IRL Men's World Rankings

Last updated
Official rankings as of December 2024
RankChangeTeamPts %
1Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 100
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 86
3Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 84
4Increase2.svg 1Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 63
5Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 54
6Increase2.svg 1Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 53
7Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 44
8Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 30
9Increase2.svg 2Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 23
10Steady2.svgFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 22
11Increase2.svg 1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 22
12Increase2.svg 5Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 18
13Increase2.svg 2Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 17
14Increase2.svg 6Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 13
15Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 12
16Decrease2.svg 7Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 12
17Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 11
18Decrease2.svg 2Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 9
19Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 8
20Increase2.svg 1Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 8
21Increase2.svg 2Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 8
22Decrease2.svg 3Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 7
23Increase2.svg 4Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 7
24Increase2.svg 7Flag of the United States.svg  United States 7
25Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 5
26Increase2.svg 2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 5
27Decrease2.svg 5Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 5
28Decrease2.svg 3Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 5
29Increase2.svg 4Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 4
30Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 4
31Increase2.svg 10Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 4
32Steady2.svgFlag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 4
33Increase2.svg 2Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 3
34Increase2.svg 15Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 3
35Increase2.svg 5Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 2
36Steady2.svgFlag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 2
37Decrease2.svg 7Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 2
38Decrease2.svg 9Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 2
39Decrease2.svg 5Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 1
40Decrease2.svg 3Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 1
41Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1
42Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1
43Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 1
44Decrease2.svg 1Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 0
45Steady2.svgFlag of Russia.svg  Russia 0
46Increase2.svg 1Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
47Increase2.svg 3Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 0
48Increase2.svg 3Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 0
49Increase2.svg 8Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 0
50Steady2.svgFlag of Niue.svg  Niue 0
51Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 0
52Increase2.svg 2Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0
53Increase2.svg 2Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0
54Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 0
55Decrease2.svg 9Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 0
56Decrease2.svg 12Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 0
57Decrease2.svg 9Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

The IRL Men's World Rankings are the ranking system for men's national teams in the sport of rugby league football. The teams of the member nations of the International Rugby League, rugby league football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest. A point system is used, with points being awarded based on the results of IRL-recognized international matches. Under the existing system, rankings are based on a team's performance over the last three years, with more recent results and more significant matches being more heavily weighted to help reflect the current competitive state of a team.

Contents

Ranking system

The IRL World Rankings are calculated based on an average of points accumulated by each nation over a three-year cycle. Under the structure, matches deemed of higher importance such as World Cup games, Four Nations and other major tournament finals draw more points than mid-season Tests and other ‘Internationals’. For each match that a nation participates they are given a base level of points. This base level is affected upon the type of match (World Cup, Major Tournament, Test Match and International) and the status of the opponent.

Bonus points are given for teams that reach certain milestones deemed of significant international importance including reaching a tournament final or qualifying for an event such as a World Cup.

From the total number of points that a nation will receive these points are then averaged to help give a more accurate view of the performance of a nation over the three-year cycle.

Nations which have played fewer than 5 matches over a three-year cycle will be penalised under the current point structure.

Use of the rankings

The rankings are used by International Rugby League to view the progression and ability of the national rugby league teams.

The data is currently used in things as seeding for tournaments such as the European Cup, Oceania Cup MEA Championship, Americas Championship and the South American Championship and the World Cup.

Current calculation method

Match status

A weighting system has been implemented by the IRL to give more points to teams if they gain a victory over a major team in a major tournament, with friendlies ranked with considerably fewer points than any World Cup finals match or the final of Cups such as the European, Mediterranean and Pacific Cups.

Opponent strength

The IRL has organized the ranking so that a win against a very highly ranked opponent is a considerably greater achievement than a win against a low-rated opponent, so the strength of the opposing team is a factor.

Assessment period

All matches played over the last three years are included in the calculation of the rankings, but there is a weighting system implemented to put more emphasis on recent results.

