Nines World Cup pools confirmed

[Man of Kent]

Pool A

Australia

New Zealand

Papua New Guinea

USA

(Top two qualify for SF)

________

Pool B

England

France

Lebanon

Wales

(Top team qualifies for SF)

-----------

Pool C

Cook Islands

Fiji

Samoa

Tonga

(Top team qualifies for SF)

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/22/downer-rugby-league-world-cup-9s-sydney-pools-confirmed/

https://www.rugby-league.com/england/article/55364/downer-rugby-league-world-cup-s-sydney-pools-confirmed

The tournament will also trial a new 20-40 rule (kick from behind 20 metres)

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/22/rugby-league-rebooted-2040-rule-to-debut-at-world-9s/

[Dave T]

Transparent as ever

[Damien]

So these are completely fixed pools?

[Dunbar]

Papua New Guinea must be delighted with that draw.  They have more chances to qualify.

[Damien]

2 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Papua New Guinea must be delighted with that draw.  They have more chances to qualify.

Shafted in the World Cup proper and now the nines. The game really doesn't help itself sometimes.

[EastLondonMike]

Hope they do a plate comp for the teams knocked out in the pools.

[welshmagpie]

9 minutes ago, EastLondonMike said:

Hope they do a plate comp for the teams knocked out in the pools.

You’d hope so. But you know they won’t.

The fact that Nations will travel half way around the world for one game of 9s on the first day is ludicrous.

Day 1: Pool Games (3 for all)

Day 2: Finals - Cup, Shield, Bowl

(2 extra games - SF and ranking game)

(3 sets of semi finals 1-4,5-8,9-12)

[DavidM]

Oh Australia and NZ have their work cut out to qualify 

[Tommygilf]

Odds on england playing less than a full 80 minutes at the 9s world cup is high.

At least what Union have realised with 7s is that you need to keep everyone involved as much as possible.

[17 stone giant]

Irrespective of the format (I don't know if it's good or bad), I'm looking forward to this event.

I've not really seen much nines before (just a few minutes of a match on YouTube), so I'm interested to see what I think of it. I don't really like RU sevens because I find it too open, but I'm hoping nines is a better balance.

And if it's a choice between this or nothing at all, I'd rather this every time.

[Copa]

The NRL have said the 20/40 rule at the 9s can be a testing ground for 13s.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/innovative-rlwc-9s-rules-could-feature-in-nrl-20190722-p529nf.html

 

 

[League of XIII]

Looking forward to seeing "Cork Island" in Pool C...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_League_World_Cup_9s

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Isn't Tonga out?

[Yakstorm]

The TNRL's invitation has been revoked, but that doesn't mean a Tongan team won't take part.  The NRL and RLIF have confirmed that a Tongan team will play at the Nines and in the respective Tests, but whether it it the TNRL, the TMRL, TSC or some other body who 'select' the squad, is what is up in the air.

[Allora]

It looks like the Nines are only getting coverage on the Sponsor Foxtel sports channel.