 Japan entered the rugby league world stage for the first time, and the USA carried on the good work of their senior side in 1995, by not only participating, but beating the Irish.France proved to be the most successful of the European teams.Australian Rugby League sent to England a senior referee on tour for the first time selected from the Australian Referees State Associations (Mr Reg Banush) who referee a final between the best players selected from all the competing nations, to play in a game