Super League World Nines


The Super League World Nines, was a pre-season rugby league nines tournament between national sides. Set up in the midst of the Super League war and created in opposition to the Australian Rugby League's World Sevens tournament, the tournament was held twice before being abandoned when the two factions merged to form the National Rugby League.

History

1996 Tournament

The 1996 World Nines were held at National Stadium in Suva, Fiji from 22 February to 24 February. The winner of this competition was New Zealand, who won their first world trophy in a rugby league competition. New Zealand were awarded A$30,000 for the win. The 1996 World Nines marked the first time that a video referee was used for a game of rugby league. Due to a court ruling in the Federal Court of Australia, this was the only Super League competition held in 1996.

1997 Tournament

The 1997 World Nines were held in Townsville, Queensland from 31 January to 2 February. New Zealand won this competition for the second year in a row.

Squads

1996 Tournament

Sixteen squads competed in Suva:
Gary Connolly, of England, and Martin Hall, the Welsh captain, were forced to withdraw from their respective squads after being threatened with legal action by the Australian Rugby League.
NEW ZEALAND
Coach - Graeme Norton
1. Sean Hoppe
2. John Kirwan
3. Stephen Kearney
4. Nigel Vagana
5. Gene Ngamu
6. Tony Tatupu
7. Gavin Hill
8. Mark Carter
9. Stacey Jones
10. Tony Iro
11. Richie Barnett
12. Henry Paul
13. Ruben Wiki
14. Latham Tawhai		PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Coach -		AUSTRALIA
Coach - Mal Meninga
1. Robbie Beckett
2. Jason Croker
3. Laurie Daley
4. Andrew Ettingshausen
5. David Furner
6. Simon Gillies
7. Paul Green
8. Michael Hancock
9. Jason Hetherington
10. Glenn Lazarus
11. Brett Mullins
12. Steve Renouf
13. Wendell Sailor
14. Ricky Stuart
15. Kevin Walters		ENGLAND
Coach -
1. Rob Smyth
2. Phil Cantillon
WALES
Coach -Clive Griffiths
1. Allan Bateman
2. Iestyn Harris
3. Mark Jones
4. Paul Atcheson
5. Neil Cowie
6. Scott Quinnell
7. Jason Critchley
8. Gareth Cochrane
9. Gareth Stephens
10. Gavin Price-Jones
11. Ian Watson
12. Mark Perrett
13. Rowland Phillips
14. John Donno 		WESTERN SAMOA
Coach - Max McCamish
1. Tea Ropati
2. Willie Poching
3. Mike Setefano
4. Robert Piva
5. Bryan Laumatia
6.Fetuao Peeleti
7. Faamati Laumanuvae
8. Tuti Godinet
9. Sinoti Fuanonofo
10. Okesene Moananu
11. Siu Amosa
12. Wayne Schuster		TONGA
Coach -		IRELAND
Coach -
FIJI
Coach -		FRANCE
Coach -		ITALY
Coach -		SCOTLAND
Coach - George Fairbairn
1. Chris Simmers
2. Alisdair Blee
3. Nick Mardon
4. Darrall Shelford
5. James Cowan
6. Graeme Thompson
7. Darren Shaw
8. Danny Russell
9. Bill McGinty
10. Gary Murdock
11. Steve Tait
12. George Graham
13. Sean Cusack
14. Billy Gamba 15. Scott Gilmour
COOK ISLANDS
Coach -
1. Meti Noovao		UNITED STATES
Coach -
1. David Di Sorbio
2. Kevin Gittings
3. Robert Balachandran
4. Tony Wallace
5. Prince Hill
6. Kevin Cassidy
7. Aaron Tucker
8. Mike Evergin
9. Fred Gruhler
10. David Bowe
11. Shelton Davis
12. Rob Anna
13. Greg Stelluti
14. Mike Loader
15. Britton Coffman
16. Chris Veally
17. Nick Bell		MOROCCO
Coach -		JAPAN
Coach -

