2009 in rugby league
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This article contains information on rugby league
events played in 2009. The season commenced with a friendly match between English Super League clubs Leeds
and Salford
in the United States in January, and concluded with the Scottish tour of South Africa in December.
Teams:
.jpg)
Teams:
against France in Paris' Stade Jean-Bouin
.
Teams:
France:
Constant Villegas
(Toulouse); Vincent Duport
(Catalans Dragons), Sébastien Planas
(Toulouse), Jean-Philippe Baile (Catalans Dragons), Frédéric Vaccari
(Catalans Dragons); Mickaël Murcia (Limoux), Thomas Bosc
(Catalans Dragons); Rémi Casty
(Catalans Dragons), Bentley (Catalans Dragons), Jérôme Guisset
(Catalans Dragons, capt), Cyril Gossard
(Catalans Dragons), Grégory Mounis
(Catalans Dragons), Éric Anselme
(Toulouse).
Replacements: Sébastien Martins
(Pia), Romain Gagliazzo (Carcassonne), William Barthau
(Catalans Dragons), Mathieu Griffi
(Toulouse).
Coach: Bobbie Goulding
England
:
Shaun Briscoe
(Hull KR); Peter Fox
(Hull KR), Michael Shenton
(Castleford), Ryan Atkins
(Wakefield), Ryan Hall
(Leeds); Danny McGuire
(Leeds), Richard Myler (Salford); Adrian Morley
(Warrington), Scott Moore
(Huddersfield), Jamie Peacock
(Leeds, capt), Gareth Hock
(Wigan), Ben Westwood
(Warrington), Sam Burgess
(Bradford).
Replacements: James Roby
(St Helens), James Graham
(St Helens), Tony Clubb
(Harlequins), Eorl Crabtree
(Huddersfield).
Coach: Tony Smith
, Junior Sa'u
, Frank-Paul Nuuausala
and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
, made their débuts.
scored a hat-trick
of tries on his début. England defeated Wales away from home, 48-12.
will continue in 2009 with two more teams than in previous seasons. There used to be a relegation system whereby the lowest team in a season was relegated to National League 1 but this has now been abolished. Leeds Rhinos
are the back-to-back defending champions after beating St Helens RLFC for the last two seasons.
(NRL), contested between 16 teams from Australia and New Zealand, will hold its 102nd season in 2009. The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
won this competition in 2008, winning the final 40-0 against the Melbourne Storm
.
competition. It replaces the previous Rugby League Tri-Nations
, with France making its debut this year. All four teams have been playing regularly for a few years. However due to France's poor performances at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
they may have to qualify to make this tournament.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
events played in 2009. The season commenced with a friendly match between English Super League clubs Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
and Salford
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
in the United States in January, and concluded with the Scottish tour of South Africa in December.
March
- 1st: Leeds, England – The 2009 World Club Challenge2009 World Club ChallengeThe 2009 World Club Challenge was contested by Super League XIII champions, Leeds Rhinos, competing in their second consecutive World Club Challenge, and 2008 NRL Premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles...
is won by Australia's Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesManly-Warringah Sea EaglesThe Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
who defeated England's Leeds RhinosLeeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
. - 13th: AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
– The 2009 NRL season begins with the first games of Round 1 being played. - 13th: EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
– The 2009 Super League XIVSuper League XIVThe 2009 Super League season is the fourteenth season of rugby league since the Super League format was introduced in 1996...
begins with the first games of Round 1 being played. - 22nd: MaestegMaestegMaesteg is a town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. Maesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with Neath Port Talbot. In 2001, Maesteg had a population of 17,859, but it is now at an estimate of 20,000....
, South WalesSouth WalesSouth Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
- 20-year-old forward Leon WalkerLeon WalkerLeon Walker was a British rugby league player. His position of preference was at loose forward.-Playing career:Walker started playing rugby league for the amateur side, the Churwell Chiefs....
collapses and dies on the field in a reserve match between Wakefield Wildcats and Celtic Crusaders.
