Geography of rugby league

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[a]
 Argentina Rugby league in Argentina Penguins Observer Argentina Rugby XIII In Development
 Brazil Rugby league in Brazil Carcarás (M) / Amazonas (W) Affiliate Brazil Rugby League Confederation Premiership
 Canada Rugby league in Canada Wolverines (M) / Ravens (W) Affiliate Canada Rugby League North American Rugby League Emerging Nations' Fifth Place
 Chile Rugby league in Chile Caciques Affiliate Chile Rugby League Federation In development
 Colombia Rugby league in Colombia Hermanos Colombianos Observer
 Ecuador Rugby league in Ecuador Ecuador XIII Observer
 El Salvador Rugby league in El Salvador Trueno Azul Observer ESRL
 Jamaica Rugby league in Jamaica Reggae Warriors Member Jamaica Rugby League Association Jamaica National League Group Stages / 1× Americas Champion
 Mexico Rugby league in Mexico Mexico Observer
 Peru Rugby league in Peru Emperadores Observer
 United States Rugby league in the United States Hawks Affiliate USARL North American Rugby League 1× Quarter Finalists / Emerging Nations' Third Place / 2× Americas Champion
 Uruguay Rugby league in Uruguay Gauchos Observer
 West Indies 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

Country Overview National team Status Governing Body Main league competition(s) Best International Performance[a]
 Australia Rugby league in Australia Kangaroos Member Australian Rugby League National Rugby League
Runners-up
(1960, 1972, 2008)
 Cook Islands Rugby league in the Cook Islands Kukis Member Cook Islands Rugby League Group Stages / Emerging Nations's Champions
 Fiji Rugby league in Fiji Bati Member Fiji National Rugby League Fiji National Rugby League Competition 3× Semi-finalists
 New Zealand Rugby league in New Zealand Kiwis Member New Zealand Rugby League National Competition
Champions
(2008)
Runners-up
(1985–88, 2000, 2013)
 Niue Rugby league in Niue The Rock Observer Emerging Nations' Runners-up
 Norfolk Island Rugby league in Norfolk Island Pine Trees Observer Australian Rugby League Commission
 Papua New Guinea Rugby league in Papua New Guinea Kumuls Member Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League Papua New Guinea National Rugby League 1× Semi-finalists
 Solomon Islands Rugby league in the Solomon Islands Solies Observer Solomon Islands Rugby League Federation
 Samoa Rugby league in Samoa Toa Samoa Member Rugby League Samoa
Runners-up
(2021)
 Tonga Rugby league in Tonga Mate Ma'a Tonga Member Tonga National Rugby League Tongan National Rugby League 1× Semi-finalists / Pacific Cup Runners-up
 Vanuatu Rugby league in Vanuatu Vanuatu Observer Vanuatu Rugby League

Asia

Country Overview National team Status Governing Body Main league competition(s) Best International Performance[a]
 China Rugby league in China China Observer China Rugby League
 Hong Kong Rugby league in Hong Kong Hong Kong Observer
 Indonesia Rugby league in Indonesia Indonesia Observer Indonesia Rugby League Bali 9's/West Papua
 Japan Rugby league in Japan Samurais Observer Japanese Rugby League Association Japanese Rugby League Emerging Nations's Sixth Place
 Philippines Rugby league in the Philippines Tamaraws Observer Philippines National Rugby League
 Thailand Rugby league in Thailand Thailand Stars Observer Thai 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 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[a]
 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  England Rugby league in the British Isles in England Lions Lions Members Rugby Football League Rugby Football League Super League
Championship
League 1[b]
Champions
(1954, 1960, 1972)
Runners-up
(1957, 1970, 1977, 1989–92)
Runners-up
(1975, 1995, 2017)
14× European A League Champion
 Scotland in Scotland Bravehearts Scotland Rugby League 1× Quarter Finalists / 1× European A League Champion
 Wales in Wales Dragons Wales Rugby League 3× 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 Polska Rugby XIII Mistrzostwa Polski w rugby league Emerging Nations' Trophy winners
 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[a]
Burundi Burundi Rugby league in Burundi Ama Suguru Observer Burundi Rugby League Association
Cameroon Cameroon Rugby league in Cameroon Cameroon Observer
Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo Rugby league in DR Congo DR Congo Observer
Ethiopia Ethiopia Rugby league in Ethiopia Ethiopia Observer Ethiopia Rugby League Association
The Gambia Gambia Rugby league in Gambia Gambia Observer
Ghana Ghana Rugby league in Ghana Stars Affiliate Ghana Rugby League
 Lebanon Rugby league in Lebanon The Cedars Member Lebanese Rugby League Federation Bank of Beirut Championship 3× Quarter Finalists
Libya Libya Rugby league in Libya Libya Observer
 Morocco Rugby league in Morocco Maroc Observer Maroc Rugby League Maroc University League Emerging Nations's Fourth Place
Nigeria Nigeria Rugby league in Nigeria Greens Affiliate Nigeria Rugby League Africa and Middle East Champion
 Pakistan Rugby league in Pakistan Pakistan Observer
 Palestine Rugby league in Palestine Palestine Observer
 Saudi Arabia Rugby league in Saudi Arabia KSA Observer
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Rugby league in Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Observer
 South Africa Rugby league in South Africa The Rhinos Member South African Rugby League Tom van Vollenhoven Cup Group Stages / 2× Africa and Middle East Champion
South Sudan South Sudan Rugby league in South Sudan South Sudan Observer
 United Arab Emirates Rugby league in UAE Falcons Observer Emirates 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. ^ a b c d e 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/ [bare URL]
  2. ^ "About ERL".
  3. ^ "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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