RUGBY LEAGUE FOUR-NATIONS

 

Host Nation - England and European Qualifier

Number of Teams - 4

2011 Four-Nations Snapshot - The 2011 Four-Nations series will be the 3rd instalment of the highly successful rugby league competition. With the ongoing improvement of 2nd tier nations, the Four Nations will provide the 2010 European Cup winner a chance to play against the big three. The Four-Nations will take place in England and the European Qualifiers home nation in October / November 2011.

Each team will play each other once in the pool rounds with the top two nations contesting the final. The Four Nations will run over four weeks. The format will be much like the early World Cup competitions. The 2011 Four Nations will be a test run for the Rugby Football League (RFL) as they prepare to host the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

The French and Welsh national sides will both fancy their chances as being the fourth team in the tournament. France competed strongly in the first half of all games in the 2009 Four Nations and would like the chance to show they have improved. Wales on the other hand won the 2009 European Cup and have shown huge growth at junior level. The Welsh will be keen to bring back the glory days of the mid 90's when they had a team that could compete with the best and made the semi final of the 1995 World Cup and went close to beating England for a place in the final.

The 2011 Four Nations is shaping up to be the most successful Four Nations tournament staged in England to date and will continue with the Rugby League International Federation's (RLIF) plans to strengthen the international game at the top level.

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