Map of domestic teams competing in the world's two most successful leagues - the NRL and Super League. (c. late 2000s)

Rugby league is a full contact football code and spectator sport played in various countries around the world. It is govererned globally by the International Rugby League (IRL; previously referred to as the Rugby League International Federation).

The IRL divides governance of the sport across two confederations governing Asia-Pacific (APRL) and Europe (ERL).[1][2] The ERL further contains two sub-branches governing The Americas and Middle East and Africa.[3]

Although one of the later football codes to be developed, the game has expanded outside of its traditionals heartlands in Australia, Northern England, Southern France, and New Zealand. As a result, many players of European, and Pacific Islander background have risen to the top professional level in the two major domestic leagues, the National Rugby League and Super League.

Whilst individual international test matches between nations have been staged regularly since 1907, the first world cup of the sport was held in France in 1954, making it the first world cup of either rugby code and the first to be officially known as the "Rugby World Cup".[4][5]

Full and affiliate members are eligible for the Rugby League World Cup. However, due to the late rescheduling of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, only full members will be allowed to compete in the next edition.

Americas

Rugby league is a growing sport in the Americas, having first started with All Star exhibition matches in the 1950s. It has been played at an organised semi-professional level in North America since it was first introduced as a competition sport in the 1990s. There are currently domestic leagues operating in Jamaica, Canada and the United States. Many players of Caribbean heritage live and play in the Super League and have brought their skills back to the islands to foster the development of thousands of new players. The game is also played at a lower amateur level across the Americas by ex-patriates although only recognised national organisations are listed here for brevity.

Canada currently has two domestic competitions, Ontario and British Columbia, with British Columbia being the premier competition with also the most teams. British Columbia Rugby League (BCRL) also has a provincial team known as the BC Bulldogs. In 2012, the BC Bulldogs competed against Utah Avalanche from Salt Lake who currently play in the AMNRL. The game was contested over two legs, home and away, with BC taking both games. The BC Bulldogs also made an appearance at the Las Vegas Remembrance Cup and come third. Coogee Bay Dolphins from Australia took out the competition for the second time in a row.

In 2013, BCRL will be made up of 6 teams, namely Bayside Sharks, Kelowna Crows, Richmond Bears, Sea to Sky Eagles, Surrey Beavers and Vancouver Dragons.

Brazil has also taken up the sport in 2013.[6]

Since 2013 the Latin Heat Rugby League has had moderate success in introducing rugby League to players with Latin American heritage living in Australia. In 2014 the Latin Heat opened a U.S chapter.

Country Overview National team Status Governing Body Main league competition(s) Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1]
 ArgentinaRugby league in ArgentinaPenguinsObserverArgentina Rugby XIIIIn Development
 BrazilRugby league in BrazilCarcarás (M) / Amazonas (W)AffiliateBrazil Rugby League ConfederationPremiership
 CanadaRugby league in CanadaWolverines (M) / Ravens (W)AffiliateCanada Rugby LeagueNorth American Rugby LeagueEmerging Nations' Fifth Place
 ChileRugby league in ChileCaciquesAffiliateChile Rugby League FederationIn development
 ColombiaRugby league in ColombiaHermanos ColombianosObserver
 EcuadorRugby league in EcuadorEcuador XIIIObserver
 El SalvadorRugby league in El SalvadorTrueno AzulObserverESRL
 JamaicaRugby league in JamaicaReggae WarriorsMemberJamaica Rugby League AssociationJamaica National LeagueGroup Stages / 1× Americas Champion
 MexicoRugby league in MexicoMexicoObserver
 PeruRugby league in PeruEmperadoresObserver
 United StatesRugby league in the United StatesHawksAffiliateUSARLNorth American Rugby League1× Quarter Finalists / Emerging Nations' Third Place / 2× Americas Champion
 UruguayRugby league in UruguayGauchosObserver
 West IndiesRugby league in the West IndiesThe WahoosObserverWest Indies Rugby League Federation

Asia-Pacific

Rugby league is a popular sport in Oceania and the Pacific islands. Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are the main nations playing rugby league in Oceania. The Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji are also RLIF test nations. Affiliate nations include Vanuatu, American Samoa, New Caledonia, Niue and Tokelau. The Solomon Islands also have some history of the sport.

