[1] The tournament replaced the previous Tri-Nations format by including a fourth nation that qualifies by winning their respective regional competition in a rotation between Europe and the South Pacific.

The Four Nations replaced the Tri-Nations tournament that was contested between Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain.

The competition was played in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time since 2010 with Samoa qualifying as the fourth nation.

The final for the 2016 tournament took place at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, as compared to Elland Road, Leeds, in 2009 and 2011.

The fourth nation alternated between Europe and the Pacific and saw a different team take part in each competition.

In 2009 a qualifying tournament was held, the Pacific Cup, involving Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and the Cook Islands.

Likewise in 2010, the European Nations Cup decided the fourth participant in the 2011 tournament, Wales.

[2] In 2014, a single game was staged to decide the fourth team for that year, with Samoa beating Fiji 32–16.

Furthermore, no fourth nation has even won a single game however Scotland managed to draw 18–18 against New Zealand in 2016.

The top try-scorers are Jason Nightingale of New Zealand and Ryan Hall of England with 11 tries each.