2016 Rugby League Four Nations Explained
| Year: | 2016 |
| Four Nations |
| Country: | England |
| Winners: | Australia |
| Count: | 3 |
| Matches: | 7 |
| Attendance: | 132655 |
| Points: | 259 |
| Tries: | 47 |
| Topscorer-Flag: | Australia |
| Topscorer: | Johnathan Thurston (32 points) |
| Top Try Scorer-Flag: | Australia |
| Top Try Scorer: | Blake Ferguson (4 tries)
 Josh Dugan |
| Tournaments: | Rugby League Four Nations |
| Last: | 2014 |
The 2016 Rugby League Four Nations tournament (known as the 2016 Ladbrokes Four Nations, for sponsorship purposes)[1] was the fifth staging of the Rugby League Four Nations tournament and was played in England in October and November. The series was contested by Australia, England, New Zealand and Scotland, who qualified for their first Four Nations by winning the 2014 European Cup.[2] The final was played on 20 November, with Australia winning its third tournament, defeating New Zealand.
Background
The 2016 tournament is the fifth Four Nations series to be planned before the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, with the venues rotating between Europe and the South Pacific.
In addition to automatic inclusions Australia, England and New Zealand, Scotland qualified for the tournament by defeating France in the final of the 2014 European Cup.
England have previously co-hosted tournaments with other European nations and the Rugby Football League (RFL) planned to take a game up into Scotland but backed down and decided to take games to other venues.[3]
The redeveloped 54,074 capacity Anfield Stadium hosted the Four Nations Final. This was the first time in 19 years the venue had held a rugby league match. Three rugby league games have been played at Anfield before. The final was the first ever international rugby league match held at the venue.[4]
Teams
See main article: 2016 Rugby League Four Nations squads.
* Denotes winner of tournament event.
Venues
The games were played at the following venues in England. The tournament final was played at Anfield.
Officiating
Pre-tournament matches
Before the series, Australia and New Zealand organised to play the first ever International rugby league test-match in Perth, Scotland took on a Cumbrian rugby league team and England took on France in Avignon.[5] [6] [7]
Australia vs New Zealand
Cumbria Select XIII vs Scotland
The Cumbria Select XIII was a Cumbrian-based team selected by retiring Barrow Raiders player Liam Harrison.[8] The Cumbrian side featured Scottish internationals Oliver Wilkes and Shane Toal.
| |
|---|
| FB | 1 | | Ryan Fieldhouse | | RW | 2 | | Eze Harper | | RC | 3 | | Chris Hankinson | | LC | 4 | | Chris Fleming | | LW | 5 | | Shane Toal | | FE | 6 | | Jamie Dallimore | | HB | 7 | | Liam Finch | | PR | 10 | | Oliver Wilkes | | HK | 9 | | Karl Ashall | | PR | 8 | | Joe Bullock | | SR | 11 | | Liam Harrison (c) | | SR | 12 | | Bradd Crellin | | LK | 13 | | Daniel Toal | | Interchange: | | IC | 14 | | Dan Abram | | IC | 15 | | Brad Marwood | | IC | 16 | | Matty Holmes | | IC | 17 | | Andrew Dawson | | IC | 18 | | Brad Brennan | | IC | 19 | | Matty While | | IC | 20 | | Luke Cresswell | | IC | 21 | | Ethan Kelly | | Coach: | | Liam Harrison | |
| | |
France vs England
Results
Standings
- By holding New Zealand to an 18–18 draw in the third round, Scotland became the first 'fourth nation' to score a championship point in the history of the tournament.
Round 1
Touch Judges:
Jack Smith
Mick Craven
Video Referee:
Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee:
Gerard Sutton
Touch Judges:
James Child
Anthony Elliott
Video Referee:
Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee:
Ben Cummins
Round 2
Touch Judges: Mick Craven
Chris KendallVideo Referee: Ben ThalerReserve Referee: Robert Hicks
Touch Judges: Anthony Elliott
Joe Cobb
Video Referee: Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee: Robert Hicks
Round 3
Touch Judges:
James Child
Chris Kendall
Video Referee:
Ben Thaler
Reserve Referee:
Gerard Sutton
The match was originally scheduled to kick-off at 3:30pm BST, however on 22 September the RFL changed the kick-off time to 2:00pm BST.
Touch Judges:
Anthony Elliott
Mick Craven
Video Referee:
Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee:
Ben Cummins
Final
Player statistics
Player of the Tournament
Broadcasting
Premier Sports was the host broadcaster for every match of the tournament.[9]
Notes and References
- Web site: Ladbrokes announced as title sponsor of Four Nations. 19 September 2016. SportsPro.
- Web site: Rugby League – Scots close in on Four Nations spot. 25 October 2014. Yahoo Eurosport UK.
- Web site: Anfield being lined up to host 2016 Four Nations Series final. 22 March 2016. Eurosport.
- Web site: Four Nations 2016: Liverpool FC's Anfield to host final. 23 April 2016. BBC Sport.
- Web site: Perth to host October Test match. 23 April 2016. nrl.com.
- Web site: GRAND FINAL HERO AMONG NEW-LOOK BRAVEHEARTS. 11 October 2016. SCOTLAND RUGBY LEAGUE.
- Web site: Bennett to test England with clash against France ahead of Four Nations. 5 August 2016. RUGBY LEAGUE PLANET. 5 August 2016. 6 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160806114241/http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/rlp-nations/england-great-britain/2665-bennett-to-test-england-with-clash-against-france-ahead-of-four-nations. dead.
- Web site: WATCH: NRL stars Coote and Linnett among Scotland's big names for Liam Harrison's testimonial. 12 October 2016. NORTH-WEST EVENING MAIL.
- Web site: RUGBY LEAGUE FOUR NATIONS ON TV. rugby-league.com. 13 October 2016.
- Web site: BBC offers more rugby league coverage than ever before. 29 January 2016. BBC.
- Web site: Ultimate guide to the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations . . 12 October 2016 . . . 13 October 2016.
- Web site: League: Your ultimate guide to November's 2016 Four Nations tournament. 20 October 2016. nzherald.co.nz. 27 October 2016.