Pacific

Country Overview National team Status Governing Body Main league competition(s) Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1]
 AustraliaRugby league in AustraliaKangaroosMemberAustralian Rugby LeagueNational Rugby League
Runners-up
(1960, 1972, 2008)
 Cook IslandsRugby league in the Cook IslandsKukisMemberCook Islands Rugby LeagueGroup Stages / Emerging Nations's Champions
 FijiRugby league in FijiBatiMemberFiji National Rugby LeagueFiji National Rugby League Competition3× Semi-finalists
 New ZealandRugby league in New ZealandKiwisMemberNew Zealand Rugby LeagueNational Competition
Champions
(2008)
Runners-up
(1985–88, 2000, 2013)
 NiueRugby league in NiueThe RockObserverEmerging Nations' Runners-up
 Norfolk IslandRugby league in Norfolk IslandPine TreesObserverAustralian Rugby League Commission
 Papua New GuineaRugby league in Papua New GuineaKumulsMemberPapua New Guinea Rugby Football LeaguePapua New Guinea National Rugby League1× Semi-finalists
 Solomon IslandsRugby league in the Solomon IslandsSoliesObserverSolomon Islands Rugby League Federation
 SamoaRugby league in SamoaToa SamoaMemberRugby League Samoa
Runners-up
(2021)
 TongaRugby league in TongaMate Ma'a TongaMemberTonga National Rugby LeagueTongan National Rugby League1× Semi-finalists
 VanuatuRugby league in VanuatuVanuatuObserverVanuatu Rugby League

Asia

Country Overview National team Status Governing Body Main league competition(s) Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1]
 ChinaRugby league in ChinaChinaObserverChina Rugby League
 Hong KongRugby league in Hong KongHong KongObserver
 IndonesiaRugby league in IndonesiaIndonesiaObserverIndonesia Rugby LeagueBali 9's/West Papua
 JapanRugby league in JapanSamuraisObserverJapanese Rugby League AssociationJapanese Rugby LeagueEmerging Nations's Sixth Place
 PhilippinesRugby league in the PhilippinesTamarawsObserverPhilippines National Rugby League
 ThailandRugby league in ThailandThailand StarsObserverThai Rugby League

Europe

Europe is the birth place of rugby league with the game originating in Northern England. The sport is played at amateur level in most European countries however it's is only England, Wales, and France that has professional or semi-professional clubs. These three countries were the original members of the Rugby League European Championship.

The Great Britain national rugby league team is the most successful side having won three world cups, however since 1995 the team has split in favour of home nations national sides.

Domestically, the Super League (Great Britain) is the only professional league on the continent however the RFL Championship, RFL League 1, RFL Women's Super League (all Great Britain), and Elite One Championship, and Elite Two Championship (both France) are semi-professional to varying extents.

Country Overview National team Status Governing Body Main league competition(s) Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1]
 Albania Rugby league in Albania Albania Observer
 Belgium Rugby league in Belgium Belgium Observer
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Rugby league in Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Observer
 Bulgaria Rugby league in Bulgaria Bulgaria Observer
 Czech Republic Rugby league in the Czech Republic Czech Republic Affiliated Czech Rugby League Association European C League Champion
 Denmark Rugby league in Denmark Denmark Observer
 France Rugby league in France Chanticleers Member French Rugby League Federation Elite One Championship
Elite Two Championship
Runners-up
(1954, 1968)
European A League Champion
 Great Britain EnglandRugby league in the British Islesin EnglandLionsLionsMembersRugby Football LeagueRugby Football LeagueSuper League
Championship
League 1[lower-alpha 2]
Champions
(1954, 1960, 1972)
Runners-up
(1957, 1970, 1977, 1989–92)
Runners-up
(1975, 1995, 2017)
14× European A League Champion
 Scotlandin ScotlandBraveheartsScotland Rugby League1× Quarter Finalists / 1× European A League Champion
 Walesin WalesDragonsWales Rugby League3× Semi-finalists / 7× European A League Champion
 Germany Rugby league in Germany Germany Affiliated Nationaler Rugby League Deutschland European B League Champion
 Georgia Rugby league in Georgia 13 Georgians Observer Georgia Rugby League
 Greece Rugby league in Greece Titans Affiliated Greek Rugby League Group Stages / Emerging Nations' Semi-finalists / 2× European C League Champion
 Hungary Rugby league in Hungary Hungary Observer Emerging Nations' Semi-finalists
 Ireland
( Republic of Ireland and
 Northern Ireland)
Rugby league in Ireland Wolfhounds Member Rugby League Ireland Irish Elite League 2× Quarter Finalists/Semi-final play-offs / Emerging Nations's Runners-up
 Italy Rugby league in Italy Azzurri Member Federazione Italiana Rugby League Group Stages / Emerging Nations's Runners-up / 2× European B League Champion
 Latvia Rugby league in Latvia Latvia Observer European C League Champion
 Malta Rugby league in Malta l-Kavallieri Affiliated Maltese Rugby League Association Emerging Nations' Champion / 1× European C League Champion
 Norway Rugby league in Norway Vikings Affiliated The Norwegian Rugby Federation
 Poland Rugby league in Poland Poland Observer
 Russia Rugby league in Russia Bears Member Russian Rugby League Group Stages / 2× European B League Champion
 Serbia Rugby league in Serbia White Eagles Member Serbian Rugby League European B League Champion
 Spain Rugby league in Spain Spain Affiliated Spanish Rugby League Association European C League Champion
 Sweden Rugby league in Sweden Sweden Observer
 Turkey Rugby league in Turkey Turkey Affiliated Turkish Rugby League Association
 Ukraine Rugby league in Ukraine Ukraine Member Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League European C League Champion