1997 Tournament

Twelve squads of fourteen players competed in Townsville:
GREAT BRITAIN
Coach - Andy Gregory
1. Andy Farrell
2. Stuart Spruce
3. Scott Naylor
4. Martin Crompton
5. John Bentley
6. Chris Smith
7. Keith Senior
8. Barrie-Jon Mather
9. Denis Betts
10. Tommy Martyn
11. Iestyn Harris
12. Adrian Morley
13. Stephen Holgate
14. Tulsen Tollett		WESTERN SAMOA
Coach - Mark Graham
1. Apollo Perelini
2. Vila Matautia
3. John Schuster
4. Willie Swann
5. Bryan Laumatia
6. Iva Ropati
7. Logan Swann
8. Tea Ropati
9. Phillip Leuluai
10. Jerry Seuseu
11. Anthony Swann
12. Nigel Vagana
13. Fata Sini
14. Matt Sauvao		JAPAN
Coach - Max Mannix
1. Masami Fukada
2. Yoshihiro Noda
3. Jun Kanezawa
4. Kenichiro Yukamizu
5. Takeshi Muda
6. Kiyoto Kobayashi
7. Greg Mannix
8. Toru Suzuki
9. Yuji Suzuki
10. Yoshikazu Kanemaru
11. Kazumi Iida
12. Natsutake Haga
13. Kenji Morita
14. Soji Mitobe		TONGA
Coach - Duane Mann
1. Franklin Fonua
2. Lesley Vainikolo
3. Paul Kulon
4. Cheaf Fakavamoenga
5. Peter Tanginoa
6. Kolanitisi Filiai
7. Tevta Tutfua
8. Malupo Liutai
9. Esau Mann
10. Sune Atoa
11. Takai Taulanga
12. Pauliasi Masoe
13. Willie Wolfgramm
14. Atunaisa Fotu
SOUTH AFRICA
Coach - Paul Matete
1. Tiaan Strauss
2. Andy Marinos
3. Kevin Schrader
4. Tim Fourie
5. Warren McCann
6. Andrew Ballot
7. Mark Johnson
8. Hannes Venter
9. Walter McGreachey
10. Michael Horak
11. Andre Erasmus
12. Justin Jennings
13. Cornelius Nel
14. Johnny Gernum		FRANCE
Coach - Ivan Grésèque
1. Frederic Banquet
2. Pascal Bomati
3. Jerôme Alonso
4. Hadji Boudebza
5. Ludovic Daure
6. Patrick Torreilles
7.David Despin
8. Arnaud Dulac
9. Bruno Vergis
10. Jerome Guisset
11. Pascal Jampy
12. Gaël Tallec
13. Frederic Teixido
14. Eric Vergniol		UNITED STATES
Coach - Greg Gerard
1. Terry Wallace
2. David Niu
3. Ryan McCough
4. Loren Broussard
5. Jeff Preston
6. Prince Hill
7. David Bowe
8. Laau Affumango
9. Robert Balachandran
10. Greg Schor
11. Fred Gruhler
12. Brian Geraghty
13. Marcus Maffei
14. Doug Erickson		AUSTRALIA
Coach - Tim Sheens
1. Ryan Girdler
2. Andrew Ettingshausen
3. Allan Langer
4. Wendell Sailor
5. Steve Renouf
6. Gordon Tallis
7. Jason Croker
8. Brett Hetherington
9. David Furner
10. Paul Green
11. Steve Walters
12. Michael Hancock
13. Glenn Lazarus
14. Kevin Walters
PAPAU NEW GUINEA
Coach - Gabriel Kiluwa
1. Ruben Ruing
2. Marcus Bai
3. John Okul
4. Robert Siu
5. Sam Wuvua
6. James Kops
7. Mark Mom
8. Robert Tela
9. Elias Paiyo
10. David Westley
11. Raymond Karl
12. Bruce Mamando
13. Simon Kundi
14. Jackery Kipsi		NEW ZEALAND
Coach - Graeme Norton
1. Stacey Jones 2. Marc Ellis 3. Stephen Kearney 4. Joe Vagana 5. Shane Endacott 6. Richie Barnett 7. Ruben Wiki 8. Quentin Pongia 9. Robbie Paul 10. Tony Tatupu 11. Tony Iro 12. Tyran Smith 13. John Timu 14. Jason Williams.
Henry Paul, Matthew Ridge, Sean Hoppe, Grant Young and Gene Ngamu all withdrew due to injuries.		COOK ISLANDS
Coach - Paul McGreal
1. Patrick Kuru
2. Clive Arona
3. Zane Clark
4. Alex Kermonde
5. Bob Hunter
6. Meti Noovao
7. Tauel Shepherd
8. William Puaru
9. Kevin Iro
10. Craig Bowen
11. Ali Davys
12. Richard Piakura
13. Lloyd Matapo
14. Taimati Amosa		FIJI
Coach - Etuwate Waqa
1. Timogi Vatakuli
2. Matareti Mautau
3. Paula Baravilula
4. Inoke Ratudina
5. Joe Tamani
6. Kalaveti Naisoro
7. Ilatia Takaladau
8. Meli Kaidroka
9. Stan Tulevu
10. Samuela Marayawa
11. Luga Gonegali
12. Sakuisa Vulaono
13. Vula Dakuitoga
14. Saimoni Camaitoga

Finals