2008 Rugby League World Cup squads

Updated on Oct 11, 2024

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Number of teams 10 Matches played 18		Host country Australia Points scored 890 (49.44 per match)

Winner New Zealand (1st title) Attendance 293,965 (16,331 per match)

The 2008 Rugby League World Cup featured the national teams (selected from twenty-four-man squads) of ten nations: Australia, England, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, France, Scotland, Ireland, Samoa, and Tonga.

Australia

Head Coach: Ricky Stuart
Assistant coaches: John Cartwright and Allan Langer

¹ Replaced originally selected Brett Stewart and Justin Hodges who withdrew on 16 October.

² Replaced originally selected Michael Crocker who withdrew due to injury on 9 October.

England

Head Coach: Tony Smith /
Asst. coach: Steve McNamara

New Zealand

Head coach: Stephen Kearney
Asst. coach: Wayne Bennett

¹ Replaced originally named Iosia Soliola who withdrew due to injury on 21 October.

² Replaced originally named Brent Webb and Jeff Lima who withdrew due to injury on 7 October.

Papua New Guinea

Head Coach: Adrian Lam

Fiji

Head Coach: Joe Dakuitoga

France

Head Coach: John Monie

Scotland

Except for Edinburgh Eagles stand-off Paddy Couper, all of the Scottish team's players were selected under the grandparent rule.

Head Coach: Steve McCormack

Ireland

Head Coach: Andy Kelly

Brett White was originally named but withdrew due to injury on 9 October. He was replaced by Brendan Guilfoyle.

Shannon McDonnell has also withdrawn due to injury. He was replaced by Shayne McMenemy.

Samoa

Head Coach: John Ackland

Tonga

Head Coach: Jim Dymock

Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki were originally named for Tonga but were ruled ineligible by the Rugby League International Federation after both switched from Tonga to New Zealand in 2007. A New South Wales court later ruled that they could join the team after 12 November, making them available if Tonga made the Semi Finals.

Fraser and Louis Anderson both were originally named but withdrew due to injury. They were replaced by Kim Usai and Sam Moa.

Anthony Tupou was originally named but withdrew on 9 October after being called into the Australian squad.

Welcome to Country

As part of the official opening of the World Cup on 26 October, an exhibition game was played between an Aboriginal selection and a New Zealand Māori side.

Indigenous Dreamtime Team

Head Coach: Neil Henry

New Zealand Māori

Head Coach: Luke Goodwin

References

2008 Rugby League World Cup squads Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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