Top-level rugby league in 2014 centred on Australasia's 2014 NRL Auckland Nines, 2014 NRL season and the Super League XIX. High-profile representative competitions included the 2014 Rugby League Four Nations (held in Australia and New Zealand) and the 2014 State of Origin series.
January
February 7: Super League XIX begins with the Huddersfield Giants upsetting last year's champions Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium in Wigan. 14 & 15: Inaugural NRL Auckland Nines are held at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. The North Queensland Cowboys are inaugural champions after beating Brisbane 16–7 in the final. 22: Sydney Roosters win the 2014 World Club Challenge after beating Wigan Warriors 36–14 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia. 25: Europe's Bradford Bulls team are deducted six Super League competition points after entering administration.
March 6: 2014 NRL season begins with the South Sydney Rabbitohs upsetting last year's champions Sydney Roosters at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
April 13: The Coupe de France Lord Derby final is played, with Toulouse Olympique defeating AS Carcassonne 46–10 before 6,763 at Stade Albert Domec
May 2: The 2014 ANZAC Test is played, with Australia defeating New Zealand 30–18 before 25,429 at Allianz Stadium. 3: The Pacific Rugby League International is played, with Samoa defeating Fiji 32–16 before 9,063 at Sportingbet Stadium in Penrith, Australia. In doing so they also secured qualification as the fourth and final team to compete at the 2014 Four Nations later in the year. 3: The City vs Country Origin is played, with City and Country drawing for only the second time since being 'Under origin selection rules'. The match finished 26 points apiece in front of a packed crowd at Dubbo's Apex Oval. 17 & 18: The Northern Hemisphere's Super League held its special Magic Weekend. The Magic Weekend was held at the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England. It made several records such as attendance with Day 1 recording the biggest ever attendance with 36,339 fans attending the ground on one day. While the total aggregate attendance of 64,552 is the biggest ever attendance recorded for Super League's showcase weekend.
June 14: New South Wales made history, finally winning the State of Origin series after losing 8 consecutive. New South Wales won the historic third-match in the series 6–4 before 83,421 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales.
July 13: London Broncos are relegated from the Super League. 19: Canada have beaten Jamaica in the fourth annual Caribbean Carnival Cup. 27: Barrow Raiders are relegated from the Championship.
August 3: Swinton Lions are relegated from the Championship. 10: Rochdale Hornets are relegated from the Championship. 10: The lone Colonial Cup series match is played, with Canada making history and defeating USA 52–14 before 7,356 at Lamport Stadium to win their first ever Colonial Cup since the competition inaugurated in 2010. 11: North Wales Crusaders are relegated from the Championship. 23: The 2014 Challenge Cup final is played, with the Leeds Rhinos defeating the Castleford Tigers 23–10 before 77,914 at Wembley Stadium.
September 7 : Keighley Cougars are relegated from the Championship on a dramatic final day of the regular season. They finished just one point behind 8th placed Batley Bulldogs and 9th placed Whitehaven. 12: Bradford Bulls are relegated from the Super League. They have been participating in the Super League since its inauguration in 1996 and have won four titles being 1997, 2001, 2003 and 2005.
October 5: 2014 NRL Grand Final is played and South Sydney are the new premiers after defeating the Canterbury Bulldogs 30–6 in front of a record 'Rectangular Shaped (ANZ) Stadium' crowd of 83,833 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. This is also the Rabbitohs' first premiership title in 43 years 7: Hunslet Hawks win promotion to the Championship for the 2015 season. 11: 2014 Super League Grand Final is played and St. Helens are the new champions after defeating a '12-man' Wigan Warriors team 14–6 before 70,102 at Old Trafford in Strentford, England. 19: 2014 Hayne/Mannah Cup is played and Fiji are the champions after defeating Lebanon 40–28 at Remondis Stadium in Woolooware, New South Wales.
November 2: 2014 European Cup is won by Scotland for the first time. Scotland have therefore qualified to play alongside Australia, England and New Zealand in the 2016 Four Nations. 15: 2014 Four Nations Final is won by New Zealand who defeated Australia 22–18 before 25,093 at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.
December 19: New Zealand halfback, Shaun Johnson is announced as the best official player in 2014 after being awarded the Golden Boot.
Test Matches
Domestic Competitions
Australasia
NRL Auckland Nines
The 2014 NRL Auckland Nines tournament will run over two days from 14 to 15 February 2014. All the matches are held at Auckland's Eden Park.
