017 Tournament Draw is family-friendly by intention, with all matches to be played across the weekend including Friday night games.  There will be three double-headers in Cairns, Perth and Townsville, providing additional value for money for fans.

 

When not attending games, fans will experience some of the most iconic sporting destinations in the world. Sports enthusiasts will be able to explore the diversity of the eight host cities across Australia to New Zealand’s compact nature that simplifies travel and makes it easy for visitors to access all venues while experiencing a variety of tourist attractions along the way.  The welcome and hospitality supporters will receive when visiting all three host nations will make the RLWC2017 a bucket list item for sports fans worldwide.

 

Tournament Pools

With 11 teams already confirmed, the final three teams will come from the European Qualifying Tournament to be played in October and November this year.  The teams who are still in the race include Wales, Ireland, Russia, Serbia, Italy and Spain.

 

The pool structure reflects that of the successful 2013 Tournament.  The composition of the pools for RLWC2017 were shaped by a number of considerations, including the final placings from the 2013 World Cup and current world rankings

 

Pool A

Australia

England

France

Lebanon

 

Pool B

New Zealand

Samoa

Scotland

Tonga

 

Pool C

Papua New Guinea

European Qualifier 1

European Qualifier 2

 

Pool D

Fiji

USA

European Qualifier 3

 

Rugby League World Cup 2017 Tournament Draw
*Kick off times to be announced ahead of tournament

 

Date	Match Type	Match-Up	Venue
27/10/2017	Pool – Round 1	Australia vs England	Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
28/10/2017	Pool – Round 1	PNG v Euro Q1	Port Moresby (venue TBA)
28/10/2017	Pool – Round 1	New Zealand vs Samoa	Mt Smart, Auckland
28/10/2017	Pool – Round 1	Fiji vs USA	Townsville Stadium
29/10/2017	Pool – Round 1	Scotland vs Tonga	Barlow Park, Cairns
29/10/2017	Pool – Round 1	Euro Q2 vs Euro Q3	Barlow Park, Cairns
29/10/2017	Pool – Round 1	France vs Lebanon	Canberra Stadium
3/11/2017	Pool – Round 2	Australia vs France	Canberra Stadium
4/11/2017	Pool – Round 2	New Zealand vs Scotland	Christchurch Stadium
4/11/2017	Pool – Round 2	Samoa vs Tonga	Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
4/11/2017	Pool – Round 2	England vs Lebanon	Sydney Football Stadium
5/11/2017	Pool – Round 2	PNG vs Euro Q2	Port Moresby (venue TBA)
5/11/2017	Pool – Round 2	Euro Q3 vs USA	Townsville Stadium
5/11/2017	Pool – Round 2	Fiji vs Euro Q1	Townsville Stadium
10/11/2017	Pool – Round 3	Fiji vs Euro Q3	Canberra Stadium
11/11/2017	Pool – Round 3	Samoa vs Scotland	Barlow Park, Cairns
11/11/2017	Pool – Round 3	New Zealand vs Tonga	Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
11/11/2017	Pool – Round 3	Australia vs Lebanon	Sydney Football Stadium
12/11/2017	Pool – Round 3	PNG vs USA	Port Moresby (venue TBA)
12/11/2017	Pool – Round 3	England v France	Perth Rectangular Stadium
12/11/2017	Pool – Round 3	Euro Q1 vs Euro Q2	Perth Rectangular Stadium
17/11/2017	Quarter Final		Darwin Stadium
18/11/2017	Quarter Final		Christchurch Stadium
18/11/2017	Quarter Final		Wellington Regional Stadium
19/11/2017	Quarter Final		Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
24/11/2017	Semi Final		Brisbane Stadium
25/11/2017	Semi Final		Mt Smart, Auckland
2/12/017	Final		Brisbane Stadium

RLWC2017 Fan packages, including tickets, are on sale now at RLWC2017.com/travel
Tickets will go on general sale on 27 October 2016. Fans should register their interest at RLWC2017.com