Wikipedia

2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup

The 2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup. The tournament was held from 20 July to 28 July 2017 and was originally planned to be held in Sydney, Australia, as part of the 2017 Festival of World Cups but was relocated to France. The tournament was won by France who defeated England 38–34 in the final in Perpignan to retain the title.

2017 (2017) Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup  ()
Number of teams7
Host country France
Winner France (2nd title)
Runner-up England
Tournaments
 < 2013
2021 > 

Host selection and funding concerns

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On 19 February 2014, it was announced that the joint bid from Australia and New Zealand had won hosting rights for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup to be held in November 2017.[1] As with previous tournaments the Festival of World Cups served as part of the build-up to the main competition and was expected to include the wheelchair competition.[2][3] In May 2016, the World Cup organising committee raised concerns over financial support for the festival,[4] but by September the England team still anticipated that the wheelchair event would take place in Sydney, Australia.[5] All the teams were European apart from the hosts and holding the tournament in Australia came to be considered financially unviable.[6] In November 2016, the RLIF announced that the wheelchair tournament would be held in France in order to maximise the number of teams taking part.[7] The cost of travel was an issue for participating nations and in the Welsh Parliament it was noted that Wales were dependent on sponsorship and donations in order to take part.[4][8] In March 2017, the Australian team received A$50,000 from the NRL towards their transport costs.[9]

In April 2017, the French Rugby League Federation announced that the tournament would take place between 20 July and 28 July with the final being played at the Parc des Expositions in Perpignan.[10]

Venues

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World Cup venues in the Occitania region in southern France

The venues for the tournament were all in the Occitania region in southern France:[11]

Teams

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The seven teams that took part in the tournament were the four semi-finalists from 2013 (Australia, England, France and Wales) who were placed in Group A and Italy, Scotland and Spain in Group B.[12] Ireland had also intended to take part.[13] Each nation was allowed to name up to 12 players in their squad for the tournament.[14]

Group A squads

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  Australia[9]
  • Peter Arbuckle (QLD)
  • Jason Attard (NSW)
  • Davin Bretherton (QLD)
  • Craig Cannane (NSW)
  • Fabian Castillo (NSW)
  • William Derederenalagi (NSW)
  • Brad Grove (NSW)
  • Brett Henman (NSW)
  • Diab Karim (NSW)
  • Stephan Rochecouste (NSW)
  • Yara Ryan (NSW)
  • Mitchel Stone (NSW)
  England[15]
  France[14][16][17]
  • Mouss Abbassi (Toulouse-St Jory)
  • Lionel Alazard (Toulouse-St Jory)
  • Gilles Clausells (Catalans Dragons)
  • Nicolas Clausells (Catalans Dragons)
  • Dany Denuwelaere (Toulouse-St Jory)
  • Laurent Despues (Catalans Dragons)
  • Mickaël Gaune (Roanne Bisons)
  • Guillaume Mautz (SO Avignon)
  • Kevin Pastor (SO Avignon)
  • Michel Penella (Aingirak Euskadi)
  • Fabien Plaza (Toulouse-St Jory)
  • Cyril Torres (Toulouse-St Jory)
  Wales[18]
  • Alan Caron (North Wales Crusaders)
  • Claire Cranston (North Wales Crusaders)
  • John Doyle (North Wales Crusaders)
  • Andrew Higgins (North Wales Crusaders)
  • Harry Jones (North Wales Crusaders)
  • Gary Preece (Hereford Harriers)
  • Gary Taylor (North Wales Crusaders)
  • Mark Williams (North Wales Crusaders)
  • Stuart Williams (North Wales Crusaders)

Group B squads

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  Italy[19][20]
  • Quentin Barat (Oyonnax)
  • Laurent Blacszack-Ferrari (Carcassonne)
  • _ Filice
  • Pascal Guigou (Apt)
  • Florian Guttadoro (SO Avignon)
  • Adam Howarth
  • _ Lodico
  • Julien Penella (Anglet)
  • Marc Verdi (SO Avignon)
  Scotland[18]
  • Jay Anderson (Dundee Dragons)
  • David Birtles (Dundee Dragons)
  • Connor Blackmore (Strathmore Silverbacks)
  • Gavin Dobson (Halifax)
  • Michael Mellon (Dundee Dragons)
  • Ronnie Robb (Dundee Dragons)
  • Graeme Stewart (Dundee Dragons)
  Spain[19]

Warm-up matches

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Two pre-tournament matches took place on 18 July at the Gymnase L'Olympie, Limoux.[11]

18 July 2017
Italy   32–30   Spain
Gymnase L'Olympie, Limoux[19]
18 July 2017
France   70–16   Australia
Gymnase L'Olympie, Limoux[19]

