Tri-Nations to be extended to four- 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00
Rugby league’s Tri-Nations tournament is to be extended to four nations in 2009 with France joining England, Australia and New Zealand.
The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) says an extra team will take part in the tournament to be staged next October and November, on a rotating basis for future years, with France being first to benefit.
Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Papua New Guinea will compete in a Pacific Nations Cup at the same time as next year’s tournament with the winners entering the 2010 Four Nations, in the southern hemisphere.
RLIF Chairman Colin Love said the timing of the Pacific Nations Cup would allow players from the English and Australian leagues to play for Pacific teams.
The changes to the international calendar have come about as the result of the current Rugby League World Cup in Australia making a projected surplus of £2.1m. The intention is to raise the standard of the game worldwide before the 2013 World Cup, which is expected to be hosted in Great Britain.
A total of 243,349 fans, at an average of more than 14,300 per game, have attended the 2008 World Cup, which comes to a climax on Saturday when the final takes place at Lang Park in Brisbane between Australia and New Zealand.
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