April
- 6th: FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- The 75th anniversary of the creation of the French Rugby League.
City vs. Country Origin
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referees | Crowd | |||||
| Country Origin | 18 – 40 | City Origin | 8 May 2009, 7:35pm | Wade Park Wade Park Wade Park is a sports ground located in the town of Orange, New South Wales, Australia.The park has hosted a number of competitive A-League matches featuring the Central Coast Mariners FC - in 2006's Pre-Season against Adelaide United , and then again in 2007 when the Mariners and Queensland Roar... , Orange Orange, New South Wales Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre.... |
Gavin Badger Shayne Hayne Shayne Hayne Shane Hayne, born Kevin John Hayne in Wellington, NSW in 1967, is an Australian rugby league referee in the National Rugby League . He has officiated in State of Origin since game II in 2007, the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and the 2009 NRL Grand Final.... |
8,226 | ||
Teams:
ANZAC Test
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Crowd | |||||
| Australia Kangaroos | 38 – 10 | New Zealand Kiwis New Zealand national rugby league team The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name... |
8 May 2009, 7:45pm | Suncorp Stadium Suncorp Stadium Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium... |
Richard Silverwood Richard Silverwood Richard Silverwood is a professional rugby league referee. He currently officiates in the Super League competition.-Biography:... |
37,152 | ||
England vs France
On the 13th of June England played the first rugby league international since the 2008 World Cup2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
against France in Paris' Stade Jean-Bouin
Stade Jean-Bouin
Stade Jean-Bouin is a multi-purpose stadium in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, France. The facility, across the street from the much larger Parc des Princes, is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of Stade Français. Through 2006, it hosted the annual Paris Sevens...
.
Teams:
France:
Constant Villegas
Constant Villegas
Constant Villegas is a rugby league player for Toulouse Olympique in the Elite One Championship. He plays on the wing or in the second-row. He is a French international.He has been named in the France training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup....
(Toulouse); Vincent Duport
Vincent Duport
Vincent Duport is a French professional rugby league footballer for Catalans Dragons in Super League. He was previously playing for Toulouse Olympique in the Co-operative Championship...
(Catalans Dragons), Sébastien Planas
Sébastien Planas
Sébastien Planas is a rugby league player for the Toulouse Olympique club in the French Rugby League Championship competition. His position is at centre....
(Toulouse), Jean-Philippe Baile (Catalans Dragons), Frédéric Vaccari
Frédéric Vaccari
Frédéric Vaccari is a French professional rugby league footballer for the Catalans Dragons in Europe's Super League. A France international representative winger he previously played for Toulouse Olympique and Villeneuve Leopards in the French Elite One Championship.He has been named in the France...
(Catalans Dragons); Mickaël Murcia (Limoux), Thomas Bosc
Thomas Bosc
Thomas Bosc is a French professional rugby league footballer for the Catalan Dragons of Super League...
(Catalans Dragons); Rémi Casty
Rémi Casty
Rémi Casty is a French professional rugby league footballer for the Catalans Dragons club of Super League. A France international representative forward, he has played his entire top-level career to date with Catalans Dragons....
(Catalans Dragons), Bentley (Catalans Dragons), Jérôme Guisset
Jérôme Guisset
Jérôme Guisset is a formerFrench professional rugby league player. He recently played for Catalans Dragons as prop or second row, but he retired at the end of the 2010 season, and is now the assistant coach at the club....
(Catalans Dragons, capt), Cyril Gossard
Cyril Gossard
Cyril Gossard is a rugby league player for the Catalans Dragons club in the European Super League competition....
(Catalans Dragons), Grégory Mounis
Gregory Mounis
Grégory Mounis is a professional rugby league player for Catalans Dragons in the European Super League competition...