Middle East-Africa

Rugby league is a growing sport in Africa and the Middle East, with a large growth in players since the 1990s, some of which have played at the game's elite levels in the National Rugby League and Super League. The game in the Middle East is one of the fastest growing sports with regular internationals played against European and Mediterranean teams.

Rugby league is a growing sport in Africa, with the game first introduced to the continent in early 2017. The vast distance of teams from the game's heartlands has at times affected the development of the sport but new advances in the 21st century have seen a major increase in the number of internationals scheduled. Many high calibre players from the continent have progressed to the top club leagues, including Younes Khattabi, Jamal Fakir, Tom van Vollenhoven, Fred Griffiths and Jarrod Saffy. The large ex-patriate Moroccan population in the south of France has resulted in a growing interchange of players between the two countries. Rugby league in Africa is played in South Africa, Gambia,[7] Morocco, Burundi, Nigeria and Ghana.[8][9][10]

Country Overview National team Status Governing Body Main league competition(s) Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1]
Burundi BurundiRugby league in BurundiAma SuguruObserverBurundi Rugby League Association
Cameroon CameroonRugby league in CameroonCameroonObserver
Democratic Republic of the Congo DR CongoRugby league in DR CongoDR CongoObserver
Ethiopia EthiopiaRugby league in EthiopiaEthiopiaObserverEthiopia Rugby League Association
The Gambia GambiaRugby league in GambiaGambiaObserver
Ghana GhanaRugby league in GhanaStarsAffiliateGhana Rugby League
 LebanonRugby league in LebanonThe CedarsMemberLebanese Rugby League FederationBank of Beirut Championship3× Quarter Finalists
Libya LibyaRugby league in LibyaLibyaObserver
 MoroccoRugby league in MoroccoMarocObserverMaroc Rugby LeagueMaroc University LeagueEmerging Nations's Fourth Place
Nigeria NigeriaRugby league in NigeriaGreensAffiliateNigeria Rugby LeagueAfrica and Middle East Champion
 PakistanRugby league in PakistanPakistanObserver
 PalestineRugby league in PalestinePalestineObserver
 Saudi ArabiaRugby league in Saudi ArabiaKSAObserver
Sierra Leone Sierra LeoneRugby league in Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneObserver
 South AfricaRugby league in South AfricaThe RhinosMemberSouth African Rugby LeagueTom van Vollenhoven CupGroup Stages / 2× Africa and Middle East Champion
South Sudan South SudanRugby league in South SudanSouth SudanObserver
 United Arab EmiratesRugby league in UAEFalconsObserverEmirates Rugby League

Non-IRL associated

Team IRL associate Overview National team Governing Body Main league competition(s)
Aboriginal Australians  Australia Indigenous All Stars
 New South Wales Rugby league in New South Wales Blues New South Wales Rugby League NSW Cup
 Queensland Rugby league in Queensland Maroons Queensland Rugby League Queensland Cup
 Victoria Rugby league in Victoria
 Lancashire  Great Britain /
 England
Rugby league in Lancashire Lancashire Rugby Football League RFL Lancashire League
 Yorkshire Rugby league in Yorkshire Yorkshire RFL Yorkshire League
 Cumbria Cumbria
Māori people Māori  New Zealand New Zealand Māori
 Tokelau Rugby league in Tokelau Tokelu Tokelau Rugby League
 Catalonia  Spain Rugby league in Catalonia Catalonia Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Position refers to the Rugby League World Cup unless stated otherwise.
  2. No Scottish teams compete in the British professional structure.

References

  1. https://asiapacificrl.com/about/aprl/
  2. https://europeanrugbyleague.com/erl/about-rlef
  3. https://europeanrugbyleague.com/erl/history
  4. Folkard, 2003: 337
  5. SPARC, 2009: 28
  6. "Portal do Rugby - Rugby League reina em Baixo Guandu". Archived from the original on 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  7. "Warrington Wolves".
  8. "RLEF". Archived from the original on 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  9. "RLEF". Archived from the original on 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  10. "RLEF". Archived from the original on 2013-03-03. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
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