Centenary Celebrations planned for 2008

Australia will play New Zealand in a rugby league Test on May 9 next year at the Sydney Cricket Ground to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Test between the two countries in 1908.

The Test match is part of the centenary of Rugby League celebrations unveiled in Sydney today and both sides will mark the occasion by wearing 1968 replica jerseys.

The Australian Rugby League has announced a range of other events to celebrate the 100 years since rugby league started, including naming the 100 greatest players to be announced at the Captains' Ball on April 16 next year.

The annual NSW City-Country match will be played at Wollongong on May 2 a week prior to the Centenary Test. Next year's NRL season will kick off on March 14.

Foundation clubs the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney will meet in the first round while the West Tigers will play at the SCG and the Gold Coast will open their season at their new home ground, Skilled Park.

As part of year-long celebrations all 400 NRL players from the 16 teams will hold a fan day at Telstra Stadium on February 2 next year, the biggest public fan event in the game's history.

CENTENARY OF RUGBY LEAGUE EVENTS PLANNED FOR 2008

January - The naming of the 100 greatest rugby league players of all time as selected by a panel of judges.

February 2 - Centenary Fan Day at Telstra Stadium, featuring all 16 NRL teams and 400 players in the biggest public fan event in the game's history.

March-July - Toyota Centenary Cup. A grass-roots knock-out competition to find the best bush football team in Australia. The best NSW Country side and best Queensland region side to play off as the curtain raiser to State of Origin game three.

March 5 - Launch of the NRL season.

March 7 - Official opening of the National Museum of Australia exhibition in Canberra.

March 13 - NSW Referees Association centenary celebrations.

March 14-17 - Round one of the 2008 NRL premiership. South Sydney to play Sydney Roosters at Telstra Stadium. Wests Tigers to play at SCG. Gold Coast to open their new home ground at Skilled Park.

March 28 - Anniversary luncheon at Suncorp Stadium for the establishment of Queensland Rugby Association.

April 16 - Captains' Table Centenary Ball. Announcement of the Team of the Century.

April 18-21 - Heritage Round of the NRL. Wests Tigers v South Sydney; Newcastle v Sydney Roosters; Bulldogs v St George Illawarra; Brisbane v Gold Coast; Parramatta v Manly; North Queensland v New Zealand; Cronulla v Penrith; Melbourne v Canberra.

April 25 - Anzac Day NRL match between St George Illawarra and Sydney Roosters at SFS.

May 2 - NSW City v NSW Country at Wollongong.

May 9 - Centenary Test between Australia and New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground.

May 21 - Game one of the State of Origin series at Telstra Stadium.

June 10 - 100 years of Qld v NSW gala function in Brisbane. Naming of Queensland Team of the Century.

June 11 - Game two of the State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium.

July 2 - Game three of the State of Origin series at Telstra Stadium.

October 5 - NRL grand final at Telstra Stadium.

October 25-November 22 - Centenary World Cup, the first on Australian soil since 1977. The final to be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.