European Rugby League

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European Rugby League
AbbreviationERL
Formation1 January 2003;22 years ago (2003-01-01)
TypeSports Confederation
Headquarters Manchester, England
Region served
Europe (primary)
North America, Africa, Middle East (via sub-branches)
Membership7 Full, 19 Affiliate, 16 Observer
Official language
English, French
Chairman
Maurice Watkins CBE
General Manager
David Butler
Parent organization
International Rugby League
Website www.europeanrugbyleague.com

The European Rugby League (ERL) (previously Rugby League European Federation (RLEF)) is the umbrella body for nations playing the sport of rugby league football across Europe. [1] In the absence of other continental federations, ERL also controls rugby league in North America the Middle East and Africa through its sub-branches Americas Rugby League and Middle East-Africa Rugby League. [2]

Contents

History

The federation was founded January 2003 following an initiative between Richard Lewis, Executive Chairman of Great Britain's Rugby Football League (RFL) and his French counterpart Jean Paul Ferre of the French Rugby League Federation (FFR). [3] The RLEF's first constitution was approved in January 2004 and the federation's first Board of Directors was elected. [3] This first Board of Directors consisted of Jean Paul Ferre as Chairman and Richard Lewis as Deputy Chairman, with Nigel Wood and Nicolas Larrat being the other Board members. [3] Representatives for Morocco, Italy, Serbia, Russia, Lebanon, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales attended. [3] Russia became a full member of the RLEF, joining Britain and France, and the RLIF soon after. [3]

At the time of its foundation, the RLEF placed a "particular emphasis on generating development funding within each country". [3] Historically, much of the development work conducted in Europe had been funded by the RFL. [4] Following the profitable 2008 World Cup, the RFL and RLEF prepared to bid for funds to enhance their activities. [4]

2004 saw the revival of the Rugby League European Championship, now ran by the RLEF.

In December 2009, Kevin Rudd, a former Scotland rugby league international, stepped down as Executive Officer of the RLEF after more than five years in the post. [5] RLEF Chairman Richard Lewis stated that Rudd "has done an outstanding job and created a platform, structure and competitions framework that can take us into the future". [5] Rudd was succeeded by Danny Kazandjian. [6] Kazandjian had previously been a key figure in the establishment of rugby league in Lebanon and had led the RLEF's development drive in the Mediterranean and Middle East regions as Director of Development for the Euro-Med region. [6]

In 2011, the RLEF introduced two sub-branches – Americas Rugby League and Middle East-Africa Rugby League – to further develop rugby league in those regions. [2]

In 2021, The RLEF was renamed to the European Rugby League in line with the RLIF's renaming to the International Rugby League. [7]

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions. [8]

Competitions

CompetitionsChampionTitle
European Championship Flag of France.svg  France
(2018)
8th
European Championship B Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
(2021)
4th
European Championship C Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
(2019)
2nd
European Championship D Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
(2021)
1st
Under-19 European Championship Flag of England.svg England
(2024)
2nd
Balkans Cup Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
(2017)
2nd
Nordic Cup Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
(2017)
3rd
Americas Championship Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
(2018)
1st
MEA Championship Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
(2022)
2nd

ERL board

As of 6 January 2025 [9]
MemberRepresentationNationality
Dean Andrew (Chairman)Independent Directors Flag of England.svg England
Tatiana Doncaster Flag of England.svg England
Brian JuliffMember Elected Director Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales
Jim Reynolds Four Provinces Flag.svg Ireland
Ileana Iacopetti Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Alison O'BrienRFL Appointed Director Flag of England.svg England
Gilles DumasFFRXIII Appointed Director Flag of France.svg France

Membership

Currently seven nations are full members of the federation; there are also nineteen affiliate members and sixteen official observers. Full members are entitled to a greater proportion of voting rights and to become members of the Rugby League International Federation.

