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Rugby League

Rugby league World Cup draw made

19/04/2007

England have been placed in a "super pool" of four teams, alongside Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in the draw for the 2008 rugby league World Cup in Australia.

The format for next year's tournament, which has been designed in order to avoid the significant mismatches that blighted the 2000 event, features two three-team groups and the four-team "super pool".

The top three from England's group will qualify automatically for the World Cup semi-finals and the top sides from the two other groups will playoff against one another for the right to join them.

France and Fiji will be joined in group two by the winners of the European qualifying tournament, which features Ireland, Wales and Scotland among others.

And group three features Tonga alongside two other teams from the qualifying tournament – any one of the remaining home nations or Russia, Lebanon, the United States or Samoa.

Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium has been named as the final venue for the ten-team tournament on November 22nd 2008 and other stadiums in Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville and Robina have also been confirmed as official venues.

"Already the tournament has achieved an enormous amount in promoting the game in developing nations," said Colin Love, chairman of the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).

"There's a real sense of anticipation building in those countries still working to qualify.

"There's enormous enthusiasm for the game internationally and the spirit of World Cups in all sports is to respect the so-called minnows as much as the established stars.

"It will also, as shown in last year's Tri-Nations final, showcase the remarkable rivalries of traditional powers such as Australia, England and New Zealand.

"It's a compelling event not only for rugby league fans but for all sports fans."

The opening game of the tournament will be between hosts Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on October 25th, and England will open their campaign against Papua New Guinea the following day.

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