List of international rugby league teams
Encyclopedia
This is a list of the men's national rugby league
teams in the world. A full member test playing nation is a nation that has full membership of the Rugby League International Federation
.
* At the beginning of the 2008 international season was split to form/reform , , and on a permanent basis as stand alone nations. All were granted full-membership into the top tier.
, Mediterranean
and Pacific Cups or in World Cup
qualifiers:
qualifiers:
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
teams in the world. A full member test playing nation is a nation that has full membership of the Rugby League International Federation
Rugby League International Federation
The Rugby League International Federation is the world governing body of rugby league football. It was formed in 1998 in Sydney, Australia. Its purpose is to, "foster, develop, extend, govern and administer the game of Rugby League throughout the world". Its headquarters are in Sydney, Australia,...
.
Current RLIF full-member test nations
| Nation | 1st Playing Year | RLIF Rank RLIF World Rankings The RLIF World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in the sport of rugby league football. The teams of the member nations of the Rugby League International Federation, rugby league football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful... |
| 1908 | 1 | |
| 1988 | 16 | |
| * | 1904 | 3 |
| 1992 | 7 | |
| 1934 | 5 | |
| 1989 | 11 | |
| 1908 | 2 | |
| 1975 | 4 | |
| 1991 | 17 | |
| 1988 | 8 | |
| * | 1996 | 10 |
| 1988 | 9 | |
| * | 1908 | 6 |
* At the beginning of the 2008 international season was split to form/reform , , and on a permanent basis as stand alone nations. All were granted full-membership into the top tier.
Current RLIF second-tier member nations
Included are nations which compete in major international tournaments, such as the EuropeanRugby League European Nations Cup
The European Cup is a rugby league football tournament for European nations that was first held in 1935. The tournament was first started in 1935, with England, Wales and France each playing each other once...
, Mediterranean
Mediterranean Cup
The Mediterranean Cup was an annual rugby league football tournament that was held in Lebanon although it also has been held in France. It was contested by Lebanon, France, Serbia and Morocco with the competition first conceived as a qualifying tournament for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, and in...
and Pacific Cups or in World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
qualifiers:
| Nation | 1st Playing Year | RLIF Rank RLIF World Rankings The RLIF World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in the sport of rugby league football. The teams of the member nations of the Rugby League International Federation, rugby league football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful... |
| 2006 | 27 | |
| 1987 | 25 | |
| 2006 | n/a | |
| 2006 | 22 | |
| 2009 | 28 | |
| 2005 | n/a | |
| 2004 | 18 | |
| 2003 | n/a | |
| 1960 | 14 | |
| 2004 | 24 | |
| 1998 | n/a | |
| 2008 | 19 | |
| 1998 | 15 | |
| 2004 | 23 | |
| 1995 | 29 | |
| 1992 | n/a | |
| 2006 | 20 | |
| 2005 | n/a | |
| 2003 | 16 | |
| 2009 | 26 | |
| 1988 | n/a | |
| 2009 | 21 | |
| 2009 | n/a | |
| 1953 | 13 |
Current RLIF affiliates
Includes nations that are currently officially recognized as affiliates of the RLIF, but do not yet currently compete in major international tournaments or World CupRugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
qualifiers:
| Nation | 1st Playing Year | RLIF Rank RLIF World Rankings The RLIF World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in the sport of rugby league football. The teams of the member nations of the Rugby League International Federation, rugby league football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful... |
| 2009 | n/a | |
| 2009 | n/a | |
| 2007 | n/a | |
| 2003 | n/a | |
| 2009 | n/a | |
| 2009 | n/a | |
| 2009 | n/a | |
| 2004 | n/a |
See also
- RLIF World RankingsRLIF World RankingsThe RLIF World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in the sport of rugby league football. The teams of the member nations of the Rugby League International Federation, rugby league football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful...
- Rugby League International FederationRugby League International FederationThe Rugby League International Federation is the world governing body of rugby league football. It was formed in 1998 in Sydney, Australia. Its purpose is to, "foster, develop, extend, govern and administer the game of Rugby League throughout the world". Its headquarters are in Sydney, Australia,...
- Rugby League World CupRugby League World CupThe Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
- Rugby LeagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...