(Catalans Dragons), Éric Anselme
Éric Anselme
Éric Anselme is a rugby league player for Toulouse Olympique in the Co-operative Championship. He joined Toulouse Olympique following a loan spell at Leeds Rhinos...
(Toulouse).
Replacements: Sébastien Martins
Sébastien Martins
Sébastien Martins was a rugby league player for Catalans Dragons club in the European Super League competition.He is a utility player at home in the front row, second row or centres, Martins brings a great deal of versatility to the Catalans squadSebastien has signed to play for National League 1...
(Pia), Romain Gagliazzo (Carcassonne), William Barthau
William Barthau
William Barthau is a French professional rugby league footballer who is currently contracted to the French Super League franchise Catalans Dragons. He is by preference a scrum-half. Despite only being promoted to the Catalans first-team squad in 2010, he played for the French national side at...
(Catalans Dragons), Mathieu Griffi
Mathieu Griffi
Mathieu Griffi is a rugby league player for Toulouse Olympique in the Championship.He has been named in the France training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.He had been named in the France squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup....
(Toulouse).
Coach: Bobbie Goulding
Bobbie Goulding
Bobbie Goulding is an English rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently the French national team's head coach....
England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
:
Shaun Briscoe
Shaun Briscoe
Shaun Briscoe is an English professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Widnes Vikings of Super League. An England international representative outside back, he has played club football for Wigan, Hull, and Hull Kingston Rovers....
(Hull KR); Peter Fox
Peter Fox (rugby league born 1984)
Peter Fox is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Hull Kingston Rovers of Super League. An England international representative er, Fox previously played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and York City Knights.-International honours:...
(Hull KR), Michael Shenton
Michael Shenton
Michael Shenton , is an English professional rugby league footballer currently playing for St. Helens in the Super League. An England international representative , he previously played for the Castleford Tigers before moving to St...
(Castleford), Ryan Atkins
Ryan Atkins
Ryan Atkins is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Warrington Wolves of Super League.Started his playing days With Bramley Phoenix Rugby Union An England international representative three-quarter, he previously played for the Bradford and Wakefield Trinity clubs.The...
(Wakefield), Ryan Hall
Ryan Hall (rugby league)
Ryan Hall is an English professional Rugby League Winger for the Leeds in Super League. He has played his entire professional career to date with Leeds, winning the 2008, 2009 &2011 Super League Championships with them.-Club career:...
(Leeds); Danny McGuire
Danny McGuire
Danny McGuire is an English professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. His preferred position is at /. He has played his entire career to date with the Rhinos, having come through the club's Academy....
(Leeds), Richard Myler (Salford); Adrian Morley
Adrian Morley
Adrian Morley is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Europe's Super League...
(Warrington), Scott Moore
Scott Moore (rugby league)
Scott Moore is a rugby league footballer who plays for Widnes Vikings in the European Super League.Scott Moore was the youngest ever Super League player when he made his debut at the JJB Stadium aged only 16....
(Huddersfield), Jamie Peacock
Jamie Peacock
James "Jamie" Peacock is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Leeds Rhinos of the European Super League...
(Leeds, capt), Gareth Hock
Gareth Hock
Gareth Hock is an English rugby league player who currently plays for English club Wigan Warriors in the Super League competition. His primary position is as a second-row forward.-Early Years:...
(Wigan), Ben Westwood
Ben Westwood
Ben Westwood is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Europe's Super League. An England international representative forward, he previously played for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats before moving to Warrington in 2002 and winning the 2009 Challenge Cup with...
(Warrington), Sam Burgess
Sam Burgess
Sam Burgess is an English professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League...
(Bradford).
Replacements: James Roby
James Roby
James Roby is an English professional rugby league footballer for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative hooker, he has played his entire professional career to date at St Helens, winning the 2006 Super League XI Championship with them.-Career:Roby...
(St Helens), James Graham
James Graham (rugby league)
James Graham is a rugby league player for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative front row forward, he has played his entire professional career to date at St...
