Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
Encyclopedia
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea
internationally in the sport of rugby league football.
In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league
is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls (bird of paradise in Tok Pisin
). Many Papua New Guinean players have left the country in order to pursue professional rugby league careers in Great Britain
and Australia
.
A team representing Papua New Guinea (generally made up of a mixture of locally based players and International Players) plays an Australian Prime Minister's XIII in an annual match. The Australian side consists mostly of developing players from the premier competition the National Rugby League
(NRL).
was first played in Papua New Guinea
in the late forties; it was introduced to the nation by Australia
n soldiers stationed there during and after the Second World War. Papua New Guinea were admitted to the game’s International Federation in 1974. On 6 July 1975, at Lloyd Robnson Oval, in Port Moresby the Kumuls played their first ever international. They were beaten 40-12 by England. The English team were en route to Australia and New Zealand to fulfil away fixtures during the 1975 World Cup
.
They first entered the Rugby League World Cup for the 1985-89 competition
, though it was not until 1995
that they won away from home. In 1987 The Kumuls stage their first full test playing tour of Britain, after playing BARLA opposition in 1979. They lost the test 42-0 at Central Park, Wigan.
On Tuesday 20 October 1987, that Cumbria met Papua New Guinea before a crowd of 3,750 at the Recreation Ground, Whitehaven. Cumbria won 22-4. Four days later they played a World Cup rated Test against Great Britain.
Papua New Guinea played an exhibition match against Australia in 1988. In 1991 Papua New Guinea played host to a touring Great Britain, the series ended in a 1-1 draw.
On Sunday 27 October 1991, Papua New Guinea met Wales at Vetch Field
, Swansea. Roared on by a fervent crowd of 11,422; Wales won by a record 68-0 margin, scoring thirteen tries. Papua New Guinea never recovered and lost all five matches in Britain, conceding 232 points in the process, and won only one of their four matches in France.
Papua New Guinea wound up their 1991 tour of Europe with a World Cup rated Test match against France
, which was played on Sunday 24 November at the Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne. Despite Papua New Guinea leading 8-4 at half-time; France defeated their visitors 28-14.
The Kumuls hosted Great Britain
during the 1992 Lions tour of Australasia.
Papua New Guinea travelled to England to compete in the 1995 World Cup
under coach Joe Tokam and captain Adrian Lam
. In their group was Tonga and New Zealand, against whom they failed to win a match.
In 1996 Bob Bennett, brother of the famous Wayne Bennett, was appointed the Kumuls' coach.
And Bob Bennett the coach of the 2000 World Cup Kumuls team made the qualification two the pool were the kumuls made it in to the top 5 team in the world so the 2000 World Cup Kumuls team was granted the best kumuls team.
In 2005 Papua New Guinea beat the Australian Prime Minister's XIII 24-16 in Darwin
. This was the first win over any Australian based national side. In 2007 Papua New Guinea drew with Australia PM XIII 24-24.
They were granted automatic qualification to the 2008 World Cup
but were placed in a pool with the top three teams, Australia, New Zealand and England, and failed to win a match in the tournament.
Tournament, as politicians clashed for control over the game and the governing body, the PNGRFL, was split over issues concerning junior development, the national team and the Papua New Guinea NRL bid. This caused Adrian Lam
to retire as head coach of the Kumuls in September 2010 while recently retired captain Stanley Gene
, who had never coached a side before, was named his replacement. The governing board were adamant that more Papua New Guinea
-based players should be in the squad, and fewer Australia-based players should be picked. In early October the squad was announced for the tournament and consisted of 12 PNG-based players with captain Paul Aiton
being the only NRL player. Whilst the Australian team were worth an estimated A$10 million, local newspapers calculated the Kumuls value at around A$670,000.
