2011 Rugby League Four Nations Explained
| Year: | 2011 |
| Four Nations |
| Finalists: | 4 |
| Country: | England |
| Country2: | Wales |
| Winners: | Australia |
| Matches: | 7 |
| Attendance: | 128065 |
| Points: | 280 |
| Tries: | 47 |
| Topscorer-Flag: | Australia |
| Topscorer: | Johnathan Thurston (56) |
| Top Try Scorer-Flag: | England |
| Top Try Scorer: | Sam Tomkins (5) |
| Tournaments: | Rugby League Four Nations |
| Last: | 2010 |
| Next: | 2014 |
The 2011 Rugby League Four Nations tournament (also known as the 2011 Gillette Rugby League Four Nations due to sponsorship by Gillette) was the third staging of the Rugby League Four Nations tournament and was played in England and Wales during October and November 2011, which was contested by regular contestants Australia, England and New Zealand, in addition to Wales, who had qualified for their first Four Nations by winning the 2010 European Cup.[1] The tournament saw the return of international rugby league to London's Wembley Stadium for the first time since 1997, with a double-header played on 5 November 2011. Australia won the tournament, defeating England in the final at Elland Road, Leeds, on 19 November 2011. The match was the last of the 17-year professional career of Australia's captain Darren Lockyer.
History
The 2011 tournament was the third of three Four Nations series planned before the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, with the venues rotating between Europe and the South Pacific. There was no Four Nations in 2012 due to teams preparing for the World Cup.[2] [3]
In addition to automatic inclusions Australia, England and New Zealand, Wales qualified for the tournament by defeating France in the final of the 2010 European Cup.
Teams
Squads
Australia
Australian coach Tim Sheens' touring squad was announced on 3 October:[4] Of the twenty four players, twenty three were Australian born while one was Fijian born.
1 Replaced originally selected
Brett Stewart who withdrew due to injury.
2 Replaced originally selected David Taylor who withdrew due to injury.
3 Replaced originally selected Glenn Stewart who withdrew for compassionate reasons.[5]
England
The England squad for the 2011 Four Nations:[6] Of the twenty four players, twenty two were English born while one was New Zealand born and one Australian born.
Coach: Steve McNamara
| Club Team | Players |
|---|
| Jack Reed |
| Rangi Chase |
| Leroy Cudjoe |
| Tom Briscoe, Kirk Yeaman |
| Carl Ablett, Ryan Bailey, Ryan Hall, Ben Jones-Bishop, Danny McGuire, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Jamie Peacock(C), Kevin Sinfield |
| Gareth Widdop |
| James Graham, James Roby, Jon Wilkin |
| Garreth Carvell, Adrian Morley, Ben Westwood |
| Gareth Ellis, Chris Heighington |
| Michael McIlorum, Sam Tomkins | |
New Zealand
The Kiwis announced their 23-man touring squad on 4 October.[7] Of the twenty three players, eighteen were New Zealand born while four were Australian born and one Tongan born.
Coach: Stephen Kearney
| Club Team | Players |
|---|
| Gerard Beale, Alex Glenn |
| Jeremy Smith |
| Kieran Foran |
| Adam Blair, Sika Manu, Kevin Proctor |
| Lewis Brown, Kevin Locke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Bill Tupou1, Elijah Taylor3 |
| Kalifa Faifai Loa2 |
| Fuifui Moimoi |
| Sam McKendry |
| Jason Nightingale, Nathan Fien |
| Issac Luke |
| Jared Waerea-Hargreaves |
| Benji Marshall |
| Thomas Leuluai | |
1 Replaced original replacement
Krisnan Inu who withdrew for family reasons.
[8] He replaced originally selected
Steve Matai who withdrew due to injury.
2 Replaced originally selected Manu Vatuvei who withdrew due to injury.[9]
3 Replaced originally selected Shaun Johnson who withdrew due to injury.[9]
Wales
The Welsh training squad was named on 14 September.[10] Of the twenty three players, nine were English born while eight were Welsh born and five Australian borns and one South African born.
