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.
| 2016 Four Nations | |
|---|---|
 Australia celebrating winning the 2016 Four Nations | |
| Host country |  England |
| Winner |  Australia (3rd title) |
| Matches played | 7 |
| Attendance | 132,655 (18,951 per match) |
| Points scored | 259 (37 per match) |
| Tries scored | 47 (6.71 per match) |
| Top scorer | Johnathan Thurston (32 points) |
| Top try scorer | Blake Ferguson (4 tries) Josh Dugan |
< 2014 | |
Background
editThe 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
edit| Country | Previous appearances in tournament | Continent |
|---|---|---|
| Australia
|
4 (2009*, 2010, 2011*, 2014) | Oceania |
| England
|
4 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014) | Europe |
 New Zealand
|
4 (2009, 2010*, 2011, 2014*) | Oceania |
 Scotland
|
0 (Debut) | Europe |
* Denotes winner of tournament event.
Venues
editThe games were played at the following venues in England. The tournament final was played at Anfield.
| Liverpool | London | Coventry |
|---|---|---|
| Anfield | London Stadium | Ricoh Arena |
| Capacity: 54,074 | Capacity: 66,000 | Capacity: 32,609 |
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| Huddersfield | Hull | Workington |
| John Smith's Stadium | KC Lightstream Stadium | Derwent Park |
| Capacity: 24,500 | Capacity: 12,225 | Capacity: 10,000 |
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Officiating
edit| Referees | Touch judges | Video Referees |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Cummins
|
James Child
|
Bernard Sutton
|
| Robert Hicks
|
Joe Cobb
|
Ben Thaler
|
| Gerard Sutton
|
Mick Craven
|
|
| Ben Thaler
|
Anthony Elliot
|
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| Chris Kendall
|
Pre-tournament matches
editBefore 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
editSaturday, 15 October
5:15pm (AWST) |
| Australia
|
26–6 | New Zealand
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Inglis (15', 68') 2 D Boyd (9') 1 Holmes (44') 1 Cordner (78') 1 Goals: Thurston 3/5 (45', 69', 79') |
1st: 8 – 6 2nd: 18 – 0 Report |
Tries: 1 (21') Proctor Goals: 1/1 Luke (22') |
         Australia
|
  New Zealand
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Cumbria Select XIII vs Scotland
editThe 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.
Friday, 21 October
|
Cumbria Select XIII 
|
16–48 | Scotland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Fleming (37', 45') 2 Fieldhouse (26') 1 Goals: Hankinson 2/3 (27', 38') |
Report |
Tries: 2 (3', 22') Scott 1 (16') C Phillips 1 (19') Mariano 1 (33') Brierley 1 (58') Walker 1 (69') Cassel 1 (78') Tierney Goals: 5/8 Brierley (4', 17', 34', 59', 80') |
   Cumbria XIII
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 Scotland
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France vs England
editSaturday, 22 October
6:30pm (CET) |
France 
|
6–40 | England
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Pélissier (19') 1 Goals: Gigot 1/1 (20') |
Report |
Tries: 2 (26', 40') Hall 1 (30') Clark 1 (35') T Burgess 1 (68') Brown 1 (71') McGillvary 1 (76') Widdop Goals: 6/7 Widdop (27', 31', 36', 69', 72', 77') |
| France
|
    England
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Results
editStandings
edit| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia W
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 38 | +66 | 6 |
| 2 | New Zealand
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 48 | –5 | 3 |
| 3 | England
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 72 | 65 | +7 | 2 |
| 4 | Scotland
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 110 | –68 | 1 |
- 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
editFriday, 28 October
8:00pm (UTC) |
| Australia
|
54–12 | Scotland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Cronk (10', 15') 2 Mansour (26', 35') 2 Ferguson (6') 1 Maloney (13') 1 Dugan (44') 1 Frizell (66') 1 Morgan (69') 1 Trbojevic (79') 1 Goals: Maloney 7/10 (11', 14', 16', 45', 67', 70', 80') |
1st: 30 – 6 2nd: 24 – 6 Report |
Tries: 1 (39') Brierley 1 (59') Kavanagh Goals: 2/2 Brough (40', 60') |
| Australia
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Scotland
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Touch Judges:
Jack Smith
Mick Craven
Video Referee:
Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee:
Gerard Sutton
Saturday, 29 October
2:30pm (UTC) |
| England
|
16–17 | New Zealand
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: McGillvary (48') 1 Hall (61') 1 Goals: Widdop 4/4 (3' pen, 11' pen, 49', 62') |
1st: 4 – 6 2nd: 12 – 11 Report |
Tries: 2 (35', 56') Rapana 1 (42') Johnson Goals: 2/4 Kahu (31' pen, 43') Field Goals: 1 (65') Johnson |
John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield[9]
Attendance: 24,070 Referee: Robert HicksPlayer of the Match:  Shaun Johnson |
| England
|
New Zealand
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Touch Judges:
James Child
Anthony Elliott
Video Referee:
Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee:
