Downer was the major sponsor of the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s, which was held at Parramatta's Bankwest Stadium on 18-19 October.

The tournament featured the most exciting players from the National Rugby League (NRL) and National Rugby League Women (NRLW), with 12 nations in the men’s competition and four in the women's.

Australia proved too strong for New Zealand in the men's final, while New Zealand upset the previously undefeated Australian side to be crowned women's champions.

More than 30,000 fans packed into Bankwest Stadium over the two days to watch the feast of football, with another 250,000-plus viewers watching the live broadcast on Fox Sports.

Australia Kangaroos coach, Mal Meninga, believes the World Cup 9s were an important concept to grow the game globally.

“I have no doubt that World Cup 9s will be a great way to expand the game at an international level,” Meninga said. “I’m a real advocate for this concept based on what it can do for the international game.”

Downer previously sponsored the popular Auckland Nines tournament – contested by the 16 NRL club sides – in 2016 and 2017. 

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