Four Nations 2014 dates confirmed

The schedule for the Four Nations involving England, Australia, New Zealand and either Fiji or Samoa, has been announced.

England kick-off the tournament against Fiji or Samoa on Saturday October 25, the first in a double header at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Fiji and Samoa will meet in a qualifier in Penrith on May 3, as the best performing Pacific Nations at the World Cup, which culminated more than four months ago with an Australia victory over New Zealand at Old Trafford.

Steve McNamara’s England side then face Australia in Melbourne on November 2, and New Zealand in Dunedin on November 8.

The final will be played at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on November 15.

McNamara said: “We spoke as a squad immediately after the semi-final about the disappointment we felt at missing out on the chance to have a crack at Australia in the final; we have spoken about it since then and for us it’s all in the past now.

“Rather than dwell on what we didn’t achieve, we want to put ourselves in the best position to do well in the Four Nations.

“I’m genuinely excited by what the tournament holds: they are going to be three very tough games and the schedule features a number of challenges for us but I have no doubts that come the Four Nations we will be as well prepared as we can be.”

The 2014 Four Nations schedule in full is as follows (all times GMT):

Saturday October 25 – England v Fiji or Samoa (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)

Saturday October 25 – Australia v New Zealand (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)

Saturday November 1 – New Zealand v Fiji or Samoa (Toll Stadium, Whangarei)

Sunday November 2 – Australia v England (AAMI Park, Melbourne)

Saturday November 8 – New Zealand v England (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)

Sunday November 9 – Australia v Fiji or Samoa (WIN Stadium, Wollongong)

Saturday November 15 – Final (Westpac Stadium, Wellington).