Ben Cummins
Round 2
edit
Saturday, 5 November
5:30pm (BST) |
| England
|
38–12 | Scotland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Whitehead (27', 36') 2 Percival (50') 1 Hall (54') 1 McGillvary (58') 1 Gale (64') 1 Farrell (80') 1 Goals: Gale 5/7 (28', 37', 55', 65', 80') |
1st: 12 – 8 2nd: 26 – 4 Report |
Tries: 1 (6') Linnett 1 (24') Russell 1 (70') Ferguson Goals: 0/3 Brough Sin Bin: Brough  58' to 68'
|
Ricoh Arena, Coventry[9]
Attendance: 21,009 Referee: Gerard SuttonPlayer of the Match:  George Williams |
| England
|
Scotland
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Touch Judges:
Mick Craven
Chris Kendall
Video Referee:
Ben Thaler
Reserve Referee:
Robert Hicks
Saturday, 5 November
8:00pm (BST) |
| New Zealand
|
8–14 | Australia
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Kata (49') 1 Rapana (77') 1 Goals: Johnson 0/2 |
1st: 0 – 10 2nd: 8 – 4 Report |
Tries: 1 (10') Ferguson 1 (15') Thurston Goals: 3/4 Thurston (16', 55' pen, 71' pen) |
| New Zealand
|
Australia
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Touch Judges:
Anthony Elliott
Joe Cobb
Video Referee:
Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee:
Robert Hicks
Round 3
editFriday, 11 November
8:00pm (BST) |
| New Zealand
|
18–18 | Scotland
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Fusitu'a (24', 55') 2 Beale (73', 76') 2 Goals: Luke 1/4 (25') |
1st: 6 – 4 2nd: 12 – 14 Report |
Tries: 1 (27') Tierney 1 (67') Hellewelll 1 (79') Aitken Goals: 3/4 Brough (68', 70' pen, 80') |
| New Zealand
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Scotland
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Touch Judges:
James Child
Chris Kendall
Video Referee:
Ben Thaler
Reserve Referee:
Gerard Sutton
Sunday, 13 November
2:00pm (BST) |
| England
|
18–36 | Australia
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: McGillvary (26') 1 Widdop (67') 1 Hall (76') 1 Goals: Widdop 3/4 (12' pen, 68', 77') |
1st: 6 – 10 2nd: 12 – 26 Report |
Tries: 1 (36') Ferguson 1 (47') Inglis 1 (57') Scott 1 (59') Dugan 1 (72') Gillett 1 (79') Holmes Goals: 6/8 Thurston (18' pen, 37', 40' pen, 49', 58', 60') |
| England
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Australia
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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
edit Sunday, 20 November
2:30pm (BST) |
| Australia
|
34–8 | New Zealand
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Dugan (10', 24') 2 Ferguson (3') 1 Merrin (21') 1 D Boyd (45') 1 Cordner (74') 1 Goals: 5/8 Thurston (4', 18' pen, 22', 29' pen, 75') |
1st: 24 – 0 2nd: 10 – 8 Report |
Tries: 2 (56', 69') Kahu Goals: |
| Australia
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New Zealand
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Player statistics
edit
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Player of the Tournament
editBroadcasting
editPremier Sports was the host broadcaster for every match of the tournament.[10]
| Country | Broadcaster | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| England
|
Premier Sports | Every match live[10] |
| BBC | Every England match, Australia v New Zealand, and the final live[11] | |
| Australia
|
Nine Network | Every match live[12] |
| New Zealand
|
Sky Sport | Every match live[13] |
| France
|
beIN Sports | Every match live[citation needed] |
References
edit- ^ "Ladbrokes announced as title sponsor of Four Nations". SportsPro. 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Rugby League – Scots close in on Four Nations spot". Yahoo Eurosport UK. 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Anfield being lined up to host 2016 Four Nations Series final". Eurosport. 22 March 2016.
- ^ "Four Nations 2016: Liverpool FC's Anfield to host final". BBC Sport. 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Perth to host October Test match". nrl.com. 23 April 2016.
- ^ "GRAND FINAL HERO AMONG NEW-LOOK BRAVEHEARTS". SCOTLAND RUGBY LEAGUE. 11 October 2016.
- ^ "Bennett to test England with clash against France ahead of Four Nations". RUGBY LEAGUE PLANET. 5 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
- ^ "WATCH: NRL stars Coote and Linnett among Scotland's big names for Liam Harrison's testimonial". NORTH-WEST EVENING MAIL. 12 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "2016 Four Nations Schedule". rugby-league.com. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ^ a b "RUGBY LEAGUE FOUR NATIONS ON TV". rugby-league.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ "BBC offers more rugby league coverage than ever before". BBC. 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Ultimate guide to the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations". Fox Sports. Fox Sports Pty Limited. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ "League: Your ultimate guide to November's 2016 Four Nations tournament". nzherald.co.nz. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Four Nations Final 2016: Australia v New Zealand on YouTube |