Despite the Australian media treating the defeat of the Papua New Guinean team as a mere formality, with the team having odds of 125-1 to win the tournament, the players and journalists at home were positive that the Kumuls could make a lasting impression in the tournament. After their first defeat against Australia the team's enthusiasm and crunching tackles were praised, but ball control and creativity let the team down hugely. However the team faced much more criticism after their 76-12 thrashing suffered at the hands of New Zealand, with fans angry at the poor display from the players and some questioning the credentials of new coach Stanley Gene. Days after the match a broader look at the sport in the country occurred with one assessment concluding that rugby league was poorly managed and former PNG great Marcus Bai
called on clubs to supply a greater number of representative standard players especially from the New Guinea Islands region which had supplied five of this year's team. The way politics had made its way into the governing of the sport was also condemned.
As of 5th October 2010:
- Recently played QLD U18 as a curtain raiser to Origin I. The QLD U/18 def. Kundus 20-16. The team is captained by Wayne Bond
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
internationally in the sport of rugby league football.
In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league
Rugby league in Papua New Guinea
Rugby league is the most popular team sport in Papua New Guinea, and is indeed regarded as the national sport. The people have a reputation for being the most passionate supporters of the game in the world....
is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls (bird of paradise in Tok Pisin
Tok Pisin
Tok Pisin is a creole spoken throughout Papua New Guinea. It is an official language of Papua New Guinea and the most widely used language in that country...
). Many Papua New Guinean players have left the country in order to pursue professional rugby league careers in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , 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...
.
A team representing Papua New Guinea (generally made up of a mixture of locally based players and International Players) plays an Australian Prime Minister's XIII in an annual match. The Australian side consists mostly of developing players from the premier competition the National Rugby League
National 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).
History
Rugby leagueRugby 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...
was first played in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
in the late forties; it was introduced to the nation by Australia
Australia
Australia , 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...
n soldiers stationed there during and after the Second World War. Papua New Guinea were admitted to the game’s International Federation in 1974. On 6 July 1975, at Lloyd Robnson Oval, in Port Moresby the Kumuls played their first ever international. They were beaten 40-12 by England. The English team were en route to Australia and New Zealand to fulfil away fixtures during the 1975 World Cup
1975 Rugby League World Cup
The 1975 Rugby League World Cup was the seventh staging of rugby league football's World Cup tournament...
.
They first entered the Rugby League World Cup for the 1985-89 competition
1985 - 1988 Rugby League World Cup
The ninth Rugby League World Cup saw yet another change of format. The competition was stretched to cover almost three years , with teams playing each other on a home and away basis...
, though it was not until 1995
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
that they won away from home. In 1987 The Kumuls stage their first full test playing tour of Britain, after playing BARLA opposition in 1979. They lost the test 42-0 at Central Park, Wigan.
On Tuesday 20 October 1987, that Cumbria met Papua New Guinea before a crowd of 3,750 at the Recreation Ground, Whitehaven. Cumbria won 22-4. Four days later they played a World Cup rated Test against Great Britain.
Papua New Guinea played an exhibition match against Australia in 1988. In 1991 Papua New Guinea played host to a touring Great Britain, the series ended in a 1-1 draw.
On Sunday 27 October 1991, Papua New Guinea met Wales at Vetch Field
Vetch Field
The Vetch Field was a multi-purpose stadium in Swansea, Wales. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of Swansea City until the Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Opened in 1912, the ground held around 12,000 at the time of its closure, but upwards of 30,000 at its peak...
, Swansea. Roared on by a fervent crowd of 11,422; Wales won by a record 68-0 margin, scoring thirteen tries. Papua New Guinea never recovered and lost all five matches in Britain, conceding 232 points in the process, and won only one of their four matches in France.
Papua New Guinea wound up their 1991 tour of Europe with a World Cup rated Test match against France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
, which was played on Sunday 24 November at the Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne. Despite Papua New Guinea leading 8-4 at half-time; France defeated their visitors 28-14.
The Kumuls hosted Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
during the 1992 Lions tour of Australasia.
