International rugby league in 2016 explained
| International rugby league in 2016 |
| Last: | 2015 |
| Next: | 2017 |
This is a list of international rugby league matches played throughout 2016. A † denotes a recognised, but unofficial match that did not contribute to the IRL World Rankings.
February
Philippines vs Serbia men in Australia
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| FB | 1 | Trent Swanson | | WG | 2 | Blake Mackey | | CE | 3 | Richie Goodwin | | CE | 4 | Ned Stephenson | | WG | 5 | Michael Mason | | FE | 6 | James Marcus | | HB | 7 | Paul Sheedy | | PR | 8 | Dylan Jones | | HK | 9 | Luke Srama (c) | | PR | 10 | Glenn Powers | | SR | 11 | Rez Phillips (c) | | SR | 12 | Ricky Kucia | | LK | 13 | Steven Bernstrom | | Interchange: | | BE | 14 | Tyrone Tootell | | BE | 15 | Elvis Jensen | | BE | 16 | Will Grooms | | BE | 17 | Jeremy Grooms | | Coach: | | Arwin Marcus | |
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| FB | 1 | Joshua Marjanović | | WG | 2 | Miloš Zogović | | CE | 3 | Miloš Ćalić | | CE | 4 | Stevan Stevanović | | WG | 17 | Džavid Jašari | | FE | 6 | Vojislav Dedić | | HB | 7 | Dalibor Vukanović (c) | | PR | 8 | David Andjelić | | HK | 9 | Vladislav Dedić | | PR | 10 | Stefan Nedeljković | | SR | 11 | George Vujanović | | SR | 12 | Nikola Štrbac | | LK | 13 | Ilija Radan | | Interchange: | | BE | 15 | Reece Grkinić | | BE | 16 | Milan Radojević | | BE | 18 | Ilija Čotrić | | BE | 19 | Dejan Lukenić | | Coach: | | Jason Green | |
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May
ANZAC Test
See main article: 2016 Anzac Test.
Papua New Guinea vs Fiji men in Australia
The 2016 Melanesian Cup was played between Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Papua New Guinea created history to win their first Melanesian Cup title.[1] The test looked in a similar situation to last year when Fiji took a comfortable lead into the break but this time around Papua New Guinea scored enough points in the second half to outscore their pacific rivals and win their first major title since the 2009 Pacific Cup. Captain David Mead shone for the Kumuls as he made try-saving tackles, assists and even line breaks in a man-of-the-match performance which was a crucial influence to earning his country's first win on away soil since the year 2000. Fiji picked 7 débutantes for the test match, while PNG featured five players making their first ever International appearance for their country. Both teams had a fair share of NRL, Queensland or New South Wales Cup, as well as domestic club players. Papua New Guinea's most capped player was Rod Griffin who made his 10th appearance for his country, while Fiji's most experienced player was Akuila Uate who made his 12th appearance for his country. Gold Coast's David Mead captained Papua New Guinea, and Port Kembla Blacks' James Storer led Fiji.
Notes:
Samoa vs Tonga men in Australia
The 2016 Polynesian Cup was played between Samoa and Tonga. Samoa defeated Tonga to win their second consecutive Polynesian Cup title.[3] The strong crowd would always show their passion and loud screaming support throughout the game after big hits, strong runs and intense moments were key talking points. However a total of 29 errors and a completion rate of just over 50% from both countries was a headache for everyone to watch. Despite Tonga having 55% possession and more territory, they didn't score and the Samoans made them pay by taking their few second-half opportunities that were given to them resulting in another Samoan victory over their old 'War rivals'. Samoa picked 7 débutantes for the test match, while Tonga featured three. Both teams' players varied from National Rugby League players to Queensland or New South Wales Cup to Holden Cup and to the Super League. Samoa's most capped player was Leeson Ah Mau who made his 10th appearance for his country, while Tonga's most experienced player was Feleti Mateo who made his 13th appearance for his country. English Super League club Hull F.C. gave permission for two players to leave England and play in the Polynesian Cup test; coincidentally they were captain of both nations. Frank Pritchard captained Samoa, and Sika Manu led Tonga.[4]
Notes:
Lebanon vs Cook Islands men in Australia
June
Chile vs El Salvador men in Australia
Notes
- This was the first ever 13-aside match both teams ever played as they regularly play 9-aside matches against each other and fellow Latin Heat-based nations.
Lebanon men in Italy
Notes:
- This was the first Mediterranean Cup since 2004.
- Both nations fielded a total of 12 debutants each.
European Championship C
July
Norway men in Sweden
Notes:
- This was a part of the 2016 Nordic Cup.
- This was the first time ever that the Nordic Cup only featured two countries, after Denmark withdrew from the tournament.
- It was Norway's first Nordic Cup win since 2012.
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America's Cup
See main article: 2016 Americas Rugby League Championship. ----Notes:
----Notes:
- Also played as part of the Colonial Cup.
August
European Triangular Series
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See also: Griffin Cup. Notes
- With the win, Germany retained the Griffin Cup.
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September
Serbia men in Spain
October
World Cup European qualifiers
See main article: 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification – Europe.