Group stage

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Group A

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Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   France 3 3 0 0 291 63 +228 6 Semi-finals
2   England 3 2 0 1 189 129 +60 4
3   Australia 3 1 0 2 120 206 −86 2 Group play-off
4   Wales 3 0 0 3 66 268 −202 0
Source: [1]
20 July 2017
Australia   72–24   Wales
Tries:
  • Attard
  • Cannane
  • Grove (4)
  • Rouchecouste (3)
  • Derederenalagi (2)

Goals:
  • Castillo (4)
  • Henman (4)
  • Karim (6)

 Report
 Tries:
  • Higgins
  • Jones
  • Preece
  • M Williams

Goals: Higgins (2)
Halle aux Sport, Carcassonne
20 July 2017
France   71–31   England
Tries:
  • Torres
  • G Clausells
  • Alazard (2)
  • Denuwelaere (5)
  • Plaza
  • Despues (2)

Goals:
  • Torres (5)
  • Plaza (6)

Drop goals: Gaunes
 Report
 Tries:
  • Brown (2)
  • Collins (3)

Goals:
  • Collins (4)
  • Boardman

Drop goals: Brown
Halle aux Sport, Carcassonne
22 July 2017
France   102–22   Australia
Tries:
  • Abassi (3)
  • Denuwaelere (3)
  • N Clausells (2)
  • Plaza
  • ?

Goals: ?
 Report
 Tries: ?
Goals: ?
Complexe La Rijole, Pamiers
22 July 2017
Wales   32–78   England
Tries:
  • Higgins
  • S Williams (3)
  • M Williams

Goals: Higgins (6)
 Report
 Tries:
  • Collins (2)
  • J Brown (3)
  • Bechara (3)
  • Boyd-Ward
  • Boardman (3)
  • Halliwell
  • Richardson
  • Coyd

Goals:
  • Collins (3)
  • Boardman (6)

Complexe La Rijole, Pamiers
24 July 2017
France   118–10   Wales
Tries:
  • Abassi (4)
  • Alazard
  • N Clausells (3)
  • Despues (4)
  • Gaune
  • Mautz
  • Pastor (3)
  • Torres (3)

Goals:
  • Torres (15)
  • Gaune

 Report
 Tries:
  • Higgins
  • S Williams

Goals: Higgins
Gymnase du Lac, St-Jory
24 July 2017
England   80–26   Australia
Tries:
  • Coyd
  • Lane (2)
  • Richardson (3)
  • Collins (6)
  • ?

Goals: Collins (10)
 Report
 Tries:
  • Attard
  • Karin
  • ?

Goals: ?
Gymnase du Lac, St-Jory

Group B

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Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1   Italy 2 2 0 0 178 45 +133 4 Group play-off
2   Spain 2 1 0 1 93 86 +7 2
3   Scotland 2 0 0 2 24 164 −140 0
Source: [2]
20 July 2017
Scotland   6–110   Italy
Tries: Mellon 55'
Goals: Mellon
 Report
 Tries: ?
Goals: ?
Halle aux Sport, Carcassonne
22 July 2017
Spain   39–68   Italy
Complexe La Rijole, Pamiers[21]
24 July 2017
Scotland   18–54   Spain
Gymnase du Lac, St-Jory[21]

Knockout stage

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In the knockout stage the top two teams in Group A qualified for the semi-finals. The other semi-finalists were determined by play-offs between the remaining Group A teams and the top two teams in Group B.

Group play-offsSemi-finalsFinal
France 98
Italy 105 Italy 6
Wales 24 France 38
England 34
England 76
Australia 49 Australia 36
Spain 40
5th/6th play-off3rd/4th play-off
Wales 66 Australia 58
Spain 45 Italy 45

Group play-offs

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The group play-offs were held on 25 July at the Gymnase du Cosec, Albi.[11]

25 July 2017
Australia   49–40   Spain
Gymnase du Cosec, Albi[21]
25 July 2017
Italy   105–24   Wales
Tries: ?
Goals: ?
Drop goals: ?
 Report
 Tries:
  • Caron
  • Cranston
  • Higgins
  • S Williams
  • Preece

Goals: Higgins (2)
Gymnase du Cosec, Albi

Semi-finals

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Both semi-finals were played on 26 July at the Gymnase Compans Cafferlli, Toulouse.[11]

25 July 2017
England   76–36   Australia
Tries:
  • Collins (2)
  • J Brown (6)
  • Lane
  • Coyd (2)
  • Bechara (2)

Goals:
  • Collins (2)
  • Boardman (10)
  • J Brown

 Report
 Tries: ?
Goals: ?
Gymnase Compans Cafferlli, Toulouse
25 July 2017
France   98–6   Italy
Tries:
  • Torres (2)
  • G Clausells (2)
  • Denawulaere (2)
  • Penella
  • N Clausells (3)
  • Abassi (3)
  • Despues (2)
  • Gaune (2)

Goals:
  • Torres (9)
  • Guane (6)