Papua New Guinea travelled to England to compete in the 1995 World Cup
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
under coach Joe Tokam and captain Adrian Lam
Adrian Lam
Adrian Lam is an Australian rugby league football coach and former international player. He is the head coach of the under 20 St George Dragons squad National Rugby League team he signed with them in 2010 and will combine with coaching legend Wayne Bennett.He is a former Papua New Guinea rugby...
. In their group was Tonga and New Zealand, against whom they failed to win a match.
In 1996 Bob Bennett, brother of the famous Wayne Bennett, was appointed the Kumuls' coach.
And Bob Bennett the coach of the 2000 World Cup Kumuls team made the qualification two the pool were the kumuls made it in to the top 5 team in the world so the 2000 World Cup Kumuls team was granted the best kumuls team.
In 2005 Papua New Guinea beat the Australian Prime Minister's XIII 24-16 in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
. This was the first win over any Australian based national side. In 2007 Papua New Guinea drew with Australia PM XIII 24-24.
They were granted automatic qualification to the 2008 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...
but were placed in a pool with the top three teams, Australia, New Zealand and England, and failed to win a match in the tournament.
2010 controversy
The Papua New Guinea team experienced huge difficulties leading to the 2010 Rugby League Four Nations2010 Rugby League Four Nations
The 2010 Rugby League Four Nations tournament was played in Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2010. The tournament was the second time the Four Nations had been held, following on from the 2009 edition held in England and France....
Tournament, as politicians clashed for control over the game and the governing body, the PNGRFL, was split over issues concerning junior development, the national team and the Papua New Guinea NRL bid. This caused Adrian Lam
Adrian Lam
Adrian Lam is an Australian rugby league football coach and former international player. He is the head coach of the under 20 St George Dragons squad National Rugby League team he signed with them in 2010 and will combine with coaching legend Wayne Bennett.He is a former Papua New Guinea rugby...
to retire as head coach of the Kumuls in September 2010 while recently retired captain Stanley Gene
Stanley Gene
Stanley Gene is a former Papua New Guinean rugby league player who currently coaches the Villeneuve Leopards in the Elite One Championship in France. He recently played for Halifax in the Co-operative Championship. He has also previously played for Hull KR, Huddersfield Giants and Bradford Bulls...
, who had never coached a side before, was named his replacement. The governing board were adamant that more Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
-based players should be in the squad, and fewer Australia-based players should be picked. In early October the squad was announced for the tournament and consisted of 12 PNG-based players with captain Paul Aiton
Paul Aiton
Paul Aiton is a Papua New Guinean rugby league player who plays for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and previously for the Penrith Panthers in the Australian National Rugby League competition. He primarily plays at hooker.With his family, Aiton relocated to Caboolture, Queensland in the early 1990s...
being the only NRL player. Whilst the Australian team were worth an estimated A$10 million, local newspapers calculated the Kumuls value at around A$670,000.
Despite the Australian media treating the defeat of the Papua New Guinean team as a mere formality, with the team having odds of 125-1 to win the tournament, the players and journalists at home were positive that the Kumuls could make a lasting impression in the tournament. After their first defeat against Australia the team's enthusiasm and crunching tackles were praised, but ball control and creativity let the team down hugely. However the team faced much more criticism after their 76-12 thrashing suffered at the hands of New Zealand, with fans angry at the poor display from the players and some questioning the credentials of new coach Stanley Gene. Days after the match a broader look at the sport in the country occurred with one assessment concluding that rugby league was poorly managed and former PNG great Marcus Bai
Marcus Bai
Marcus Bai is a Papua New Guinean former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. Primarily a winger, he played his final season in 2006 for English Super League team Bradford Bulls. He is the only man to win the World Club Challenge with three different clubs...
called on clubs to supply a greater number of representative standard players especially from the New Guinea Islands region which had supplied five of this year's team. The way politics had made its way into the governing of the sport was also condemned.