In order to become an associate member, a nation must meet the following criteria:

The ERL stipulates that continued associate and full membership of the federation is subject to a check every two years to ensure that the minimum criteria are still being met. [3]

Full members

AssociationNational teamsFoundedAffiliation
MenWomenWheelchairIRLERL
Flag of England.svg Rugby Football League England England England 189519482003
Flag of France.svg Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII France France France 193419482003
Flag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica Rugby League Association Jamaica Jamaica 200420132004
Flag of Serbia.svg Serbian Rugby League Serbia Serbia 200420122004
Flag of South Africa.svg South African Rugby League South Africa 199819982012
Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League Ukraine 200820132013
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Rugby League Wales Wales Wales 200520102010

Affiliate members

AssociationNational teamsFoundedAffiliation
MenWomenWheelchairIRLERL
Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon Rugby League 13 Cameroon 2017
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Rugby League Canada Canada 2010
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Rugby League Association Czech Republic 2005
Flag of Germany.svg Nationaler Rugby League Deutschland Germany 2014
Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana Rugby League Ghana Ghana 2014
Flag of Greece.svg Greek Rugby League Association Greece Greece 2017
Four Provinces Flag.svg Rugby League Ireland Ireland Ireland Ireland 198820002003
Flag of Italy.svg Federazione Italiana Rugby League Italy Italy Italy 200820102010
Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya Rugby League Kenya Kenya 2023
Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanese Rugby League Federation Lebanon Lebanon 200320122003
Flag of Malta.svg Maltese Rugby League Association Malta Malta 2008
Flag of Morocco.svg Fédération Marocaine de Rugby League Morocco 2011
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlandse Rugby League Bond Netherlands Netherlands 2009
Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Rugby League Nigeria Nigeria 2018
Flag of Norway.svg Norway Rugby League Norway 2009
Flag of Russia.svg Russian Rugby League Russia Russia 201020132013
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland Rugby League Scotland Scotland Scotland 199420112003
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkish Rugby League Association Turkey Turkey 2016
Flag of the United States.svg USA Rugby League United States United States United States 2011

Official observers

Former members / observers

ERL national team results at World Cups

Performances of men's teams at the World Cup
Team 1954 1957 1960 1968 1970 1972 1975 1977 1985-88 1989-92 1995 2000 2008 2013 2017 2021
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada DNQDNQDNQ
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic DNQ
Flag of England.svg  England 2nd2ndSFSFSF2ndSF
Flag of France.svg  France 2ndGSGS2ndGSGSGSGSGSGSGSQFGSQFGSGS
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany DNQ
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1st2nd1stGS2nd1st2ndGS2nd
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece DNQGS
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland QFQFGSGSGS
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy DNQGSGSGS
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica DNQDNQGS
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia DNQ-
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon GSDNQDNQQFQF
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta DNQDNQ
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco DNQ
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands DNQ
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway DNQ
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia GSDNQDNQDNQEx
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland GSGSQFGSGS
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia DNQDNQDNQDNQ
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa GSGSWDNQDNQDNQ
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain DNQDNQ
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine DNQDNQ
Flag of the United States.svg  United States DNQDNQQFGSDNQ
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales GSSFSFDNQGSGSGS

1st  Winner, 2nd  2nd place, SF  Semi-finalist, QF  Quarter-finalist, GS  Group stage, DNQ  Did not qualify, W  Withdrew, Ex  Expelled

See also

References

  1. "About ERL".
  2. 1 2 "History".
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 RLEF. "Overview". Rugby League European Federation. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  4. 1 2 Michael Fisher (2 January 2009). "RFL chief executive Nigel Wood backs Super League to flourish". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  5. 1 2 rugbyleague.com (18 December 2009). "Euro development boss to step down". rugbyleague.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  6. 1 2 rugbyleague.com (21 May 2010). "RLEF appoint new development exec". rugbyleague.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  7. "Rugby League European Federation undergoes rebranding". ERL. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  8. "Russia banned from international rugby league competitions". Halifaxcourier.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  9. https://europeanrugbyleague.com/erl/board
  10. 1 2 3 4 "European Rugby League Annual Council meeting - Report". ERL. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  11. 1 2 "2013 Annual Report" (PDF). ERL. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  12. "2010 Annual Report" (PDF). ERL. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  13. "Estonia". RLEF. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009.
  14. "Interview with RELF development officer Kevin Rudd". Rleague.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  15. "2014 Annual Report" (PDF). ERL. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  16. "Sol Mokdad issues public apology to UAE Rugby Federation to end criminal proceedings against him". The National. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.