National Rugby League
The 2014 NRL Season will run from 6 March 2014 to 5 October 2014, with the latter date hosting the Grand Final at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.
State of Origin 2014 State of Origin series
Europe
Super League XIX
The Super League is the top club competition in Europe. In 2014 there are thirteen English teams and one French team in the 2014 season, known as Super League XIX with the bottom two teams on the table set to be relegated at the end of the regular season.
Carnegie Challenge Cup
The Rugby League Challenge Cup is the most prestigious knock-out competition in the world of Rugby League. It features teams from across Europe including England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia.
The final of the 2014 Cup is held at the prestigious Wembley Stadium in London on 23 August.
Other competition results
Australia & Oceania NationsCompetitionTeamsInstituted Last seasonWinnerTier/Division/National Youth Competition (NYC)1620082014 New Zealand Warriors Youth New South Wales Cup (NSWRL)1319082014 Penrith Panthers 2nd Tier/ Queensland Cup (QRL)1319962014 Northern Pride Ron Massey Cup1220032014 The Entrance Tigers 3rd Tier FOGS Cup1120012014 Eastern Suburbs TigersCook Islands League619942012 Titikaveka Bulldogs 1st TierVodafone Cup1420102014 Saru Dragons 1st TierPirtek National Premiership (NZRL)720102014 Canterbury Bulls 1st TierPNG Digicel Cup1019902014 Hela Wigmen 1st TierSamoa Rugby League6?2014 Apia Barracudas 1st TierTongan National Rugby League121988? Lapaha Knights 1st Tier
Europe
NationsCompetitionTeamsInstitutedLatest YearWinnerTier/DivisionBosnia & Herzegovina Championship320132014 RLC Bjeli Zecevi 1st TierCZRLA First Division720112014 Lokomotiva Beroun 1st TierCZRLA Second Division420112014 Chrudim Rabbitohs 2nd Tier/Championship1220032014 Leigh Centurions 2nd Tier/Championship 11420032014 Hunslet Hawks 3rd Tier/Pan-Scandinavian Cup320132014 Skåne Crusaders/ 1st TierDanish Rugby League Championship220132014 Copenhagen RLFC 1st TierElite One Championship819312013–14 Toulouse Olympique 1st TierElite Two Championship1319822013–14 RC Baho XIII 2nd TierNational Division 12119762013–14 Realmont XIII 3rd TierNational Division 23419782013–14 Val de Dagne XIII 4th TierHellenic Championship?20142014 Rhodes Knights 1st TierHellenic Championship B Division?20142014 Neapoli Lakonia 2nd TierAll-Ireland Championship1020012014 Barnhall Butchers 1st TierLatvian Rugby League Crown42013 Valmieras Fēnikss 1st TierMRL Dove Men+Care Championship??2013 Malta Origin RL 1st TierNRLB Nationale Kampioenschap22014 1st TierNorge National Championship520102013 Oslo Capitals 1st TierRussian Championship619912014 Vereya Bears 1st TierDeuchars IPA National League419972014 Aberdeen Warriors 1st TierSerbian Championship620022014 Red Star RLC 1st TierCampeonato Nacional de Liga420142014 Irreductibles Edetans 1st TierCopa España620142014 Ciencias ValenciaSweden Super League420112013 Spartacus Reds 1st TierUkrainian Championship820122014 Legion XIII 1st TierSouth Wales Premiership820032014 Torfaen Tigers 1st TierNorth Wales Conference420122014 Conwy Celts
Africa
NationsCompetitionTeamsInstitutedLatest YearWinnerTier/DivisionGhana Championship620142014no final played 1st TierProtea Cup820132013–14 TUKS Blues 1st TierRhino Cup420112014 TUKS Reds 2nd Tier
Asia & the Middle East NationsCompetitionTeamsInstitutedLatest YearWinnerTier/DivisionLebanon Championship520022013–14 Jounieh Al-Galacticos 1st TierPhilippines National Rugby League (PNRL)920132013 MAAP Warriors 1st TierThailand Rugby League Premiership620142014TBC 1st TierEmirates Rugby League (ENRL)?20132014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1st Tier
The Americas
NationsCompetitionTeamsInstitutedLatest YearWinnerTier/DivisionBritish Columbia Rugby League (BCRLC)620122014 Surrey Beavers 1st TierOntario Rugby League (ORL)420102014 Toronto CentruionsJamaican Club Championship520052014 GC Foster College 1st TierUSA Rugby League (USARL)820112014 Philadelphia Fight 1st Tier
See also
2014 New Zealand rugby league season
References