World Cup blowouts about to end with minnows removed from the pool

New Zealand has pledged to save rugby league’s endangered World Cup - but the days of 94-4 and 84-0 blowouts are set to be over with the exclusion of minnow nations in a slimmed down event.

The Kiwis have emerged as the best hope to shoulder a large number of fixtures - including the potential for matches to be played in the Pacific islands - but International Rugby League officials want to limit the teams in the men’s tournament.

Last year’s World Cup featured England racking up a 90-point win over Greece and Australia dismantling Scotland by 84 points, while Lebanon thumped Jamaica 74-12. The tournament had 16 teams in the round-robin stage.

But IRL officials have flagged reducing that number to 12 for the 2025 World Cup, which was in disarray earlier this week after France forfeited hosting rights.

It means the likes of Greece, Scotland, Jamaica and Wales - who were all winless in last year’s event - will be scrapping for inclusion in a tournament which remains in limbo.

Australia and New Zealand - who staged the 2017 World Cup - are favourites to step in and host, with New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Greg Peters wanting to recognise the Indigenous cultures of both countries.

World Cup stars (from left) New Zealand’s Joseph Manu, Samoa’s Junior Paulo, Australia’s James Tedesco and Tonga’s Jason Taumalolo could meet in an end-of-year Four Nations.

“We have indicated our appetite to look at hosting in this part of the world,” he said. “We also want Australia co-hosting as well with the view to creating a unique tournament that respects Indigenous people on both sides of the Tasman and our Pasifika brothers who are such a big part of the game of rugby league.

“We will have a look at the possibility of playing games in the islands, and historically Papua New Guinea has been involved in the 2017 World Cup. We will speak to them to see their appetite as well.

“It’s a very short runway until 2025. It is a challenge, but with a good tailwind and the right will we can [host it].”

Samoa’s fairytale run to the World Cup final on the back of Jarome Luai, Junior Paulo, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o and Joseph Suaalii pledging their allegiance to the island nation was the jolt international rugby league needed.

But the French turning their back on the next staging has left officials scrambling.

Asked about wanting to take World Cup games to the Pacific countries, Peters said: “I don’t see any reason why not, but there are some logistical challenges with broadcast.

“But in recent times Super Rugby has been played out of Fiji and Samoa. It’s a little bit more challenging, but the venues have improved vastly over the last few years. I think the capability is there to do that now.”

Tonga will be the first Pacific nation to tour the northern hemisphere for a standalone Test series against England later this year, while world champions Australia are likely to play New Zealand and Samoa in a tri-nations tournament.

“We are incredibly excited about investing in the international game,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

“We want to see international football back, particularly in October. We think there’s a great opportunity to celebrate the fact that we have rugby league as a potential to bring us even closer together with our neighbours.

“We have seen the emergence of Samoa and Tonga on the international stage. Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga essentially represent the best of the best, but we also have Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Cook Islands, so there is a range of countries we would like to showcase in the men’s and women’s side.

“If we are unable to play a World Cup in France in 2025, then we will certainly be looking to host content and think about meaningful competitions, not just in 2025 but the next couple of years.”

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