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Not only did fans clamour to get their photos taken with the famous trophy, they signed up in their droves to receive RLWC08 newsletters and their chance to win tickets to the World Cup Opening Ceremony encounter between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney, on Sunday, October 26.
Rugby League World Cup Organisers are pleased to announce Chris Van Bronkhorst has snared the prime seats for a match that will attract international headlines.
Now is the time for every fan to seize their chance to be part of this historic event by booking through Ticketek.
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RLWC08 GOES ON TOUR
The RLWC08 hits the road this month joining Australian of the Year Lee Kernaghan and thousands of Rugby League hopefuls.
First stop for the purpose built RLWC08 Promotional Van will be the NSW South Coast, home to one of the tournament venues WIN Stadium.
It all starts in Nowra at 4.00pm on March 19 as the World Cup show plays a staring role at the Harvey Norman Regional Celebrations providing fun for the whole family.
Fans visiting the RLWC08 Van during the celebration will take part in skills clinics, games and pass the ball competitions as well as having the chance to receive World Cup merchandise.
The RLWC08 Van will travel across the east coast of Australia in the lead up to the World Cup.
Ireland's involvement in the tournament this year has already led to the World Cup van being booked in as a star attraction at the St Patrick's Family Day at Hyde Park on March 16 between 1pm and 6pm.
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RUGBY LUAGUE BOOST FOR PNG
Australian PM Kevin Rudd has given PNG the best possible push towards the World Cup.
The Broncos loving PM has not only given the green light to maintaining the annual Australian Prime Ministers XIII match against the Kumuls but has pledged $250,000 to upgrade facilities in PNG and to supply uniforms, boots and registrations for junior players.
The Kumuls elevation to the Super Pool in this year's tournament brings them onto the same stage as international heavyweights Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand, and reflects the passion that exists for the game in PNG.
The news comes on top of a recent sponsorship deal with multi-national company Nestle. Through its Milo brand, Nestle PNG, have committed to sponsoring the National Schoolboys Rugby League competition for the next three years in a deal worth K450,000 ($A264,000). The competition will now be known as the Milo Schoolboys competition.
"With the backing of Nestle, we now have a mammoth task of exploiting the Rugby League potential of our juniors and build and develop this potential," said PNG Schoolboy Rugby League Chairman Iffysoe Segeyaro.
The schoolboy Rugby League competition will also be sponsored by Telikom PNG and Lae Builders and Contractors
Organisers hope that a number of future stars will be unearthed at schoolboy level and hopefully go on to play in the national open-age SP Cup competition.
Schoolboys competitions are currently played in Port Moresby, Lae, Goroka, Kainantu, Rabaul, Bougainville, Kavieng, Kundiawa, Kimbe and Bialla. PNG Rugby League officials are confident that more schoolboy competition will commence in Ramu, Madang, Mount Hagen, Enga and Mendi
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EUROPEAN DELEGATES MEET IN ENGLAND
As if English hopes weren't burning brightly enough after their defeat of the Kiwis last year, the World Club Challenge has convinced every England fan that this just may be their year for glory.
Australian Premiers Melbourne had pulled out all stops in preparing for this year's event only to find themselves charged aside by the Leeds Rhinos.
It was an emphatic reminder that England and indeed European Rugby League has the talent to mix it with the Australians.
Already it's led to thousands of enquiries being directed to Official Rugby League World Cup travel agents as well as a surge in crowds in the opening weeks of the English Super League.Already there are predictions of record crowds through the 2008 season. Already there are predictions of record crowds through the 2008 season.
World Cup sides England, Ireland and Scotland were on hand recently when delegates from full and associate nations allied to the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) meeting at Elland Road.
Joining the World Cup sides were Lebanon, Serbia, Czech Republic, Russia and Wales with all eight countries discussing a programme of forthcoming events and fixtures at various levels as well as preliminary plans for events after 2013.
All nations involved outlined how important the upcoming World Cup and like international tournaments are to the development and promotion of the game in developing Rugby League countries.
The meeting was run by RLEF Chairman Richard Lewis who commented, "It was a very positive session, especially with so much going on within and between the various countries."
"The amount of activity discussed showed how much the sport has grown since we last met, which is highly encouraging" he added.
Among the items debated, it was agreed that the 2008 'Under 18's European Nations Cup' will be played in the Czech Republic for the first time in September and that dates were near agreement for an autumn 'Euro-Med Challenge' featuring Lebanon, Serbia and Russia.
Other topics included the forthcoming re-launch of the official RLEF website which will be tri-lingual and will include match highlights and programmes to further develop coaches and match officials.
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FIJI LOOKS TOWARDS OVERSEAS STARS
The Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) will be among the keenest viewers of both the NRL and the English Super League this year and not just to keep an eye on high profile players such as Wes Naiqama, Ashton Sims, John Sutton, and Daryl Millard.
The Bati have a number of lesser known players that they believe can spring some World Cup surprises later this year. They will be assessing them each week of the competition to see just who will join the nation's local heroes later this year.
One player pushing for a place in the squad is former Bulldogs and North Sydney lower grader Namila Davui, who is currently starring for the London Skolars in the National League Two.
Davui didn't feature for Fiji during the World Cup qualifiers in late 2006 but is hoping to push for a spot in the 2008 tournament. He has been in fine form for the Skolars, scoring a try and creating another one as his side defeated Welsh club Celtic Crusaders in last week's Northern Rail Cup match in Bridgend.
"It has been a good move for Davui and will give him the chance to prove himself in England as well as getting the opportunity to make the Fijian World Cup squad," said Fiji National Rugby League Chairman Peni Musunamasi.
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TONGA PLAN TO TRI SERIES IN AUSTRALIA
Tonga is considering staging its own three way series to bring together players spread across Australian, New Zealand and Tongan competitions.
Coach Jim Dymock has scouted through the three countries, to prepare his squad for October this year. While Jim thinks the event would be a handy exercise, if funding could be arranged, he won't be treating it as a selection trial.
"I already know most of the players that will be in the squad so I don't think that the tournament, if it goes ahead, will be a selection trial. I was over in Tonga last year and I had a good look at them so I know what to expect," said Tongan World Cup coach Jim Dymock.
"There are a few players in New Zealand and I will catch up with them during the year to see how they are travelling. A couple of players stood out during the recent Nines tournament in Samoa and they have been noted."
Tonga is hoping to travel to Fiji in early August to play the Fijians in a game that will feature only domestic players. The Tongan players will then fly to Australia for the chance to be part of the World Cup.
Tonga join Samoa and Ireland in Pool three of the Rugby League World Cup. They will tackle Ireland on Monday, October 27 at Parramatta Stadium before taking on Samoa at Penrith's CUA Stadium four days later.
International patrons can currently purchase tickets through RLWC08 official travel agencies. For further information, please email www.rlwc08.com and one of the sales team will be in contact.
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TOMAHAWKS STRIKE AGAIN
The USA may have narrowly missed out on a place in this year's World Cup but there are about to create history in October never the less.
The Tomahawks will play Jamaica on October 18 in the first full international played in the West Indies.
DID YOU KNOW ?
Manly's Steve Menzies is the only player still running around in the NRL that was part of Australia's 1995 World Cup squad.
Jason Smith and Andrew Johns, who were also part of the 1995 team both retired from playing Rugby League in 2007.
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