A guide to the Rugby League World Cup

Ahead of the tournament, Sky Sports brings you a guide to all the nations involved, explains the format of the competition and also the places where the games will be staged.

TEAMS

GROUP A Australia
Despite coach Tim Sheens' best attempts to try and deflect some of the pressure ("New Zealand are definitely going to be the team to beat", he claimed) the Kangaroos are heavy, HEAVY favourites to regain the trophy they lost to their trans-Tasman rivals five years ago on home soil. Their squad does include three uncapped players - including Boyd Cordner from newly-crowned NRL champions Sydney Roosters - but injuries have denied them the services of Justin Hodges, brothers Brett and Glenn Stewart, and Anthony Watmough. Still, Australia have plenty of stars left to shine, none bigger than captain Cameron Smith. Well, perhaps Billy Slater is their no 1. Or maybe Jonathan Thurston. Or even Greg Inglis. Well, you get the picture. Squad: Greg Bird (Gold Coast), Darius Boyd (Newcastle), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles), Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters), Cooper Cronk (Melbourne), Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers), Andrew Fifita (Cronulla), Paul Gallen (Cronulla), Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta), Greg Inglis (South Sydney), Michael Jennings (Sydney Roosters), Luke Lewis (Cronulla), Brett Morris (St George Illawarra), Josh Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs), Nate Myles (Gold Coast), Josh Papalii (Canberra), Corey Parker (Brisbane), Matthew Scott (North Queensland), Billy Slater (Melbourne), Cameron Smith (Melbourne), James Tamou (North Queensland), Brent Tate (North Queensland), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland). Head coach: Tim Sheens England
1972 was the last time anyone but Australia or New Zealand lifted the World Cup. Back then it was Great Britain who triumphed in France, but now the home nations have gone their separate ways. England are the ones with seemingly the best chance of glory, particularly as they have the added bonus of home advantage. There is a family feel to the squad named by coach Steve McNamara, with three Burgess boys in the 24-man party (poor Luke was the only one to miss out). Like the Burgess', James Graham and Gareth Widdop offer NRL experience while Sam Tomkins will be eager to impress ahead of his move to the New Zealand Warriors. There was a real scrap for pack places (even with Gareth Ellis announcing his international retirement) but the half-back combination, whoever it may be, could be key. Squad: Carl Ablett (Leeds), Tom Briscoe (Hull FC), George Burgess (South Sydney), Sam Burgess (South Sydney), Thomas Burgess (South Sydney), Rob Burrow (Leeds), Josh Charnley (Wigan), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield), Liam Farrell (Wigan), James Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Zak Hardaker (Leeds), Chris Hill (Warrington), Gareth Hock (Widnes), Michael McIllorum (Wigan), Lee Mossop (Wigan), Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan), James Roby (St Helens), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Kallum Watkins (Leeds), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Gareth Widdop (Melbourne). Head coach: Steve McNamara Fiji
Anything England can do, Fiji can do better. As well as the tournament seeing a trio of Burgess brothers there are also three Sims - Korbin, Tariq and Ashton - while their squad also contains two Millards and a pair of Naiqamas. However, the biggest name for 'The Bati' (not in terms of characters, that honour goes to Semi Radradra Turagasoli Waqavatu) is skipper Petero Civoniceva. He is joined by another former Kangaroo in New South Wales winger