Coach: Iestyn Harris
| Club Team | Players |
|---|
| Craig Kopczak |
| Mark Lennon |
| Chris Beasley, Ian Webster |
| Tyson Frizell |
| Andy Bracek, Gil Dudson, Ben Flower, Jordan James, Elliot Kear, Peter Lupton, Lloyd White, Lee Williams |
| Ross Divorty |
| Danny Jones |
| Neil Budworth |
| Andrew Gay, Aled James, Christiaan Roets |
| Ian Watson |
| Lee Briers, Rhys Williams |
| Matt Seamark | |
Gareth Thomas was originally selected in the squad, but retired with immediate effect in the week leading up to the tournament.[11]
Venues
The games were played at venues in England and Wales. The tournament final was played in Leeds.
Officiating
Referees
Touch judges
Video Referees
Pre-tournament matches
Before the series, England played a Test match against France, New Zealand and Australia played a test in Newcastle before heading to Great Britain, and Wales played Ireland in Neath.[13] [14] [15]
New Zealand were originally scheduled to play a Test match against the Cook Islands on 7 October, however this was called off due to the unavailability of 29 frontline players.[16] [17] [18] [19]
Australia vs New Zealand
France vs England
Wales vs Ireland
Results
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Final
Statistics
Top pointscorers
Johnathan Thurston broke the record for most points in a single tournament with his 56-point haul. The previous record of 42 was set in 2005 by New Zealand's Stacey Jones.
Notes and References
- Web site: Wales 12 France 11 – Wales in 2011 Four Nations . rleague.com . 14 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110113164826/http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=37945 . 13 January 2011 . dead .
- Web site: RLEF . Rlef.eu.com . 14 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111118144250/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news.php?id=1319 . 18 November 2011 . dead .
- http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=53525 RLIF unveils expanded Test schedule
- News: No issue with Watmough, insists Sheens . Sydney Morning Herald . 3 October 2011 . 14 November 2011.
- Web site: Kangaroos coach Sheens happy to have Scott . NRL.com . 14 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111007211512/http://www.nrl.com/stewart-pulls-out-of-four-nations-squad/tabid/10874/newsid/65132/default.aspx . 7 October 2011 . dead .
- Web site: McNamara adds to train-on squad . Gillette4nations.co.uk . 20 September 2011 . 14 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111216141241/http://www.gillette4nations.co.uk/4-nations-news/article/574/mcnamara-adds-to-train-on-squad . 16 December 2011 . dead .
- Web site: Kiwis call up Johnson, Locke for 4 Nations . NRL.com . 14 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111005062929/http://www.nrl.com/kiwis-name-powerful-four-nations-squad/tabid/10874/newsid/65125/default.aspx . 5 October 2011 . dead .
- News: Inu Withdraws from Kiwi Touring Team . NZRL . 11 October 2011.
- News: Grand final trio forced out of Kiwis. 7 October 2011. New Zealand Herald. 7 October 2011.
- http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=41183 Wales release 35-man train-on squad
- News: Wales international Gareth Thomas retires from all forms of rugby . The Guardian. 25 October 2011 . 25 October 2011 . London . Gregg . Roughley.
- News: NZ Match Officials Confirmed for Four Nations 2011 . NZRL . https://web.archive.org/web/20150122073023/https://nzrl.co.nz/news-archive/nz-match-officials-confirmed-for-four-nations-2011.aspx . 22 January 2015.
- http://www.gillette4nations.co.uk/4-nations-news/article/550/england-to-face-france-in England to face France in Avignon
- Web site: Kiwis to play Roos again after grand final . Kilgallon, Steve . 24 April 2011 . . 15 September 2011.
- http://www.walesrugbyleague.co.uk/article/wales-to-take-on-ireland.html Wales to take on Ireland in pre-Four Nations game
- http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/rugby-league/5700612/Kiwis-league-test-against-Cook-Islands-called-off Kiwis' league test against Cook Islands called off
- Web site: Kiwis will go troppo with test in Rarotonga . Lawton, Aaron . 19 June 2011 . . 15 September 2011.
- Web site: Kiwis to play Cook Islands in Rarotonga . Woodcock, Fred . 5 July 2011 . . 15 September 2011.
- News: League: Kiwis to play in Rarotonga . 5 July 2011 . . 15 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210454/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10736442&ref=rss . 4 March 2016.
Paul Holland (TJ)
Shane Rehm (TJ)