(St Helens), Tony Clubb
Tony Clubb
Tony Clubb is an English professional rugby league footballer for Harlequins RL of Super League. An England international representative centre, he has played his whole professional career to date with the Harlequins....
(Harlequins), Eorl Crabtree
Eorl Crabtree
Eorl Crabtree is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Huddersfield Giants of Super League. An England international representative prop forward, he has played his entire career to date at Huddersfield.-Biography:...
(Huddersfield).
Coach: Tony Smith
September
- 23rd - SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
: The 11th annual Tom Brock LectureTom Brock LectureThe Tom Brock Lecture is an annual scholarly lecture organised by the Australian Society for Sports History under the bequest of Australian sports historian Tom Brock. The topic of the lecture is the history of rugby league football...
, entitled The Lost Tribes of League – the fate of axed and merged clubs and their fans is delivered by Terry WilliamsTerry WilliamsTerry Williams may refer to:*Terry Williams , English former professional footballer*Terry Williams , former American football defensive back*Terry Williams , Welsh rock drummer...
.
New Zealand vs. Tonga
New Zealand led 24-8 at half-time before Tonga fought back to level the scores at 24-24. New Zealand scored 16 points in a row to win the match 40-24. Four New Zealand players, Bryson GoodwinBryson Goodwin
Bryson Goodwin is a New Zealand-Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks...
, Junior Sa'u
Junior Sau
Tafeaga "Junior" Sa'u is a rugby league player for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. He plays as a centre. He is the first cousin of Manly Sea Eagles centre Steve Matai.-Playing career:...
, Frank-Paul Nuuausala
Frank-Paul Nuuausala
Frank-Paul Nu'uausala is a professional rugby league player from New Zealand who currently plays for the Sydney Roosters.-Playing career:...
and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is a rugby league player currently with the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. He plays in the second-row.-Early years:Waerea-Hargreaves first made a name for himself playing schoolboy rugby union at Iona College in Queensland, through some impressive performances in the AIC...
, made their débuts.
England vs. Wales
The last time these two sides met, England won 74-0. Wales took an early lead in the match but England were too strong. England's Sam TomkinsSam Tomkins
A pre-season unofficial friendly match provided Tomkins his first experience against top-flight opposition as he came off the bench during Lee Briers' testimonial match in a 30–22 loss to Warrington Wolves. Noble followed this up by providing Tomkins, aged 19, with his first team debut on 12 May...
scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
of tries on his début. England defeated Wales away from home, 48-12.
November
- 14th: Leeds, England - The 2009 Four Nations tournament culminates in a final between Australia and England at Elland RoadElland RoadElland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
.
December
In Australia in 2009, rugby league's popularity was confirmed as it had the highest television ratings of any football code.Super League
The English Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
will continue in 2009 with two more teams than in previous seasons. There used to be a relegation system whereby the lowest team in a season was relegated to National League 1 but this has now been abolished. Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
are the back-to-back defending champions after beating St Helens RLFC for the last two seasons.
National Rugby League
The National Rugby LeagueNational Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL), contested between 16 teams from Australia and New Zealand, will hold its 102nd season in 2009. The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
won this competition in 2008, winning the final 40-0 against the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
.
Four Nations
Later in the year, New Zealand, Australia, England and France will compete in a new 4 NationsRugby League Four Nations
The Rugby League Four Nations is an annual rugby league football tournament run in partnership between the Australian Rugby League, Rugby Football League and New Zealand Rugby League representing the top three nations in the sport: Australia, England and New Zealand. A fourth partner, France,...
competition. It replaces the previous Rugby League Tri-Nations
Rugby League Tri-Nations
The Rugby League Tri-Nations was a rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport: Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand...
, with France making its debut this year. All four teams have been playing regularly for a few years. However due to France's poor performances at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
they may have to qualify to make this tournament.