 Report
 Tries: Caparossito
Goals: ?
Gymnase Compans Cafferlli, Toulouse

Minor finals

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The matches to decide 3rd to 6th placed teams were played on 27 July at the Gymnase du Cosec, Saint-Orens.[11]

5th/6th play-off
27 July 2017
Wales   66–45   Spain
Tries:
  • Caron (2)
  • Cranston (2)
  • Higgins (2)
  • S Williams (4)
  • Preece (2)

Goals: Higgins (9)
 Report
 Tries: ?
Goals: ?
Drop goals: ?
Gymnase du Cosec, St-Orens
3rd/4th play-off
27 July 2017
Australia   58–45   Italy
Report
Gymnase du Cosec, St-Orens

Final

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The final was played on 28 July at the Parc des Expositions in Perpignan.[11]

Final
28 July 2017
France   38–34   England
Tries:
  • N. Clausells (3) 25', 72', 76'
  • Denuwelaere (2) 33', 51'
  • Plaza (2) 53', 55'

Goals:
  • Plaza (3)
  • Torres (2)

 Report
 Tries:
  • Bechara 6'
  • J. Brown (3) 41', 44', 61'
  • Boardman 59'

Goals: Boardman (7)
Parc des Expositions, Perpignan
Attendance: 2,500

Rankings

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Final tournament rankings:[22]

  1.   France
  2.   England
  3.   Australia
  4.   Italy
  5.   Wales
  6.   Spain
  7.   Scotland

Top ten players

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At the end of the tournament the top 10 players were selected: Gilles Clausells was named as the Best Player of the World Cup.[22][23]

  1. Gilles Clausells – France
  2. William Derederenalagi – Australia
  3. Dany Denulawere – France
  4. Mickael Gaunes – France
  5. Oscar Ourubia – Spain
  6. Jack Brown – England
  7. Nathan Collins – England
  8. Lionel Alazard – France
  9. Seb Bechara – England
  10. Adam Howarth – Italy

Broadcasting

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Confronted with limited media coverage of the tournament the French Rugby League Federation created a YouTube channel through which matches were broadcast.[24][25]

References

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  1. ^ "2017 World Cup for Australia and NZ". RFL. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Australia to host Festival of World Cups in 2017". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 21 November 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Story of the Cup: The record breakers and history makers". NRL.com. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Rugby League World Cup already facing budget cuts due to shortfalls". Syndey Morning Herald. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  5. ^ "England Wheelchair RL announce 2016 Four Nations squad". RFL. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  6. ^ "2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup". rugbyleague.wales. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  7. ^ "USA And Canada To Host 2025 World Cup". NSW Rugby League. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Plenary - Fifth Senedd – 21/06/17 : 5. 4. 90-second Statements". Welsh Government. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Australian squad named for Wheelchair World Cup". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 14 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Coupe du Monde Rugby XIII Fauteuil en France!" [World Cup Rugby XIII Wheelchair in France!]. FFRXIII (in French). 7 April 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Fixtures released for 2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 30 June 2017. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Match Report (France v Wales 24 July 2017)". rugbyleague.wales. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Ireland Wheelchair Trials - Jan 2016". RFL. 23 Jan 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  14. ^ a b "XIII Fauteuil : six Bleus à la loupe" [XIII Armchair: Six Blues under the magnifying glass]. FFRXIII (in French). 30 June 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  15. ^ "England Wheelchair RL announce World Cup squad". RFL. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  16. ^ "L'œil de Sylvain Crismanovich sur ses joueurs avant la Coupe du monde de XIII Fauteuil" [Sylvain Crismanovich's eye on his players ahead of the World Cup]. FFRXIII (in French). 29 June 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Stage de préparation pour l'équipe de France de XIII Fauteuil à la WorldCup 2017" [Preparation camp for the France XIII Wheelchair team at the WorldCup 2017]. FFRXIII (in French). 26 May 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Wheelchair World Cup beckons!". Total Rugby League. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d "Des français contre les Bleus" [French against Les Bleus]. FFRXIII (in French). 19 July 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Wheelchair Rugby League: tutto è pronto per l'esordio dell'Italia al Mondiale in Francia". FIRL (in Italian). 19 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  21. ^ a b c "Wheelchair World Cup". Wales Rugby League. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Classement Final Coupe du Monde – Les 10 meilleurs joueurs" [World Cup Final Standings – Top 10 Players]. FFRXIII (in French). 29 July 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Gilles CLAUSELLS meilleur joueur de la RLWC2017 FRANCE" [Gilles CLAUSELLS best player of the RLWC2017 FRANCE]. FFRXIII (in French). 29 July 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  24. ^ "Retour en chiffres sur une Coupe du Monde pas comme les autres…" [Let's take a look back at a World Cup like no other...]. FFRXIII (in French). 31 July 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  25. ^ "RLIF praise growth of wheelchair game following World Cup". Inside the Games. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
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