World Nines slated for 2019 after RLIF board meeting in Sydney

FIRST there was the Auckland Nines, now top-ranking rugby league officials are pushing for the World Nines.

The Roosters celebrate winning the Auckland Nines after defeating the Panthers in the final. Picture: Mark Evans

FIRST there was the Auckland Nines, now top-ranking rugby league officials are pushing for the World Nines.

The chance to see exciting short-form guns like Corey Norman, Bevan French and Kalyn Ponga pull on the green and gold at a global Nines event could become a reality after the topic was discussed at a Rugby League International Federation board meeting in Sydney this week.

And Rugby League Football boss Nigel Wood hopes to have a definitive answer about the concept by the time the World Cup kicks off in October.

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“The idea would be to do something in 2019,’’ Wood said.

“It’s too premature to say how many nations there would be or how it’s structured.

“All we have formally resolved is the concept is one we want to look at and develop, and explore the viability and commerciality of it.

“We think it’s a good way of bringing some of the tier-two and tier-three nations into the public domain more than we do at the moment.

Gideon Gela-Mosby scores a try despite the tackle of Tim Glasby during an Auckland Nines clash between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Manly Sea Eagles. Picture: Getty Images

“And in that form of the game you could play everyone against everyone else.

“That’s not necessarily the case when you come to 13-a-side — you wouldn’t expect some of the emerging nations to take on the tier-one nations in 13-a-side, but with the Nines there’s a terrific opportunity to explore the potential.

“I’d be disappointed if by the start of the World Cup we weren’t clear about what we were doing in 2019 and how it would work and how the nations would qualify.’’

Semi Radradra to evade the tackle of Waqa Blake on day 2 of the Auckland Nines. Picture: Mark Evans

A World Nines briefly lived during the Super League war, with Laurie Daley and Ricky Stuart part of a Mal Meninga-coached Australian team which played in the inaugural tournament in Fiji in 1996, then the following year in Townsville.

The idea would be to play the World Nines every four years like the World Cup.

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While the international calendar is light on for Australia next year, they are expected to host a Lions tour in 2019 at the end of the year, around the same time the Nines would be floated.

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The shorter form of the game would have huge appeal to the Pacific nations because of their blend of speed and power. Fiji were crowned gold medallists at the Rio Olympics last year in the rugby sevens.

Player workloads will need to be addressed given any international commitments affect clubs and their stars returning for pre-season training.