2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

May 2014 April 2026 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualification April 2006 – November 2007 14 3 9 2000 2013 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying matches took place from April 2006 to November 2007. Of the ten teams to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, five of them qualified based on their performance in these matches. The other five teams had qualified automatically. Qualified teams 6 Asian-Pacific teams qualified for the World Cup; 3 qualified automatically, with the top 2 in the Pacific qualifying group also reaching the finals. Samoa finished third in the Pacific qualifying group and earned a qualification spot by winning the repechage. 4 European teams qualified for the World Cup. 2 qualified automatically, with a further 2 finals berths for the winner of each European qualifying group. No teams from the Atlantic qualifying group reached the finals, with the USA losing at the repechage semi-final stage. Team Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformanceAUS Host N/A Final 2000 Winners (1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1992, 1995, 2000)NZL Automatic qualifier N/AChampions 2000 Runners-up (1988, 2000)PNG Automatic qualifier N/ANo 2000 Quarter-finals (2000)ENG Automatic qualifier N/ASemi Final 2000 Runners-up (1975, 1995)FRA Automatic qualifier N/ANo 2000 Runners-up (1954, 1968)SCO Europe Pool A winners 4 November 2007No 2000 Group stage (2000)IRE Europe Pool B winners 2 November 2007Quarter Final 2000 Quarter-finals (2000)TON Pacific Pool winners 22 October 2006No 2000 Group stage (1995, 2000)FIJ Pacific runners-up 7 October 2006Semi Final 2000 Group stage (1995, 2000)SAM Repechage winners 14 November 2007No 2000 Quarter-finals (2000 Europe First round Team Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost PF Points for PA Points against +/− Points difference Pts Points QualificationRussia 330010820+886 Second RoundGeorgia (country) 320110250+524Ejected from competitionNetherlands 310268123–552Failed to qualify for World CupSerbia 300342127–850 28 April 2006 Netherlands 14–40 Russia Hook of Holland 250 13 May 2006 Serbia 10–45 Georgia (country) FK Radnički Stadium, Belgrade 500 26 May 2006 Georgia (country) 57–16 Netherlands Locomotive Stadium, Tbilisi 10,935 4 June 2006 Serbia 6–44 Russia FK Radnički Stadium, Belgrade 500 17 June 2006 Netherlands 38–26 Serbia Rotterdamse RC Beekweg, Rotterdam 250 22 June 2006 Russia 24–0The match was originally abandoned after the Georgian team had their visa applications rejected. A subsequent investigation discovered that Georgia had actually been forced to forfeit the match because their players were representing the rugby union team. Georgia were found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute, ejected from the competition and banned from RLIF events for two years; Russia were awarded the match 24–0. Georgia (country) – Second round Group A Team Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost PF Points for PA Points against +/− Points difference Pts Points QualificationScotland 21013732+52Qualified for World Cup Wales 21013237–52Intercontinental playoff 29 October 2006 Wales 14–21 Scotland Tries: Briers HughesJohnson Goal: Briers Tries: BennBroughLiddellNanyn Goals: MortonNanyn Field Goal: Brough Brewery Field, Bridgend 2,378 4 November 2007 Scotland 16–18 Wales Tries: BennFisher Goals: Brough (4/4) Tries: DyerGibsonHughes Goals: Harris (3/4) Old Anniesland, Glasgow 911 Group B Lebanon hosted their home fixtures in England due to the political situation in the Middle East.Wilson Andy 28 October 2006 Lebanon come to London on road to World Cup https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/oct/28/rugbyleague.gdnsport31 The Guardian 19 March 2024 Team Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost PF Points for PA Points against +/− Points difference Pts Points QualificationIreland 422014264786Qualified for World Cup Lebanon 422010442626Interncontinental playoffRussia 400438178−1400Failed to qualify for World Cup 22 October 2006 Russia 12–50 Ireland Tries: BaskakovIliassovOvchinnikov Tries: Dodd (3)Bridge (2)Cantillon (2)Littler (2) Goals: Bridge (7/9) Fili Stadium, Moscow 120 28 October 2006 Lebanon 22–8 Russia New River Stadium, London 300 5 November 2006 Ireland 18–18 Lebanon Tries: GrixLittlerTandy Goals: Bridge (3/3) Tries: ChihaKoborsiSalem Goals: El Masri (2/2)Salem (1/2) Tolka Park, Dublin 140 20 October 2007 Ireland 58–18 Russia Tries: Blanch (3)Littler (3)Beswick (2)Gleeson (2)Handforth Goals: Finn (4/6)Handforth (3/5) Tries: BaskakovLogunovZagoskin Goals: Grigoryan (2/3)Zdobnikov (1/1) Oak Park, Carlow 2,958 27 October 2007 Russia 0–48 Lebanon Nara Stadium, Narofominsk 1,426 2 November 2007 Lebanon 16–16 Ireland Tries: FinnHandforth Goals: Finn (2)Bridge (2) Tries: FarahSalemSamia Goals: Nicholas (2) Crown Flatt, Dewsbury 6,812 Notes: Ireland's Chris Bridge kicked a penalty goal to level the scores in the 77th minute after Lebanon's captain Hassan Saleh conceded a penalty for a high tackle.4 