2010 Squad
2010 Four Nations squad:As of 5th October 2010:
Notable players
- Marcus BaiMarcus BaiMarcus Bai is a Papua New Guinean former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. Primarily a winger, he played his final season in 2006 for English Super League team Bradford Bulls. He is the only man to win the World Club Challenge with three different clubs...
- Stanley GeneStanley GeneStanley Gene is a former Papua New Guinean rugby league player who currently coaches the Villeneuve Leopards in the Elite One Championship in France. He recently played for Halifax in the Co-operative Championship. He has also previously played for Hull KR, Huddersfield Giants and Bradford Bulls...
- Adrian LamAdrian LamAdrian Lam is an Australian rugby league football coach and former international player. He is the head coach of the under 20 St George Dragons squad National Rugby League team he signed with them in 2010 and will combine with coaching legend Wayne Bennett.He is a former Papua New Guinea rugby...
- Arnold Kerwanty
- David WestleyDavid WestleyDavid Westley is a retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A Papua New Guinea international front-rower, he played club football for the Canberra Raiders, with whom he won the 1994 Winfield Cup Premiership before spending time with the Parramatta Eels and the Northern...
- Neville CostiganNeville CostiganNeville Costigan is a professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. A Queensland State of Origin and Papua New Guinea international representative, Costigan previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders and most recently, the St...
- John WilshereJohn WilshereJohn Wilshere is a Papua New Guinean professional rugby league footballer who recently left Salford City Reds at the end of the 2009 season.-Playing career:He is a household name in Papua New Guinea, where rugby league is the national sport...
- Duncan Naawi
- Eddie Aila
- Makali AizueMakali AizueMakali Aizue is a professional rugby league player who recently signed for Co-operative Championship club Halifax after playing his trade in Super League for Hull KR for many years.-Personal life:...
- Raymond Karl
- Bruce Mamando
- Mark Mom
- Tom O'Reilly
- Elias Paiyo
- Alfred SongoroAlfred SongoroAlfred Songoro is a professional rugby league footballer who at representative level for Papua New Guinea, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, and Union Treiziste Catalan, playing at , or , i.e...
- Tara Gau
- Arebo Taumaku
- Dairi KovaeDairi KovaeDairi Kovae is an Papua New Guinean former rugby league footballer. He played for the North Sydney Bears in 1988 and the Newcastle Knights in 1989. He played for Papua New Guinea from 1986 to 1988.-External links:...
- Louta Atoi
- Nathan Cuppmen
- Stanley Hondina
- Fillip Boge
- Tuksy Kauru
Past results
Victories are shown in bold.- 2010: England def. Papua New Guinea 36-10, Eden Park, New Zealand - 2010 Four Nations
- 2010: New Zealand def. Papua New Guinea 76-12, Rotorua International Stadium, New Zealand - 2010 Four Nations
- 2010: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 42-0, Parramatta Stadium - 2010 Four Nations
- 2009: Papua New Guinea def. Cook Islands 42-14, Port Moresby - 2009 Pacific cup final
- 2009: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 44-14, Port Moresby - 2009 Pacific Cup
- 2009: Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 14-2, Port Moresby
- 2009: Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 64-10, Port Moresby
- 2008: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 46-6, Dairy Farmers Stadium (Townsville) 2008 World Cup
- 2008 New Zealand def. Papua New Guinea 48-6 Skilled Park (Robina) 2008 World Cup
- 2008: England def. Papua New Guinea 32-22 Dairy Fairmers Stadium (Townsville) 2008 World Cup
- 2007: France def. Papua New Guinea 38-26 Parc des Sports (Avignon)
- 2007: France def Papua New Guinea 22-16 Stade Andre Moga, Begles (Bordeaux)
- 2007: Papua New Guinea def France A 38-12 Avignon, France
- 2007: Wales def Papua New Guinea 50-10 Bridgend , Wales
- 2005: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 70-22 Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
- 2004: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 32-20 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 2001: New Zealand def. Papua New Guinea 38-8 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 2000: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 82-0 Dairy Dairmers Stadium (Townsville)
- 2000: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 22-18 Leeds, England
- 2000: Wales def. Papua New Guinea 22-8 Headingley Stadium England
- 2000: Papua New Guinea def. South Africa 16-0 Leeds, England
- 2000: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 30-22 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1999: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 36-6 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1998: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 56-0 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1998: Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 34-12 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1998: Papua New Guinea def. Cook Islands 86-6 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1998: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 56-0 Sydney Cricket Ground
