The Super League World Nines (known as the Gatorade Super League World Nines due to sponsorship), was a pre-season rugby league nines tournament between national sides.
Set up in the midst of the Super League war and created in opposition to the Australian Rugby League's World Sevens tournament, the tournament was held twice before being abandoned when the two factions merged to form the National Rugby League.
The 1996 World Nines were held at National Stadium in Suva, Fiji from 22 February to 24 February.
The winner of this competition was New Zealand, who won their first world trophy in a rugby league competition.
[2] The 1996 World Nines marked the first time that a video referee was used for a game of Rugby League or Rugby Union .
Due to a court ruling in the Federal Court of Australia, this was the only Super League competition held in 1996.
[3] The 1997 World Nines were held in Townsville, Queensland from 31 January to 2 February.
New Zealand won this competition for the second year in a row.
All teams were selected as professional playing squads.
Sixteen squads competed in Suva:[2] - Ireland played in a warm up test V's Australia at the Fiji National Stadium in the week leading up to the World Nines.
John Kirwan (New Zealand) won a Rugby Union World Cup Winners Medal with the All Blacks in the 1st ever Rugby World Cup 1987.
Kirwan would go on to Coach both Italy and Japan National Rugby Union Teams Henry Paul (New Zealand) would represent ~ Bath, Gloucester and England in Rugby Union.
Gary Connolly, of England, and Martin Hall, the Welsh captain, were forced to withdraw from their respective squads after being threatened with legal action by the Australian Rugby League.
[4] *Gary Connolly would go on to transfer to play for Munster Rugby Union 1998 - Ireland.
Scott Quinnell, Allan Bateman (Wales) would both return to Rugby Union and play for the British & Irish Lions in the winning series v's South Africa.
Andy Farrell (England) went on the represent England in Rugby Union, and to coach England and later Ireland in Rugby Union Georgie Graham (Scotland) would represent Scotland in Rugby Union
Phil Cantillon Coach -Clive Griffiths[7] 1.
John Donno (Widnes) Coach - Max McCamish[6] 1.
Tulsen Tollett Coach - Mark Graham 1.
Matt Sauvao Coach - Max Mannix 1.
Soji Mitobe Coach - Duane Mann 1.
Atunaisa Fotu Coach - Paul Matete 1.
Johnny Gernum Coach - Ivan Grésèque 1.
Eric Vergniol Coach - Greg Gerard 1.
Doug Erickson Coach - Tim Sheens 1.
Kevin Walters Coach - Gabriel Kiluwa 1.
Jackery Kipsi Coach - Graeme Norton 1.
Henry Paul, Matthew Ridge, Sean Hoppe, Grant Young and Gene Ngamu all withdrew due to injuries.
Taimati Amosa Coach - Etuwate Waqa 1.
Saimoni Camaitoga NRL Auckland Nines