Rugby League World Cup 9s Ultimate Guide

The rugby league World Nines tournament will descend on Sydney as 12 nations compete for the inaugural Downer Rugby League World Cup in two days of frenetic, fast paced nine-a-side football.

LIVE: World Cup 9's live scores, results and highlights

Before the end of season international Tests kick off later this month, Sydney will play host to the spectacle capping off a stellar 2019 NRL season.

The Cook Islands, United States, France, Papua New Guinea and Wales are among 12 teams that will feature at Bankwest Stadium against the code's traditional powerhouses.

While both Lebanon and Tonga will field outfits at the 12-team event despite ongoing tension between the nation's respective boards and their high-profile players.

Speedsters Ryan Papenhuyzen and AJ Brimson will get their chance in green and gold after impressive club seasons for Melbourne and the Gold Coast respectively, while crowds will flock to see what Kalyn Ponga can do in the open spaces.

But Brisbane powerhouse David Fifita could upstage them all thanks to his exciting balance of power and pace.

World Cup Nines

When: October 18-19

Where: Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta, Sydney.

Featured Countries

Australia, New Zealand, England, PNG, Tonga, Fiji, France, Samoa, Wales, Lebanon, Cook Islands and the United States.

New rules at World Cup 9s

1. Nine players per side, nine minutes per half
2. Unlimited interchange
3. Five tackles per set, rather than six
4. Sin bins: three minutes rather than 10
5. Conversions are drop kicks, with a 25-second shot clock
6. 20/40 kicks introduced, as well as 40/20s
7. Five points, rather than four, awarded for a try scored in the Telstra 5G Bonus Zone between the goal posts
8. Drawn matches decided by a golden try

Tickets

Tickets available through Ticketek

How to watch

All games will be broadcast on Fox League, channel 502.

Full list of Teams and Players

POOL A

New Zealand

Leeson Ah Mau (NZ Warriors)

Dylan Brown (Parramatta Eels)

Zane Tetevano (Sydney Roosters)

Corey Harawira-Naera (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

Braden Hamlin-Uele (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

Jamayne Isaako (Brisbane Broncos)

Shaun Johnson (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks)

Jeremy Marshall-King (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

Ken Maumalo (NZ Warriors)

Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks)

Kodi Nikorima (NZ Warriors)

Kevin Proctor (Gold Coast Titans)

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Canberra Raiders)

Bailey Simonsson (Canberra Raiders)

Reimis Smith (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders)

Australia

Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne Storm)

Jai Arrow (Gold Coast Titans)

AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)

Nathan Brown (Parramatta Eels)

Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles)

Kyle Feldt (North Queensland Cowboys)

David Fifita (Brisbane Broncos)

Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Reuben Garrick (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

Campbell Graham (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Wade Graham (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

Clint Gutherson (Parramatta Eels)

Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)

Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm)

Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights)

PNG

Terry Wapi (PNG Hunters)

Edene Gebbie (Wynnum Manly)

Stargroth Amean (Barrow Raiders)

Bernard Lewis (Sydney Roosters)

Daniel Russell (Nth Qld Cowboys)

Garry Lo (PNG Hunters)

Jedidiah Simbiken (Redcliffe Dolphins)

Edwin Ipape (Wynnum Manly)

Kyle Laybutt (Townsville Blackhawks)

Watson Boas (Barrow Raiders)

Nixon Putt (North Devils)

Rhyse Martin (Leeds Rhinos)

Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm)

Stanford Talita (Hela Wigmen)

Moses Meninga (PNG Hunters)

Wartovo Puara jnr (Barrow Raiders)

USA

Conner Donehue (Brooklyn)

Eddy Pettybourne (Central Queensland)

Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla)

Jay Florimo (The Entrance)

Mark Offerdahl (Goondiwindi)

Bureta Faraimo (Hull)

Charlie Jones (Jacksonville)

Khalial Harris (Jacksonville)

David Washington (Jacksonville)

Joe Eichner (Northern Pride)

Ryan Burroughs (Nova)

Corey Makelim (Sheffield)

Jerome Veve (Souths Logan)

Junior Vaivai (Toulouse)

Danny Howard (Wentworthville)

Kristian Freed (Wests Mitchelton)

POOL B

England

James Graham (captain - St George Illawarra)

Liam Watts (Castleford)

Reece Lyne (Wakefield)

Sam Tomkins (Catalans)

Jake Connor (Hull FC)

George Williams (Wigan)

Daryl Clark (Warrington)

Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield)

Jake Trueman (Castleford)

Tom Burgess (South Sydney)

Ryan Hall (Sydney Roosters)

Ash Handley (Leeds)

Blake Austin (Warrington)

Ryan Sutton (Canberra)

Elliott Whitehead (Canberra)

Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra)

France

Lucas Albert (Catalan Dragons)

Jason Baitieri (Catalan Dragons)

Jordan Dezria (Toulouse)

Bastien Canet (Carcassonne)

Alrix Da Costa (Catalan Dragons)

Charles Bouzinac (Lezignan)

Lambert Belmas (Catalan Dragons)

Arthur Romano (Catalan Dragons)

Thomas Lasvesnes (Villeneuve)

Paul Macron (Toulouse)

Gavin Marguerite (Toulouse)

Hakim Miloudi (Toronto Wolfpack)

Louis Jouffret (Featherstone Rovers)

