The 2019 Oceania Cup was the inaugural edition of the Oceania Cup. Contested by six teams, the competition began in June and concluded in November.
The competition was announced at the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) congress in November 2018.[1] The draw was released in March and breaks the six teams into two separate pools with promotion and relegation to exist in what is to become an annual tournament. Group A will comprise the top three ranked Pacific nations in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga while Group B will comprise Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.[2][3]
The winner of Pool A will win the Oceania Cup while the winner of Pool B will win the Oceania Shield and be promoted to Pool A in the next edition in place of Australia, who were due to travel to Europe for their first Kangaroos tour since 2003.[4]
Venues
The games were played at the following venues in New Zealand and Australia.
Results
Group A - Cup
Notes:
Notes:
Notes:
- Cameron Murray (Australia) made his Test debut.
- Though with an invitational side, this is Tonga's first win over Australia.
Group B - Shield
Notes:
- Xavier Coates, Edene Gebbie, Edwin Ipape, Zev John, Kyle Laybutt, Bernard Lewis, Terry Wapi (all Papua New Guinea), Chanel Harris-Tavita, Hymel Hunt, Marion Seve, and Jaydn Su'A (all Samoa) made their Test debuts, while Jamayne Isaako made his debut for Samoa having previously represented New Zealand.
Notes:
Notes:
- Daniel Russell (Papua New Guinea) made his Test debut, while Alex Johnston made his debut for Papua New Guinea having previously represented Australia.
See also
References
- ^ "Kiwis will contest Oceania Cup in 2019 with Lions tour set for southern hemisphere". Stuff.co.nz. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ "Great Britain lions tour & Oceania Cup". Rugby League International Federation. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- ^ "Oceania cup confirmed". Rugby League International Federation. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- ^ "Wayne Bennett to coach Great Britain in lions tour of southern hemisphere". National Rugby League. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Walter, Brad (5 March 2019). "Kangaroos to play Tonga in triple-header as Oceania Cup launched". NRL.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- ^ "Kiwi Ferns to face Fetu Samoa in Women's Test as part of double-header". NZRL. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Match officials for RLWC2021 Qualifier and RLIF Oceania Cup fixtures". RLIF. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ "Trans Tasman Test Match announced for Woolongong". RLIF. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ "2019 Ox & Palm Pacific Test Invitational venue and teams confirmed". NRL.com. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
External videos |
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New Zealand v Tonga 2019 Oceania Cup on YouTube |