Teams from the Pacific Islands, Europe and the Middle East will join Australia and New Zealand in the Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s Sydney 2019 in Sydney in October.
The NRL confirmed the 12 nations playing over the course of two days at the new Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta, on Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19.
The men’s tournament will feature: Australia, New Zealand, England, PNG, Tonga, Fiji, France, Samoa, Wales, Lebanon, Cook Islands and the United States.
The women’s tournament will feature Australia, New Zealand, England and PNG.
“This will truly be a festival of Rugby League over two days,” NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said.
“We will have the colour and passion from some of the Pacific nations including Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, the might of Australia, New Zealand and England, as well as some emerging nations including Lebanon, the US and Cook Islands.
“This is an opportunity to showcase this exciting and unique brand of Rugby League to a wider audience both in Australia as well as well beyond.
“We will see the best players in the world involved in the fast-paced, free-flowing and entertaining Nines format over one weekend in what will be a first for the game.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Downer, Grant Fenn, is delighted that the company is continuing its support for rugby league, having been naming rights sponsors of the NRL Auckland Nines in 2016 and 2017, as well as the World Club Challenge in 2018.
“The Downer Rugby League World Cup Nines will be a wonderful event,” Mr Fenn said.
“It will be a great opportunity to see the best players in the world representing their countries in the unique Nines format. We are looking forward to some outstanding footy.”
The Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s Sydney 2019 has been secured for Sydney by the New South Wales Government.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the event represented a significant opportunity for NSW.
“This blockbuster event will showcase Western Sydney’s world-class new facility, Bankwest Statdium, and is anticipated to generate $11 million for the NSW economy courtesy of 13,000 overnight visitors,” Mr Ayres said.
“The NSW Government is proud to partner with the NRL to deliver this exciting, high-energy tournament that will put Sydney firmly in the global sporting spotlight.”
Special NRL Travel Packages are now available for the tournament, at nrltravel.com.
Tickets will go on sale for the tournament later this year. Supporters can register via a waitlist at https://www.nrl.com/waitlist/
The 12 teams in the men’s competition and four teams in the women’s tournament will compete across 28 matches and 12 hours of action. FOX Sports will broadcast every men’s and women’s match live nationally across the two days of competition.