November 2007 Lebanon 16-16 Ireland https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2007/1102/224502-irelandrugbyleague/ RTE 19 March 2024 Ireland qualified for the World Cup with a greater points difference than Lebanon, who progressed to the intercontinental repechage. Speculation of match-fixing In early 2011, Ryan Tandy and his agent Sam Ayoub were charged in relation to alleged spot-fixing offences during a 2010 National Rugby League match, prompting speculation about the legitimacy of Ireland and Lebanon's two draws. The 2006 drawn match included Tandy representing Ireland and Ayoub's son Jai Ayoub representing Lebanon.Walter Brad 5 March 2011 World Cup qualifiers also to be investigated https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/world-cup-qualifiers-also-to-be-investigated-20110304-1bhyn.html The Sydney Morning Herald 19 March 2024Wilson Andy 5 March 2011 Ireland's draws against Lebanon dragged into betting investigation https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/mar/04/ireland-lebanon-rugby-league The Guardian 19 March 2024 Neither Tandy or Ayoub played in the 2007 match.Hadfield Dave 3 November 2007 Lebanon 16 Ireland 16: Late Bridge penalty gives Ireland place in the World Cup https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/lebanon-16-ireland-16-late-bridge-penalty-gives-ireland-place-in-the-world-cup-398849.html The Independent 19 March 2024 A police investigation in Australia was dismissed due to "jurisdictional issues."Proszenko Adrian Police identify final punter http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/police-identify-final-punter-20110305-1birb.html The Sydney Morning Herald 6 March 2011 6 March 2011 Ireland coach Andy Kelly said in 2011 that he believes the games were played "openly and honestly," and that it was a coincidence both games were drawn. Pacific Team Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost PF Points for PA Points against +/− Points difference Pts Points QualificationTonga 320110254484Qualified for World Cup Fiji 32019862364Samoa 32018652344Advances to the repechage roundCook Islands 300324142−1180Failed to qualify for World Cup 29 September 2006 Tonga 56–14 Cook Islands Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney 3,013 29 September 2006 Samoa 30–28 Fiji Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney 3,013 4 October 2006 Fiji 30–28 Tonga Western Weekender Stadium, Sydney 3,813 4 October 2006 Samoa 46–6 Cook Islands Western Weekender Stadium, Sydney 3,813 7 October 2006 Fiji 40–4 Cook Islands CUA Stadium, Penrith 1,713 22 October 2006 Tonga 18–10 Samoa Headingley, Leeds 5,547 Other Originally, the USA, Japan, South Africa and West Indies were going to compete in a four-team tournament at Bernie Robbins Stadium, Atlantic City, from 21–28 October. However, the West Indies and South Africa withdrew before the draw, and a one-off match was played between Japan and the USA.http://www.amnrl.com/news/0972006atlanticcup.html USA Tomahawks and Japan to battle for Atlantic Cup www.amnrl.com https://web.archive.org/web/20080509141354/http://www.amnrl.com/news/0972006atlanticcup.html 9 May 2008 28 October 2006 United States 54–18 Japan Aston Community Center Field, Aston 1,200 Repechage Semi-finals 9 November 2007 Wales 26–50 Lebanon Tries: Gibson (3)BlackwoodBracek Goals: Harris (2/4)Briers Tries: Salem (3)El ZbaidehKouroucheMoujalliNdairaSaabSamia Goals: Nicolas (7/9) Halton Stadium, Widnes 753 9 November 2007 United States 10–42 Samoa Halton Stadium, Widnes 753 Final 14 November 2007 Lebanon 16–38 Samoa Post Office Road, Featherstone 1,323 Therefore, Samoa qualified for the final position at the World Cup to be held in Australia in 2008. See also Rugby League World Cup 2008 Rugby League World Cup Notes References Sources "World Cup European Preliminary Qualifying Tournament – Euro B", Rugby League European Federation website, retrieved 8 May 2006 "Rugby League World Cup 2008 – European Qualifying Group", Rugby League European Federation website, retrieved 15 May 2006 "Impressive Georgia Outrun Dutch in 2nd Half"August 2016, Rugby League European Federation website, retrieved 28 May 2006 "World Cup 2008 – European Qualifying Ground"August 2016, Rugby League European Federation website, retrieved 20 June 2006 "The Road to World Cup 2008", Scotland Rugby League website, retrieved 16 July 2006. Category:2006 in rugby league Category:2007 in rugby league Qualifying Category:2006 in Welsh rugby league Category:2007 in Welsh rugby league Category:2006 in Dutch sport Category:2006 in Russian sport Category:2006 in Georgian sport Category:2006 in Serbian sport Category:2006 in Scottish sport Category:2007 in Scottish sport Category:2006 in Irish sport Category:2007 in Irish sport Category:2006 in Lebanese sport Category:2007 in Lebanese sport Category:2007 in Russian sport Category:2006 in Tongan sport Category:2006 in Fijian sport Category:2006 in Samoan sport Category:2006 in Cook Islands sport Category:2006 in American sports Category:2006 in Japanese sport Category:2007 in American sports Category:2007 in Samoan sport