The International Rugby League (IRL) was founded in its current form in 1998, consisting of 10 full members. The federation currently consists of 29 members (14 full and 15 affiliate), and 28 observer members.
Full Members Nation Governing body Membership details Ref. Australian Rugby League Commission Founding Member: 1998–present Cook Islands Rugby League Founding Member: 1998–present Rugby Football League Founding Member: 1998–present Fiji National Rugby League Founding Member: 1998–present French Rugby League Federation Founding Member: 1998–present Rugby League Federation Ghana Full Member: 2025–presentAffiliate Member: 2020–2025Observer: 2014–2020https://www.intrl.sport/article/662/ghana-awarded-irl-full-membership Jamaica Rugby League Association Full Member: 2013–presentAffiliate: 2011–2013Observer: ????–2011 New Zealand Rugby League Founding Member: 1998–present Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League Founding Member: 1998–present Rugby League Samoa Founding Member: 1998–present Serbian Rugby League Full Member: 2012–presentAffiliate: ????–2012Observer: ????–???? Tonga National Rugby League Founding Member: 1998–2020 Tonga Rugby League XIII Full Member: 2024–present Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League Full Member: 2013–presentAffiliate: ????–2013Observer: ????–???? Wales Rugby League Full Member: 2010–presentAffiliate: ????–2010Observer: ????–????
Affiliate Members Nation Governing body Membership details Ref. Canada Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2013–presentObserver: 2010–2013 Czech Rugby League Association Affiliate Member: 2011–presentObserver: 2006–2011 Rugby League Deutschland Affiliate Member: ????–2014Observer: 2006–????; 2014–2015 Nationaler Rugby League Deutschland Affiliate Member: 2017–present Greek Rugby League Association Affiliate Member: 2018–presentObserver: 2017–2018 Rugby League Ireland Affiliate Member: 2000–2010; 2024–presentFull Member: 2010–2024Observer: ????–???? Federazione Italiana Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2010–2017; 2024–presentFull Member: 2017–2024Observer: 2003–2010 Kenya Rugby League Federation Affiliate Member: 2022–presentObserver: ????–2022 Lebanese Rugby League Federation Affiliate Member: ????–2012; 2024–presentFull Member: 2012–2024Observer: ????–???? Malta Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2013–presentObserver: ????–2013 Netherlandse National Rugby League Bond Observer: 2003–2006 Netherlandse Rugby League Bond Affiliate Member: 2017–presentObserver: 2012–2017 Nigeria Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2020–presentObserver: 2014–2020 Rugby League Norge Affiliate Member: 2011–presentObserver: 2009–2011 Scotland Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2007–2011; 2024–presentFull Member: 2011–2024Observer: ????–2007 South African Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2026–presentFull Member: 1998–2026Founding Member American National Rugby League Affiliate Member: ????–2015Observer: ????–???? USA Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2015–present
Observer Members Nation Governing body Membership details Ref. Albanian Rugby League Observer Member: 2018–present Argentina Rugby League Observer Member: 2024–present Asocijacija Ragbi 13 Bosnia-Hercegovina Observer Member: 2018–present Observer Member: ????–2019; 2026–presentAffiliate Member: 2019–2026 Bulgarian Rugby League Federation Observer Member: 2017–present Burundi Rugby League Observer Member: 2016–present Cameroon Rugby League XIII Observer Member: 2017–2021; 2026–presentAffiliate Member: 2021–2026 Federacion de Rugby Futbol League 13 Observer Member: ????–2018; 2025–PresentAffiliate: 2018–2025 Colombia Rugby League XIII Observer Member: ????–present DR Congo Rugby League XIII Observer Member: 2015–present Cote D'Ivoire Rugby League Observer Member: 2022–present Rugby League India Observer Member: 2026–presenthttps://www.intrl.sport/article/811/india-becomes-latest-international-rugby-league-member-nation Japanese Rugby League Association Observer Member: 2021–present Libya Rugby League Association Observer Member: 2019–present Fédération Marocaine de Rugby League Observer Member: ????–2021; 2025–PresentAffiliate Member: 2021–2025 Mexican Rugby Federation Observer Member: 2018–present Montenegro Rugby League Observer Member: 2021–present Palestine Rugby League Observer Member: 2014–present Philippines National Rugby League Observer Member: 2021–present Polska Rugby XIII Observer Member: 2017–present Portugal Rugby League Observer Member: 2026–presenthttps://www.intrl.sport/article/736/portugal-joins-the-irl-family;-multiple-changes-to-membership-register Sierra Leone Rugby League Federation Observer Member: 2014–present Slovakia Rugby League Observer Member: 2023–present Spanish Rugby League Association Observer Member: 2013–2015; 2024–presentAffiliate Member: 2015–2024 Sweden Rugby League Observer Member: 2011–present Turkish Rugby League Association Observer Member: 2017–2018; 2026–presentAffiliate Member: 2018–2026 Vanuatu Rugby League Observer Member: ????–present
Suspended Members Nation Governing body Membership details Ref. Russian Rugby League Federation Observer Member: 1993–2000Affiliate Member: 2000–2003Full Member: 2003–2010 Association of Rugby League Clubs Affiliate Member: 2010–2013; 2024–presentFull Member: 2013–2024
Former Members Nation Governing body Membership details Ref. Belgium Rugby League Association Observer member: 2013–2024 Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga Observer member: 2008–2014 Denmark Rugby League Federation Observer member: 2011–2024 El Salvador Rugby League Observer member: 2021–2025 Ethiopian Rugby League Association Observer member: 2014–2024| Georgia Rugby League Observer Member: ????–2006 Hungarian Rugby League Federation Observer member: 2013–2026 Latvia Rugby League Observer member: 2008–2024 Macedonian Rugby League Observer member: 2023–2026 Saudi Arabia Rugby League Association Observer member: 2013–2024 Solomon Islands Rugby League Federation Observer Member: 2011–2025 Trinidad and Tobago Rugby League Observer member: ????–2024
See also
Geography of rugby league
Notes
References General International Rugby League Members European Rugby League Members
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