- 1998: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 44-28 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1998: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 54-12 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1996: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 56-16 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1996: Kiwis def. Papua New Guinea 62-8 International Stadium, Rotorua
- 1995: Papua New Guinea def. France 18-16 Danny Leahy Oval (Goroka)
- 1995: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 77-8 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1995: Papua New Guinea drew Tonga 28-28 St James Park England
- 1993: Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 35-24 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1992: Papua New Guinea def. France 38-8 Danny Leahy Oval (Goroka)
- 1992: France def. Papua New Guinea 28-26 Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (Port Moresby)
- 1992: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 20-14 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1991: Wales def. Papua New Guinea 68-0 Vetch Field (Swansea)
- 1991: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 56-4 Wigan, England
- 1990: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 40-8 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1990: Papua New Guinea def. Great Britain 20-18 Danny Leahy Oval (Goroka)
- 1988: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 42-22 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1987: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 42-0 Wigan, England
- 1986: Papua New Guinea def. New Zealand 24-22 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1986: New Zealand def. Papua New Guinea 36-26 Lloyd Robson(Port Moresby)
- 1984: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 38-20 Pope John Paul II Oval (Mt Hagen)
- 1983: New Zealand def. Papua New Guinea 60-20 Carlaw Park (Auckland)
- 1982: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 38-2 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1982: New Zealand def. Papua New Guinea 56-5 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1981: Papua New Guinea drew France 13-13 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1979: France def. Papua New Guinea 15-2 Stade Albert Domec (Carcassonne)
- 1979: Frnce def. Papua New Guinea 16-9 Stade Municipal (Albi)
- 1978: New Zealand def. Papua New Guinea 30-21 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1977: Papua New Guinea def France 37-6 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
- 1975: England def. Papua New Guinea 40-12 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
Other Papua New Guinean teams
- PNG Prime Minister XIII - Development to consist of local based players and only three international players, used to play both national and development sides.
- PNG President XIII - PNGRFL 'select' usually playing another development side like Junior Kangaroos or New Zealand A. Rarely used to play national sides.
- PNG Residents- Papua New Guinea development side made up of solely local players. Regularly playing matches with the Junior Kangaroos, New Zealand Māoris and even national sides.
- Papua New Guinea KUNDUS - Papua New Guinea junior U18 schoolboys side.
- Recently played QLD U18 as a curtain raiser to Origin I. The QLD U/18 def. Kundus 20-16. The team is captained by Wayne Bond
Participated tournaments
- Rugby League World CupRugby League World CupThe Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
- Pacific Cup
- Rugby League Four NationsRugby League Four NationsThe 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,...
(2010 tournament2010 Rugby League Four NationsThe 2010 Rugby League Four Nations tournament was played in Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2010. The tournament was the second time the Four Nations had been held, following on from the 2009 edition held in England and France....
) - Papua New Guinea 50th Independence Challenge
- Somare Cup
See also
- Rugby league in Papua New GuineaRugby league in Papua New GuineaRugby league is the most popular team sport in Papua New Guinea, and is indeed regarded as the national sport. The people have a reputation for being the most passionate supporters of the game in the world....
- Emerging Nations TournamentRugby League Emerging Nations TournamentIn 1995 and 2000, the Rugby League International Federation held an Emerging Nations Tournament alongside the Rugby League World Cup. The competition was designed to allow teams who have failed to qualify for the World Cup proper a chance to play on the international stage....
- World CupRugby League World CupThe Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...