While the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil has just recently completed its list of qualifiers, another World Cup is underway, the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. It is hosted by England and has games in Wales as well as in France. The international men’s rugby league competition is contested by teams from countries that are members of the Rugby League International Federation. The cup had its inaugural tournament in 1954, where England won, beating host country France with a 16-12 final score. The much-anticipated finals is on the 30th of November.
Rugby league
It would seem that the game of rugby, wherein there are two codes, rugby and rugby league, does not get that much media attention. Well, it may be for the rest of the world as the focus is on another football game, commonly known as soccer. But for countries where rugby league is played, being in the World Cup, as well as the games during the regular annual season run, the game is always in the news and the following is also mighty big.
Rugby league is a fast-paced game that lasts for 80 minutes plus injury time, divided into two halves. Thirteen tough and muscled players are fielded by each team. It’s a battle of strength primarily as players use their bodies to repel opponents without pads and helmets for protection. The players are tacticians and quick thinkers. They are swift, can elude offensive players by quickly changing directions or barrelling their way through. If given the opportunity, a player can run with the ball to the opposite end of the field to score a try, a run that can cover about 100 meters. It’s a thrill to watch, and the whole game, for those that follow it, is something that always keeps you on the edge of your seat. You cannot help but give a fist pump every time the team you support scores, because you know it is a hard-earned one.
2013 Cup
The defending champion is New Zealand, which beat host country Australia in 2008. The final score was 34-20. That was the first win for New Zealand. Australia is the most successful in the World Cup, having held the trophy aloft nine times. England comes a distant second, winning the Cup three times.
On November 30, 2013 the new World Cup champion will be decided. Fourteen teams are playing in this year’s Cup, with the United States and Italy having their debut this year. The big guns are Australia, New Zealand and England. France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands and Fiji make up the rest.
It’s semi-finals time come Saturday, the 23rd of November, where the four countries will vie for a berth in the finals. The games will be played at Wembley Stadium in England. First game pits the talents, brawn, wit and muscles of England versus New Zealand. The second game will be Australia versus Fiji. The finals will be at Old Trafford in Manchester. The big three are still very much in the game and the semis will be a fantastic watch. While it can be a foregone conclusion that one of them will be the ultimate winner, Fiji could be a dark horse.
Photo Credit: Rugby League World Cup Trophy
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