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| FB | 1 | Nikolay Zagoskin | | RW | 5 | Vadim Buryak | | RC | 21 | Kirill Kosharin | | LC | 3 | Leonid Kalinin | | LW | 18 | Dmitry Bratko | | SO | 6 | Aleksandr Lysokon | | SH | 7 | Denis Tiulenev | | PR | 8 | Sergei Konstantinov (c) | | HK | 4 | Petr Botnarash | | PR | 10 | Ivan Troitskii | | SR | 12 | Mikhail Burlutskii | | SR | 11 | Andrey Kuznetsov | | LF | 13 | Viacheslav Eremin | | Substitutes: | | IC | 17 | Igor Chuprin | | IC | 2 | Maksim Suchkov | | IC | 9 | Vladimir Vlasyuk | | IC | 15 | Sergey Gaponov | | Coach: |  Denis Korolev | |
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| FB | 1 | Daniel Garcia | | RW | 2 | Clement Laguerre | | RC | 3 | Antonio Puerta | | LC | 4 | Alexandre Doutres | | LW | 5 | Chris Lopez | | FE | 6 | Ivan Ordaz | | HB | 7 | Miguel Charters-Blanco | | PR | 8 | Luis Thorp | | HK | 9 | Gonzalo Morro | | PR | 10 | Adria Alonso | | SR | 11 | Cedric Bringuier | | SR | 12 | Matt Dulley | | LK | 13 | Aitor Davila (c) | | Substitutes: | | IC | 14 | Andrew Pilkington | | IC | 15 | Leandre Torres | | IC | 16 | Kevin Aparicio | | IC | 17 | Juan Pablo Rango | | Coach: | | Darren Fisher | |
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| FB | 1 | Vojislav Dedić | | RW | 2 | Joshua Marjanović | | RC | 3 | Miloš Ćalić | | LC | 4 | Stevan Stevanović | | LW | 5 | | | FE | 6 | Daniel Burke | | HB | 7 | Dalibor Vukanović (c) | | PR | 8 | David Andjelić | | HK | 9 | Vladislav Dedić | | PR | 10 | Jordan Grant | | SR | 11 | Chad Grant | | SR | 12 | Jason Muranka | | LK | 13 | Stefan Nedeljković | | Substitutes: | | IC | 14 | Ilija Radan | | IC | 15 | James Mirceski | | IC | 16 | Reece Grkinić | | IC | 17 | Džavid Jašari | | Coach: | | Ljubomir Bukvic | |
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| FB | 1 | Vojislav Dedić | | RW | 2 | Miloš Zogović | | RC | 3 | Miloš Ćalić | | LC | 4 | Stevan Stevanović | | LW | 5 | Joshua Marjanović | | FE | 6 | Daniel Burke | | HB | 7 | Dalibor Vukanović (c) | | PR | 8 | Ilija Radan | | HK | 9 | Reece Grkinić | | PR | 10 | Jordan Grant | | SR | 11 | James Mirceski | | SR | 12 | Jason Muranka | | LK | 13 | Chad Grant | | Substitutes: | | IC | 14 | David Andjelić | | IC | 15 | Miodrag Tomić | | IC | 16 | Vlado Kušić | | IC | 17 | Vladislav Dedić | | Coach: | | Ljubomir Bukvic | |
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| FB | 1 | Daniel Garcia | | RW | 2 | Clement Laguerre | | RC | 3 | Antonio Puerta | | LC | 4 | Alexandre Doutres | | LW | 5 | Chris Lopez | | FE | 6 | Ivan Ordaz | | HB | 7 | Miguel Charters-Blanco | | PR | 8 | Luis Thorp | | HK | 9 | Nicolas Munoz | | PR | 10 | Joel Marquez-Laynez | | SR | 11 | Leandre Torres | | SR | 12 | | | LK | 13 | Kevin Aparicio | | Substitutes: | | IC | 14 | Andrew Pilkington | | IC | 15 | Aitor Davila | | IC | 16 | Matt Dulley | | IC | 17 | Adria Alonso | | Coach: | | Darren Fisher | |
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Fiji men in Samoa
See main article: 2016 Samoa vs. Fiji rugby league test match.
South Africa Triangular Series
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Four Nations
See main article: 2016 Rugby League Four Nations. ------------------------
November
World Cup European play-off qualifier
See main article: 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification (Europe play-off).
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| FB | 2 | Maksim Suchkov | | RW | 5 | Vadim Buryak | | RC | 1 | Nikolay Zagoskin | | LC | 3 | Leonid Kalinin | | LW | 14 | Vadim Tsynkovich | | SO | 6 | Aleksandr Lysokon | | SH | 7 | Denis Tiulenev | | PR | 16 | Vadim Fedchuk | | HK | 9 | Vladimir Vlasyuk | | PR | 10 | Ivan Troitskii | | SR | 12 | Mikhail Burlutskii | | SR | 11 | Andrey Kuznetsov | | LF | 13 | Viacheslav Eremin | | Substitutes: | | IC | 17 | Igor Chuprin | | IC | 18 | Dmitry Bratko | | IC | 8 | Sergei Konstantinov | | IC | 4 | Petr Botnarash | | Coach: | | Denis Korolev | |
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With the win Italy became the 14th, and final, team to qualify for the
2017 World Cup.
[5] Non-RLIF matches
Notes:
- This was a part of the 2016 Ohana Cup.
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Notes:
- This was a part of the 2016 Ohana Cup.
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Notes and References
- Web site: PNG stuns Fiji in a thriller. 7 May 2016 . nrl.com. 7 May 2016.
- Web site: Papua New Guinea break 16-year Test win drought. 7 May 2016. stuff.co.nz. 5 June 2016.
- Web site: Samoa holds on in pulsating Pacific Test. 7 May 2016 . nrl.com. 7 May 2016.
- News: Hull FC: Frank Pritchard and Sika Manu to return to Australia and miss Challenge Cup game. Hull Daily Mail. 1 May 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160501102446/http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC-Frank-Pritchard-Sika-Manu-return/story-29203653-detail/story.html#ixzz47LbYe6hK. 1 May 2016.
- Web site: Italy take the final RLWC2017 place. 5 November 2016. rlif.com . 6 November 2016.
