European Rugby League

Last updated

European Rugby League
AbbreviationERL
Formation1 January 2003;21 years ago (2003-01-01)
TypeSports Confederation
Headquarters Manchester, England
Region served
Europe (primary)
North America, Africa, Middle East (via sub-branches)
Membership
11 Full, 16 Affiliate, 20 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

Current board

MemberPositionNationality
Graeme ThompsonInterim ChairpersonFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Paul NicholsonIndependent DirectorFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Mahdi ChoudhuryIndependent DirectorFlag of England.svg  England
Brian JuliffMember-Elected DirectorFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Gurol YildizMember-Elected DirectorFlag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Alison O'BrienRFL-Appointed DirectorFlag of England.svg  England
Luc LacosteFFRXIII-Appointed DirectorFlag of France.svg  France

Former members: Chairperson: Maurice Watkins Flag of England.svg  England, Board Member: Blagoje Stoiljkovic Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia

Membership

Currently eleven nations are full members of the federation; there are also fifteen affiliate members and nineteen 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 teamFoundedIRL
affiliation
ERL
affiliation
Rugby Football League Flag of England.svg  England 189519482003
Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII Flag of France.svg  France 193419482003
Jamaica Rugby League Association Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 200420132004
Serbian Rugby League Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 200420122004
South African Rugby League Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 199819982012
Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 200820132013
Wales Rugby League Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 200520102010

Affiliate members

AssociationNational teamFoundedIRL
affiliation
ERL
affiliation
Cameroon Rugby League 13 Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 2017
Canada Rugby League Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2010
Czech Rugby League Association Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 2005
Nationaler Rugby League Deutschland Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2014
Ghana Rugby League Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 2014
Greek Rugby League Association Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 2017
Rugby League Ireland Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 198820002003
Federazione Italiana Rugby League Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 200820102010
Kenya Rugby League Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2023
Lebanese Rugby League Federation Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 200320122003
Maltese Rugby League Association Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 2008
Fédération Marocaine de Rugby League Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 2011
Netherlandse Rugby League Bond Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2009
Nigeria Rugby League Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 2018
Norway Rugby League Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2009
Russian Rugby League Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 201020132013
Scotland Rugby League Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 199420112003
Asociación Española de Rugby League Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 2013
Turkish Rugby League Association Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 2016
USA Rugby League Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2011

Official observers

Former observer members

ERL national team results at World Cups

Team 1954 1957 1960 1968 1970 1972 1975 1977 1985-88 1989-92 1995 2000 2008 2013 2017 2021
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada DNQDNQDNQ
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic DNQ
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Flag of England.svg  England 2nd2ndSFSFSF2ndSF
Flag of France.svg  France 2ndGSGS2ndGSGSGSGSGSGSGSQFGSQFGSGS
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany DNQ
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1st2nd1stGS2nd1st2ndGS2nd
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece DNQGS
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
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 Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway DNQ
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia GSDNQDNQDNQEx
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland GSGSQFGSGS
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia DNQDNQDNQDNQ
Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa GSGSWDNQDNQDNQ
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain DNQDNQ
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
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

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References

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  2. 1 2 "History".
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  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.
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