1995 Rugby League World Cup

1995 (1995) World Cup  ()
Number of teams	10
Host country	United Kingdom
Winner	Australia (8th title)
Matches played	15
Attendance	265,609 (17,707 per match)
Points scored	718 (47.87 per match)
Top scorer	Andrew Johns (62)
Top try scorer	Steven Menzies (6)
Tournaments  < 1989 - 1992 2000 >

The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport. Envisaged as a celebration of rugby league football, the size of the competition was doubled, with four additional teams invited and Great Britain split into England and Wales. (Scotland and Ireland took part in the Emerging Nations Tournament that was held alongside the World Cup.)

The tournament had been preceded by doubts and pessimism; many feared that it would produce one-sided-matches that would be unattractive to supporters. The forthcoming Super League war hung over the tournament, with the Australian Rugby League refusing to select players who had signed for the rival competition.

In the event, the fears proved unfounded, and the tournament was acclaimed a great success. Although many early matches did prove as one-sided as feared, fans still flocked to see newer rugby league nations such as Fiji, Tonga and South Africa. Large home crowds for the group involving Wales proved particularly encouraging for the sport.

The final between Australia and England drew a crowd of 66,540 to Wembley Stadium. Australia won the tournament, their eighth World Cup win.

Teams

Main article: 1995 Rugby League World Cup Squads

Ten teams competed in the Centenary World Cup: Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tonga, Wales and Western Samoa. It was the first time since the 1975 World Series that the Great Britain team was split into England and Wales. Fiji, South Africa, Tonga and Western Samoa were all making their World Cup debuts.

Venues

Wembley Stadium, London
Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield
Old Trafford, Manchester
Knowsley Road, St Helens
The Boulevard, Hull
Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington
Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Central Park, Wigan
Cougar Park, Keighley
Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead

Hosts of Wales matches and additional group matches: Ninian Park, Cardiff
Vetch Field, Swansea

Group 1

Results

The tournament opened with a match between hosts England and current World Cup holders Australia at Wembley Stadium. It was a grey and showery day and Diana Ross provided pre-match entertainment. Australia were weakened by the absence of any player aligned with Super League, who the ARL refused to select. England were weakened by injuries, most notably that of star winger Martin Offiah.

Saturday, 7 October	England	20–16	Australia	Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 41,271

England got away to an early first half lead of 10-6, with a try each to Andy Farrell and Chris Joynt both coming about through mistakes from Australia's fullback Tim Brasher. A try to Mark Coyne levelled the score at 10-10. But England's Jason Robinson scored after another Australian handling error with twelve minutes remaining. Another England try, this time from an interception by Paul Newlove put the result beyond doubt.

---

8 October	Fiji	52–6	South Africa	Cougar Park, Keighley Attendance: 4,845

---

10 October	Australia	86–6	South Africa	Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead Attendance: 9,181

---

11 October	England	46–0	Fiji	Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 26,263 Referee: Dennis Hale

---

14 October	Australia	66–0	Fiji	McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield Attendance: 7,127 Referee: Eddie Ward

---

14 October	England	46–0	South Africa	Headingley Stadium, Leeds Attendance: 14,041

Final standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
England	3	3	0	0	112	16	+96	6
Australia	3	2	0	1	168	26	+142	4
Fiji	3	1	0	2	52	118	−66	2
South Africa	3	0	0	3	12	184	−172	0

Group 2

Results

8 October	New Zealand	25–24	Tonga	Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington Attendance: 8,083

---

10 October	Papua New Guinea	28–28	Tonga	The Boulevard, Hull Attendance: 5,121

---

13 October	New Zealand	22–6	Papua New Guinea	Knowsley Road, St Helens Attendance: 8,679

Final standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
New Zealand	2	2	0	0	47	30	+17	4
Tonga	2	0	1	1	52	53	−1	1
Papua New Guinea	2	0	1	1	34	50	−16	1

Group 3

Results

9 October	Wales	28–6	France	Ninian Park, Cardiff Attendance: 10,250

This match featured eight former Welsh rugby union internationals.

---

12 October	France	10–56	Western Samoa	Ninian Park, Cardiff Attendance: 2,173

---

15 October	Wales	22–10	Western Samoa	Vetch Field, Swansea Attendance: 15,385

Final standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
Wales	2	2	0	0	50	16	+34	4
Western Samoa	2	1	0	1	66	32	+34	2
France	2	0	0	2	16	84	−68	0

Knockout stage

	Semi-finals				Final
	21 October - Old Trafford, Manchester Attendance: 30,042 Man of the Match: Bobbie Goulding
	England	25
	Wales	10
					28 October - Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 66,540
					England	8
					Australia	16
	22 October - McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield Attendance: 16,608
	Australia	30
	New Zealand	20

Even though they were favored to win, Australia went into the final having lost three of their past four games at Wembley (the only win being the World Cup final of 1992) and with 11 of their 17 players under the age of 24. They'd also won their semi-final against New Zealand only after a period of extra time.

Andrew Johns was named man-of-the-match in the final.

External links

• 1995 World Cup audio highlights
• 1995 World Cup Final at rlphotos.com
• 1995 World Cup data at hunterlink.net.au
• 1995 World Cup at rlwc2008.com
• 1995 World Cup at rlhalloffame.org.uk
• 1995 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject.com
• 1995 World Cup at 188-rugby-league.co.uk