As you all know, the long awaited ASRL World Cup will take place at the conclusion of the upcoming 2003 season. We've been saying it'll happen since the dawn of ASRL (waaaay back in December 2001), but we've finally pulled our thumbs out (kind've like Hoppa), and we're ready.

The plan is that it will be a sixteen team tournament, with any extra sides participating in an emerging nations tournament. At the moment these are the sixteen sides qualified for the tournament- in order of ranking.

1- Australia: Chris Walker-Bush
2- New Zealand: Marshal Boyd
3- Wales: John Williams
4- Ireland: Nathan Hoy
5- England: Mark Fowler
6- Papua New Guinea: Jelly Adams
7- France: Matt Lyons
8- Lebanon: Anthony Magro
9- Scotland: Warren Tricker
10- Samoa: Rowland Kelly
11- Europe: Chris Maunder
12- Cook Islands: FREE
13- Fiji: David McElroy
14- South Africa: Steve Simmons
15- USA: Luke Sharpe
16- Tonga: Andrew Young
17. Japan: JD Marskell
18. Russia: Chris O'Keefe
19. Germany: Brian Randell
20. AA/TSI: Roger Bossert

If you're the current coach of one of these sides and I haven't got you down, contact me and I'll fix it up. Likewise, if you are kean on running a side- please get in touch with me ASAP. The good sides'll fill up fast.

Scotland, USA, Europe, Japan, and NZ Maori will all have strong squads. It really is a case of first in, best dressed guys- so get in quick. I strongly encourage every ASRL coach to get involved, as the ASRL season will cease will the World Cup goes on.

Chris

Whilst the ASRL season is mere days away from kicking off, the WRL (World Rugby League) has today announced the pools for the first World Cup since 1994 (when Australian beat New Zealand 32-10 in the final). The tournament will include sixteen sides divided into four pools- with the top two from each pool advancing to the quarter finals. A six team emerging nations tournament will also run alongside the tournament.

GROUP A- (Sydney, Australia)
Australian (1st)
France (7th)
Lebanon (8th)
USA (15th)

GROUP B- (Perth, Australia)
England (5th)
Scotland (9th)
Europe (11th)
South Africa (14th)

GROUP C- (Wellington, New Zealand)
New Zealand (2nd)
Ireland (4th)
Samoa (10th)
Cook Islands (12th)

GROUP D- (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea)
Wales (3rd)
Papua New Guinea (6th)
Fiji (13th)
Tonga (16th)

The pools all support one of the top nations, with Group C sporting both New Zealand (2nd) and Ireland (4th)- in what should be the most closely contested pool.

Group A should see Australia qualify easily, with France and Lebanon (7th and 8th respectively) fighting for the final position. 15th ranked USA should not be a realistic chance of making the finals.

Group B sees struggling England as clear favourites, especially under the guidance of new coach Mark Fowler. The final spot is up for grabs as Scotland are out've form- whilst South Africa and Europe are both unknown entities.

Group C is clear cut in who will qualify- as Ireland and New Zealand should safely complete the group round, and it's only a matter of deciding who finishes first. Samoa are an outside chance of qualifying, whilst Cook Islands are no real threat.

Group D should see Wales qualify with ease, and hosts Papua New Guinea should be capable of wrapping up a finals berth as well. Under-achieving Fiji and struggling nation, Tonga, should be no threat to PNG or Wales.

In the Emerging Nations tournament, six nations will clash. The AA/TSI side (virtually an Australian Seconds squad) should be the clear favourites, whilst NZ Maori should be able to compete. Russia and Japan have both played a single international in the past decade, and neither is a real threat. Germany and Canada are newcomers to the Rugby League scene, and won't make an impression on the tournament.

ASRL Weekly Magazine

World Cup Extended

It's official, the 2003 World Cup will be extended to include a further four teams- with the ASRL today announcing that the Emerging Nations Cup will not go ahead- and instead four of its participating teams will ply in the World Cup. This means the addition of one more group, and a redrawn group system.

Although the official details are not out yet- it is believed that the newly entered sided will be Germany, AA/TSI, Japan, and Russia.

Chris

is there still a spot availible for josh to coach?

Russia and Japan are free.

The catch is that whoeever wants them will need to research their Rugby League teams (last I checked they both have websites). They may also want to plunder their Union team.

Chris

Japan have a semi-decent Union team if u cant find enough players

By semi-decent I mean New Zealand beat them by 100 points a few years back.

Are there any teams without a coach? I don't coach any rep teams :(

Russia or Japan..... :D

I got JAPAN if not ill take RUSSIA.

Nah, I have japan.