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). The ERL further contains two sub-branches governing The Americas and Middle East and Africa.
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".Folkard, 2003: 337SPARC, 2009: 28
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.
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.
CountryOverviewNational teamStatusGoverning BodyMain league competition(s)Best International Performance Rugby league in Argentina Penguins Observer Argentina Rugby XIII In Development Rugby league in Brazil Carcarás (M) / Amazonas (W) Affiliate Brazil Rugby League Confederation Premiership Rugby league in Canada Wolverines (M) / Ravens (W) Affiliate Canada Rugby League North American Rugby League Emerging Nations' Fifth Place Rugby league in Chile Caciques Observer Chile Rugby League Federation In development Rugby league in Colombia Hermanos Colombianos Observer Rugby league in Ecuador Ecuador XIII Observer Rugby league in El Salvador Trueno Azul – ESRL Rugby league in Jamaica Reggae Warriors Member Jamaica Rugby League Association Jamaica National League Group Stages / 1× Americas Champion Rugby league in Mexico Mexico Observer Rugby league in Peru Emperadores Observer Rugby league in the United States Hawks Affiliate USARL North American Rugby League 1× Quarter Finalists / Emerging Nations' Third Place / 2× Americas Champion Rugby league in Uruguay Gauchos Observer Rugby league in the West Indies The Wahoos Observer West 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
CountryOverviewNational teamStatusGoverning BodyMain league competition(s)Best International Performance Rugby league in Australia Kangaroos Member Australian Rugby League National Rugby League Champions(1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1985–88, 1989–92, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2017, 2021)Runners-up(1960, 1972, 2008) Rugby league in the Cook Islands Kukis Member Cook Islands Rugby League Group Stages / Emerging Nations's Champions Rugby league in Fiji Bati Member Fiji National Rugby League Fiji National Rugby League Competition 3× Semi-finalists Rugby league in New Zealand Kiwis Member New Zealand Rugby League National Competition Champions(2008)Runners-up(1985–88, 2000, 2013) Rugby league in Niue The Rock Observer Emerging Nations' Runners-up Rugby league in Norfolk Island Pine Trees Observer Australian Rugby League Commission Rugby league in Papua New Guinea Kumuls Member Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League Papua New Guinea National Rugby League 1× Semi-finalists Rugby league in the Solomon Islands Solies – Solomon Islands Rugby League Federation Rugby league in Samoa Toa Samoa Member Rugby League Samoa Runners-up(2021) Rugby league in Tonga Mate Ma'a Tonga Member Tonga National Rugby League Tongan National Rugby League 1× Semi-finalists / Pacific Cup Runners-up Rugby league in Vanuatu Vanuatu Observer Vanuatu Rugby League
Asia
CountryOverviewNational teamStatusGoverning BodyMain league competition(s)Best International Performance Rugby league in China China Observer China Rugby League Rugby league in Hong Kong Hong Kong Observer Rugby league in Indonesia Indonesia Observer Indonesia Rugby League Bali 9's/West Papua Rugby league in Japan Samurais Observer Japanese Rugby League Association Japanese Rugby League Emerging Nations's Sixth Place Rugby league in the Philippines Tamaraws Observer Pambansang Ragbi Liga Ng Pilipinas PNRL Shield Asian Cup Champions (2012, 2013) Rugby league in Thailand Thailand Stars Observer Thai Rugby League Asian Cup Runners-up (2012, 2013)
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 although only England, Wales, and France have 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 Rugby league in Albania Albania Observer Rugby league in Belgium Belgium Observer Rugby league in Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Observer Rugby league in Bulgaria Bulgaria Observer Rugby league in the Czech Republic Czech Republic Affiliated Czech Rugby League Association 2× European C League Champion Rugby league in Denmark Denmark Observer Rugby league in France Chanticleers Member French Rugby League Federation Elite One ChampionshipElite Two Championship Runners-up(1954, 1968)9× European A League Champion Rugby league in the British Isles in England Lions Lions Member Rugby Football League Rugby Football League Super LeagueChampionship Champions(1954, 1960, 1972)Runners-up(1957, 1970, 1977, 1989–92) Runners-up(1975, 1995, 2017)14× European A League Champion in Scotland Bravehearts Affiliate Scotland Rugby League 1× Quarter Finalists / 1× European A League Champion in Wales Dragons Member Wales Rugby League 3× Semi-finalists / 7× European A League Champion Rugby league in Germany Germany Affiliated Nationaler Rugby League Deutschland 2× European B League Champion Rugby league in Georgia 13 Georgians Observer Georgia Rugby League Rugby league in Greece Titans Affiliated Greek Rugby League Group Stages / Emerging Nations' Semi-finalists / 2× European C League Champion Rugby league in Hungary Hungary Observer Emerging Nations' Semi-finalists ( and) Rugby league in Ireland Wolfhounds Affiliate Rugby League Ireland Irish Elite League 2× Quarter Finalists/Semi-final play-offs / Emerging Nations's Runners-up Rugby league in Italy Azzurri Affiliate Federazione Italiana Rugby League Group Stages / Emerging Nations's Runners-up / 2× European B League Champion Rugby league in Latvia Latvia Observer 1× European C League Champion Rugby league in Malta l-Kavallieri Affiliated Maltese Rugby League Association Emerging Nations' Champion / 1× European C League Champion Rugby league in Norway Vikings Affiliated The Norwegian Rugby Federation Rugby league in Poland Poland Observer Polska Rugby XIII Mistrzostwa Polski w rugby leagueEmerging Nations' Trophy winners Rugby league in Russia Bears Affiliate Russian Rugby League Group Stages / 2× European B League Champion Rugby league in Serbia White Eagles Member Serbian Rugby League 2× European B League Champion Rugby league in Spain Spain Affiliated Spanish Rugby League Association 1× European C League Champion Rugby league in Sweden Sweden Observer Rugby league in Turkey Turkey Affiliated Turkish Rugby League Association Rugby league in Ukraine Ukraine Member Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League 3× 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 the early 50s. 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, Morocco, Burundi, Nigeria and Ghana.