After failing to qualify for the 2008 tournament, Wales are determined to ensure their return to the Rugby League World Cup is a successful one.
Assured a spot in 2013, Iestyn Harris and his men will be planning to continue the great record that Welsh teams have at the RLWC, having reached the semi-finals in two of the past three tournaments.
Wales Dragons
RLIF World Ranking: 5
Best Result: Semi-Finalists (1995, 2000)
2008 Finish: Did not qualify
2013 RLWC Odds: $501
The Welsh national side has been competing in international rugby league since 1908. They defeated Albert Baskerville’s touring side, the New Zealand All Golds, in their first ever Test match that year.
Wales continued their winning ways throughout history, winning the European Cup numerous times and forging a great rivalry with the English. For the first half of the century at least, prior to the Great Britain side being formed.
The Dragons’ first appearance at the RLWC was in 1975, where they exceeded expectations by finishing third. They would not appear again at a World Cup until the home nations began competing individually in 1995.
Including the likes of Jonathan Davies and young up and comers Kieron Cunningham and Iestyn Harris, the Welsh would reach the semi-finals in 1995 only to be beaten by England – a side they had beaten earlier in the year to claim the European Cup.
In 2000, Wales again reached the knockout stages and defeated Papua New Guinea in the quarter-finals, setting up a clash against the Kangaroos.
Arguably the most memorable performance by a Welsh team this century, the Dragons were leading Australia 20-8 in the second half only to be run down and denied a chance to compete in the final.
Wales did not qualify for the 2008 World Cup, losing their qualification play-off to Scotland.
Iestyn Harris was one of the stars of the tournament in 1995 and 2000. In his current role as coach of the national side, he will be looking for his men to restore Welsh pride in this prestigious tournament.
Team Line-Up (likely)
1. Elliot Kear
2. Rob Massam
3. Rhys Williams
4. Christiaan Roets
5. Rhys Evans
6. Lloyd White
7. Matt Seamark
8. Craig Kopczak (c)
9. Neil Budworth
10. Jordan James
11. Tyson Frizzel
12. Rhodri Lloyd
13. Ben Flower
14. Gil Hudson
15. Ben Evans
16. Peter Lupton
17. Danny Jones
Squad Members: Ross Divorty, Jacob Emmitt, Daniel Fleming, James Guertjens, Larne Patrick, Anthony Walker, Ian Webster
The Dragons are predominantly made up of players who ply their trade in the European Super League.
Craig Kopczak will lead the side in the 2013 RLWC after a very successful season with the Huddersfield Giants. He forms an excellent front row partnership with Salford’s Jordan James and Wigan Warrior Gil Hudson.
The front row is definitely the strength of the team, complemented by a hardworking back row that includes NRL talent in St George Illawarra’s Tyson Frizzel.
The backline hasn’t had much exposure to big games and will rely heavily on Elliot Kear and Lloyd White.
Key Player
Wales will need 25-year-old five-eighth Lloyd White to be in sublime form for Wales to progress to the knockout stages of the RLWC.
With a strong forward pack building the platform, the Widnes Vikings No. 6 will need to create a fair chunk of the Dragons points.
With Harris as his coach, he certainly has a mentor who will provide the insight to help him find the way.
Fixtures and Opponents
Vs Italy @ Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Kick-Off – Sun 27th Oct 2:30am AEDT
Vs USA @ Racecourse Stadium, Wrexham. Kick-Off – Mon 4th Nov 1am AEDT
Vs Cook Islands @ The Gnoll, Neath. Kick-Off – Mon 11th Nov 1am AEDT
Key Match
The match against Italy at the Millennium Stadium is going to be a massive occasion, not only in the context of this tournament but for Welsh rugby league.
With a big crowd expected for the match, the Dragons can really boost the game’s profile with a victory in the opener.
If Wales can defeat Italy they may be halfway towards a quarter final berth, with their two other group fixtures against the USA and Cook Islands also at home.
RLWC 2013 Prospects
Iestyn Harris is expecting his men to continue the tremendous record that Welsh sides have in World Cups.
With all three games being played on home soil, I expect Wales to reach the quarter-finals in 2013. Both Italy and the USA have shown they won’t be easy beats, so the home crowd will need to lift the Dragons if they are to progress.
With only the top placed team going through from pool D, every game will be important for Wales if they are to ensure their return to the World Cup is a successful one.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Glenn, Every game of the World Cup is live and on free to air TV - 7mate.
Glenn Innes
Guest
I don't know about luckily Renegade the International game needs more Australian losses - I mean even the big games at this World Cup are not on free to air.Forty years of Australian dominance has seen has seen local League fans lose interest in the international game just like NSW people lost interest in interstate football pre origin. In fact even in the early years of origin Sydney people were not that big on it - it took consistent beltings by Queensland before they caught the bug - the same needs to happen to Australia to rejuvinate interest in the international game - we need a period of Australia losing regularly. In 200 Wales still would have ha a lot of quality ex Union players running around for them because Pro Rugby was still in it's infancy one of the reasons Wales have improved alot at Rugby in recent years is probably that they are no longer leaking players to League like they used to.
jamesb
Guest
The Welsh squad is a mixture of players that are born in either Wales or England. Frizzel was born in my neck of the woods, Seamark from Townsville, while Roets is a South African. I think there's around 8 to 9 players that do come from Wales. But it's not uncommon for players who are born in England to have Welsh heritage. As for the WC, Italy could be their toughest test, although then again, Wales could go home empty handed with losing all three games. USA and Cook Islands won't be push overs. BTW: Tyson Frizzel loves playing for the Dragons LOL
Renegade
Roar Guru
The junior rates are on the up and that's really where the RFL have placed a lot of focus and it appears to be slowly paying off.
Alvin Purple
Guest
I did read that there has been a significant increase in junior numbers in Wales. Like many parts of England the code is played in summer and this allows a lot of RU players to try RL during that off season. Like London who now has over 1000 kids playing RL this has been a sensible choice to try and build the code. Not great numbers but better than the so called great days of the code in England of the 1960's where London had a total of some 4 senior sides. The results over the weekend shows there is some life in these minor games.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Oiks, That Wales v Italy game is shaping up as a beauty now.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I vaguely remember the 1995 World cup as a kid however i remember the semi-final from 2000. We (Australia) hammered everyone up until that semi and i couldn't believe what was going on.... luckily they ran out of puff and we put our foot down as soon as we realised they were tiring. For anyone to beat the Kangaroos, they need to be playing at a high intensity for the full 80 minutes.
oikee
Guest
Now that Italy have showed their intentions, and with a strong Queensland cup contingent of Italian players all ready to give their all for the home country, the cause, i would say that Wales are now in a real battle to reach the semi finals. My interest in these games now has just gone up 10xfold. Maybe if they had Briers i would say they were good to advance, now i am not so sure. The Italians look good, they might do a job on Wales. hehe
Glenn Innis
Guest
Wales were really competive in 75 they beat the Kiwis, flogged France - lost 22 - 16 to England and 18-6 to Australia.The tournament drew paltry crowds and actually the game between Ausralia and Wales in Swansea drew more than the Australia England match at Wigan 11112 vs 9393. You can see that League in Britain never really recovered from the collapse in interest in the late sixties and seventies they stayed consistently competive until 78 but eventually the decline in public interest must have caught up with playing numbers and by 82 they were miles behind and have never really managed to catch up sadly. Lots of Welsh union players used to convert to League back in those days when Union was still pretty much amatuer these days I would imagine conversions are pretty rare so Wales will be nothing like the Team they were in the mid seventies.