2009 in rugby league
This article contains information on rugby league events played in 2009. The season commenced with a friendly match between Super League clubs Leeds Rhinos and Salford City Reds in the United States in January, and concluded with the Scottish tour of South Africa in December.
January
- 4 Auckland, New Zealand - Rising NRL star Sonny Fai is presumed dead after being swept out to sea at Bethells Beach.
March
1st: Leeds, England – The 2009 World Club Challenge is won by Australia's Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles who defeated England's Leeds Rhinos.13th: Australia – The 2009 NRL season begins with the first games of Round 1 being played.13th: England – The 2009 Super League XIV begins with the first games of Round 1 being played.- 22nd: Maesteg, South Wales – 20-year-old forward Leon Walker collapses and dies on the field in a reserve match between Wakefield Wildcats and Celtic Crusaders.
April
- 6th: France – The 75th anniversary of the creation of the French Rugby League.
May
8th
City vs. Country Origin
'''Teams:'''ANZAC Test
Teams:22
- Bridgend, Wales - The first Super League game to involve no English club is played when Celtic Crusaders play against Catalans Dragons at Brewery Field.
June
England vs France
On 13 June England played the first rugby league international since the 2008 World Cup against France in Paris' Stade Jean-Bouin.Teams:
France:
Constant Villegas ; Vincent Duport, Sébastien Planas, Jean-Philippe Baile, Frédéric Vaccari ; Mickaël Murcia, Thomas Bosc ; Rémi Casty, Bentley, Jérôme Guisset, Cyril Gossard, Grégory Mounis, Éric Anselme.
Replacements: Sébastien Martins, Romain Gagliazzo, William Barthau, Mathieu Griffi.
Coach: Bobbie Goulding
England:
Shaun Briscoe ; Peter Fox, Michael Shenton, Ryan Atkins, Ryan Hall ; Danny McGuire, Richard Myler ; Adrian Morley, Scott Moore, Jamie Peacock, Gareth Hock, Ben Westwood, Sam Burgess.
Replacements: James Roby, James Graham, Tony Clubb, Eorl Crabtree.
Coach: Tony Smith
September
- 23rd – Sydney, Australia: The 11th annual Tom Brock Lecture, entitled The Lost Tribes of League – the fate of axed and merged clubs and their fans is delivered by Terry Williams.
October
4- Melbourne Storm defeat Parramatta Eels 23–16 to win the NRL PremiershipNew Zealand vs. Tonga
New Zealand led 24–8 at half-time before Tonga fought back to level the scores at 24–24. New Zealand scored 16 points in a row to win the match 40–24. Four New Zealand players, Bryson Goodwin, Junior Sa'u, Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, made their débuts.England vs. Wales
The last time these two sides met, England won 74–0. Wales took an early lead in the match but England were too strong. England's Sam Tomkins scored a hat-trick of tries on his début. England defeated Wales away from home, 48–12.November
- 14th: Leeds, England – The 2009 Four Nations tournament culminates in a final between Australia and England at Elland Road.