World Nines back in action

THE revived World Nines tournament will be staged by an established rugby league nation at some stage over the next three years, probably 2019.

The Rugby League International Federation will advance planning this week at a meeting in Sydney about a tournament to feature national teams in a nine- a- side format, twice staged by Super League in the 1990s.

The RLIF’s outgoing chief executive David Collier said “several nations’’ are interested in staging the event, to be called a Nines World Cup.

Its cue is from the recent success of the Auckland Nines, which will not be held in the next pre- season because of the December 2 finish of the World Cup.

Sixteen nations played the 1996 World Nines in Fiji and 12 entered the second and last edition in Townsville.

“We intend to run a Nines World Cup in addition to the 2021 World Cup over the next four years,’’ Collier said.

“Expressions of interest have been called for and several nations are interested. With the first event, it would be good to have it in an established nation.

“It can fit into the calendar without needing the same amount of personnel as a 13- aside competition. We will talk about the feasibility of the Nines World Cup but we would not expect to award it.’’

A Nines World Cup held every four years, or be spun into a series of Nines tournaments around the world, would provide an additional income stream for the smaller RLIF member nations and additional competition.