The 2013 Rugby League World Cup will be contested between October 26th and November 30th this year. The tournament, which is the fourteenth edition of the event, is being hosted by England and Wales, but matches will also be played across the water in Ireland and France. There will be fourteen teams turning up to try and get their hands on the coveted title and New Zealand will be winging their way in to try and defend the world crown which they won back in 2008. On that occasion, New Zealand beat their fierce rivals Australia 34-20 to take their first ever Rugby League World Cup crown. But even though the Kiwis will be the defending champions for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, they won’t be favourites.
That honour will fall on Australia, who are the most successful nation in the history of the World Cup. Of the thirteen previous editions, Australia have won it on nine occasions. The Australians won the title for six consecutive tournaments between 1975 and 2000 inclusive. So they are the almighty Rugby League power and even early at the turn of 2013, Australia were head and shoulders the outright favourites to take yet another title. Just as another trend, Australia have only ever failed to appear in one of the Rugby League World Cup finals. That was the inaugural tournament back in 1954. The twelve editions since, Australia have have been in all of the finals. So it may all be a matter of backing them heavily to go all the way again.
Who are the most likely nations to stop them? Reigning champions New Zealand are the second favourites in the betting markets for winning the tournament outright. They have the pace, power and skill to match up best against Australia, but even the Kiwis come up short more often than not. So then it will be England, who came closest to a World Cup title in 1995 when they lost in the final against Australia, who are the best outside shot. England will have the advantage of playing on home soil in front of partisan support and in their own conditions. Will that favour them? It will still be a big task to upset the Australians.
England v Australia will be the tasty tournament opener on October 26th, 2013 in Group A. The tournament is split into four groups, with four teams each in Groups A and B (the highest ranked nations). The top three from Group A and Group B will progress and will be joined by the winners of Group C and Group D, which only have three teams each in them. Because of the group standings, England would at least potentially avoid Australia again until the final itself if they both make it that far. The other threats, but again outside shots at the very best, will be Samoa and France. Can anyone stop the immense power of Australia at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup?
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That honour will fall on Australia, who are the most successful nation in the history of the World Cup. Of the thirteen previous editions, Australia have won it on nine occasions. The Australians won the title for six consecutive tournaments between 1975 and 2000 inclusive. So they are the almighty Rugby League power and even early at the turn of 2013, Australia were head and shoulders the outright favourites to take yet another title. Just as another trend, Australia have only ever failed to appear in one of the Rugby League World Cup finals. That was the inaugural tournament back in 1954. The twelve editions since, Australia have have been in all of the finals. So it may all be a matter of backing them heavily to go all the way again.
Who are the most likely nations to stop them? Reigning champions New Zealand are the second favourites in the betting markets for winning the tournament outright. They have the pace, power and skill to match up best against Australia, but even the Kiwis come up short more often than not. So then it will be England, who came closest to a World Cup title in 1995 when they lost in the final against Australia, who are the best outside shot. England will have the advantage of playing on home soil in front of partisan support and in their own conditions. Will that favour them? It will still be a big task to upset the Australians.
England v Australia will be the tasty tournament opener on October 26th, 2013 in Group A. The tournament is split into four groups, with four teams each in Groups A and B (the highest ranked nations). The top three from Group A and Group B will progress and will be joined by the winners of Group C and Group D, which only have three teams each in them. Because of the group standings, England would at least potentially avoid Australia again until the final itself if they both make it that far. The other threats, but again outside shots at the very best, will be Samoa and France. Can anyone stop the immense power of Australia at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup?
Full Diary of Rugby League Betting Matches and Competitions