Scotland fly flag for developing rugby league countries in Four Nations | Aaron Bower


Five teams have featured as the ‘fourth nation’ in the tournament without any managing a win but Scotland will benefit by playing England and the sport should give smaller nations more regular opportunities

When Scotland take to the field in Coventry on Saturday to face England in the Four Nations – a sentence that would have been barely computable in rugby league circles a few years ago – it is not only their winless run in the tournament they are trying to end as the sport breaks new ground in the Midlands.

Since the Tri-Nations was extended to a four-team tournament in 2009, five teams have taken part alongside the traditional big three of Australia, New Zealand and England – but France, Papua New Guinea, Wales, Samoa and the Scots have all failed to win a game. Thirteen attempts, no victories. Most of the time, the fourth nation has barely been near (although Samoa ran England and New Zealand close two years ago).

Related: England’s Wayne Bennett to reshuffle team for Four Nations Scotland match

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