Lilian Albert (Lezignan)

Arthur Mourgues (St Esteve XIII Catalans)

Justin Sangare (Toulouse)

Mathieu Jusseaume (Toulouse)

Lebanon

Kayne Kalache (Canterbury Bulldogs)

James Roumanos (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Elie El-Zakhem (Canbterbury Bulldogs)

Reece Robinson (Queanbeyan Kangaroos)

Travis Robinson (Newtown Jets)

Jacob Kiraz (North Queensland Cowboys)

Jalal Bazzaz (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Anthony Layoun (Mounties)

Bilal Maarbani (Wests Tigers)

Jayden El-Jalkh (Wests Magpies)

Adam Rizk (Ryde-Eastwood Hawks)

Josh Rizk (Balmain Tigers)

John Paul Nohra (Parramatta Eels)

Johnny-Lee Gabriel (Balmain Tigers)

Charbel Tasipale (Parramatta Eels)

Ahmad Harajly (New England Free Jacks)

Wales

Rhys Evans (Bradford Bulls)

Dalton Grant (Bradford Bulls)

Cobi Green (Bradford Bulls)

Will Evans (Burleigh Bears)

Connor Davies (Halifax)

Curtis Davies (Halifax)

Dan Fleming (Halifax)

Elliot Kear (London Broncos)

Rhys Williams (London Broncos)

Lloyd White (Mackay Cutters)

Regan Grace (St Helens)

Gavin Bennion (Swinton Lions)

Mike Butt (Swinton Lions)

Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions)

Ben Evans (Toulouse Olympique)

James Olds (West Brisbane Panthers)

POOL C

Tonga

John Asiata (North Queensland Cowboys)

Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)

Tevita Funa (Manly Sea Eagles)

Delouise Hoeter (Wynnum-Manly Seagulls)

Peter Hola (North Queensland Cowboys)

Jamil Hopoate (Brisbane Broncos)

Robert Jennings (Wests Tigers)

Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks)

Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers)

Tuipulotu Katoa (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Fanitesi Niu (Brisbane Broncos)

Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)

Tevita Pangai jnr (Brisbane Broncos)

William Sakatoumafi (NZ Warriors)

Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)

Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith Panthers)

Samoa

Bunty Afoa (NZ Warriors)

Dean Blore (Penrith Panthers)

Michael Chee Kam (Wests Tigers)

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Melbourne Storm)

Tim Lafai (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Joey Leilua (Canberra Raiders)

Luciano Leilua (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Moses Leota (Penrith Panthers)

Danny Levi (Newcastle Knights)

Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)

Lalotoa Mata'afa (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers)

Ligi Sao (NZ Warriors)

Marion Seve (Melbourne Storm)

Jorge Taufua (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers)

Fiji

Kevin Naiqama (c) (St Helens)

Suliasi Vunivalu (Melbourne Storm)

Waqa Blake (Parramatta Eels)

Brayden Wiliame (Catalans Dragons)

Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels)

Mikaele Ravalawa (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Penioni Tagituimua (Nadera Panthers)

Luuke Nadrotalo (Nadera Panthers)

Apisai Koroisau (Manly Sea Eagles)

Silistino Ravutaumada (NZ Warriors)

Viliame Kikau (Penrith Panthers)

Taane Milne (NZ Warriors)

Isaac Lumelume (Melbourne Storm)

Penaia Leveleve (Nabua Broncos)

Maika Tudravu (Army Bears)

Joseva Lawalawa (Ravoravo Rabbitohs)

Cook Islands

Tevin Arona (Canterbury Bulls)

Anthony Gelling (Widnes Vikings)

Alex Glenn (Brisbane Broncos)

Kayal Iro (NZ Warriors)

Steven Marsters (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Sam Mataora (Belconnen United Sharks)

Tepai Moeroa (Parramatta Eels)

Moses Noovao-Mcgreal (Norths Devils)

Junior Pua (NZ Warriors)

John Puna (Easts Tigers)

Reuben Rennie (Mounties)

Vincent Rennie (Mounties)

Brad Takairangi (Parramatta Eels)

Brodie Tamarua (NZ Warriors)

Aaron Teroi (Central Queensland Capras)

Paul Ulberg (Norths Devils)

DRAW

Friday, October 18

6:20pm: France v Lebanon

6:45pm: (W) England v PNG

7:10pm: England v Wales

7:35pm: Tonga v Cook Islands

8:10pm: Samoa v Fiji

8:35pm: (W) Australia v New Zealand

9:00pm: Australia v New Zealand

9:25pm: PNG v USA

Saturday, October 19

11:30am: (W) New Zealand v PNG

11:55am: France v Wales

12:20pm: England v Lebanon

12:45pm: Samoa v Cook Islands

1:10pm: Tonga v Fiji

1:45pm: New Zealand v PNG

2:10pm: Australia v USA

2:35pm: (W) Australia v England

3:00pm: Lebanon v Wales

3:25pm: England v France

4:00pm: Fiji v Cook Islands

4:25pm: Tonga v Samoa

4:50pm: New Zealand v USA

5:15pm: Australia v PNG

5:40pm: (W) Australia v PNG

6:05pm: (W) New Zealand v England

6:55pm: Men's semi final

7:20pm: Men's semi final

7:45pm: Women's final

9:00pm: Men's final