Rugby League World Cup 2013 Fixtures: Schedule for Remaining Group Matches

From the first week of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, Australia, England and New Zealand have unsurprisingly headlined as the star sides of the international tournament.

Halfway through the first phase of the competition, some nations have already seen their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals wiped away, while Groups C and D remain wide open.

With nine fixtures left in the group stage, there's a raft of fine fixtures still to run between the world's rugby league elite, with a full schedule detailed below.

Date	Matchup	Venue	Time
Monday, Nov. 4	Papua New Guinea vs. Samoa	MS3 Craven Park, Hull	8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 5	Tonga vs. Cook Islands	Leigh Sports Village, Leigh	8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET
Thursday, Nov. 7	Scotland vs. United States	Salford City Stadium, Salford	8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 8	New Zealand vs. Papua New Guinea	Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds	8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 9	England vs. Fiji	KC Stadium, Hull	2:30 p.m. GMT/9.30 a.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 9	Australia vs. Ireland	Thomond Park, Munster	8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 10	Wales vs. Cook Islands	The Knoll, Neath	2 p.m. GMT/9 a.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 10	Tonga vs. Italy	Shay Stadium, Halifax	4 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET
Monday, Nov. 11	France vs. Samoa	Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan	9p.m. local time/8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET

Must-Watch Matchups

Scotland vs. United States

Thursday, Nov. 7

The third and final of this year's inter-group matches, Scotland and the United States will be two of those nations competing to qualify for the tournament's quarter-finals come mid-November.

Unlike Groups A and B, only one team from each of Groups C and D will be permitted entry to the next phase of the competition, this matchup in particular set to have a huge impact on their hopes.

Scotland and USA both won their opening pool fixtures against Tonga and the Cook Islands, respectively, so while their squads most certainly aren't among the most talented in the tournament, the context behind this encounter promises to make it an entertaining one.

New Zealand vs. Papua New Guinea

Friday, Nov. 8

Reigning champions New Zealand are currently averaging 45 points scored per game in their Rugby League World Cup, with flair, fight and fast-paced running pretty much assured at every turn.

The likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Shaun Johnson and Manu Vatuvei have all lived up to their expectations as international stars thus far, but they will need to make a statement against Papua New Guinea, who were unfortunate to lose their opener against France.

Nene MacDonald and Josiah Abavu both scored on their international debuts for the World Cup minnows and will head out for their New Zealand encounter with a nothing-to-lose attitude, making for a heady climax to Group B proceedings.

England vs. Fiji

Saturday, Nov. 9

The only thing stopping England from making it to this year's quarter-finals would be a shock loss to Group A opponents Fiji, whose opening win against Ireland has kept them in contention to qualify from the pool.

The two teams might be even on two points apiece, but they are unbalanced in terms of squad pedigree; it's the Super League stars of England that shine as favourites for this clash.

Having said that, Fiji showed against Ireland that they're capable of proficient attacking play, although their 34-2 loss to Australia suggests the likes of Akuila Uate and Marika Koroibete can be caged.