Historical rankings

As of December 2017
TeamJun 2013 [1] Dec 2013 [2] Aug 2014 [3] Nov 2014 [4] May 2015Dec 2015 [5] Jun 2016 [6] Oct 2016 [7] Nov 2016 [8] May 2017 [9] Oct 2017 [10] Dec 2017 [11]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 11112 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)2221 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)111
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 22221 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)1112 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)222
Flag of England.svg  England 333333333333
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 1013 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)1316 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)15 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)16 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)15 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)13 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)14 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)11 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)114 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 7)
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 75 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)56 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)67 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)76 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)7 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)8 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)7 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)5 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 887 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)4 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)44445 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)556 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1111118 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)89 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)994 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 5)447 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)
Flag of France.svg  France 4445 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)55556 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)668 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 1620 (Red Arrow Down.svg 4)21 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)2120 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)202021 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)212118 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)9 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 9)
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 67 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)8 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)11 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)1114 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)11 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)12 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)15 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)1516 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)10 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 6)
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 9910 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)7 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)76 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)67 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)8 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)7 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)8 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)11 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 56 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)69 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)98 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)889 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)9912 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1312 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)1212121213 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)15 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)13 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)14 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)12 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)13 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1210 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)9 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)10 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)1010101010101014 (Red Arrow Down.svg 4)
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 2223 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)24 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)27 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)29 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)27 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)2716 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 11)17 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)1713 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 4)15 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 1517 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)1713 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 4)14 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)11 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)12 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)11 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)1112 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)14 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)16 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1916 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)1614 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)13 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)1314 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)1412 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)13 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)15 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)17 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 2122 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)23 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)24 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)23 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)18 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 5)1820 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)2019 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)17 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)18 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1415 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)14 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)15 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)16 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)15 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)16 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)18 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)16 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)1619 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)19
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 3129 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)22 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 5)2218 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 4)17 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)171718 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)1820 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)20
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 28 (New black yellow.svg)2826 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)21 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 5)2119 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)1920 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)21 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)21
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2019 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)191921 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)26 (Red Arrow Down.svg 5)2626262622 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 4)22
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 28 (New black yellow.svg)26 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)23 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)24 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)242428 (Red Arrow Down.svg 4)282823 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 5)23
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 35 (New black yellow.svg)32 (New black yellow.svg)3233 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)34 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)3424 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 10)
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 2321 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)20 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)2022 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)23 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)232322 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)2225 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)25
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 26 (New black yellow.svg)30 (Red Arrow Down.svg 4)29 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)30 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)3029 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)25 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 4)24 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)25 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)26 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)26
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2924 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 5)25 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)252528 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)30 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)30303027 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)27
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1818181819 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)1922 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)24 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)23 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)2328 (Red Arrow Down.svg 5)28
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 31 (New black yellow.svg)33 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)32 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)33 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)3334 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)38 (Red Arrow Down.svg 4)3833 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 5)29 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 4)29
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 1714 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)15 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)17 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)1722 (Red Arrow Down.svg 5)19 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)22 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)25 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)24 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)2430 (Red Arrow Down.svg 6)
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2830 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)32 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)30 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)31 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)29 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)28 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)29 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)292930 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)31 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 34 (New black yellow.svg)3436 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)37 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)32 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 5)
Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 32 (New black yellow.svg)3233 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)3332 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)31 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)3133 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 2627 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)2726 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)27 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)25 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)2527 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)272732 (Red Arrow Down.svg 5)34 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2425 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)29 (Red Arrow Down.svg 4)31 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)28 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 3)31 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)31313132 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)33 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)35 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 35 (New black yellow.svg)3537 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)35 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)36 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 39 (New black yellow.svg)3938 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)39 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)37 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 35 (New black yellow.svg)36 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)38 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 39 (New black yellow.svg)
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 40 (New black yellow.svg)
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 41 (New black yellow.svg)
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 37 (New black yellow.svg)3740 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)38 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 2)42 (Red Arrow Down.svg 4)
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 43 (New black yellow.svg)
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 41 (New black yellow.svg)40 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)44 (Red Arrow Down.svg 4)
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 45 (New black yellow.svg)
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 41 (New black yellow.svg)46 (Red Arrow Down.svg 5)
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 2531 (New black yellow.svg)33 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)34 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)3435 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)36 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)3639 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)42 (Red Arrow Down.svg 3)47 (Red Arrow Down.svg 5)
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 3034 (New black yellow.svg)3436 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)35 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 1)36 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)40 (Red Arrow Down.svg 4)4042 (Red Arrow Down.svg 2)43 (Red Arrow Down.svg 1)48 (Red Arrow Down.svg 5)
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 27

Best and worst

As of 10 December 2021
TeamBestWorst
RankYear(s)RankYear(s)
Albania392023402024
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 392017522023
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 12012–15, 2016–19, 2022-2442021
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 172015–16552024
Bosnia & Herzegovina4047
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 412019432017
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 412017462017
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 382019382019
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 122016272019
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 322016, 2019372017
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 402017, 2019402017, 2019
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 142013302017
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 222019302014, 2015
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 252015–16432019
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 372017392016, 2017
Flag of England.svg  England 2201832012–17, 2019
Estonia272013562024
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 52013–14, 2017, 201982017
Flag of France.svg  France 42013–1482017, 2019
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 182012–14312019
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 332019332019
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 112019282013, 2016–17
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 452017452017
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 212019382016
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 62015–16122019
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 122013–15, 2017152016
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 132017292015
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 412017412017
Kenya26202432
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 252013472017
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 92017212014, 2016–17
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 162019242014
Montenegro32202444
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 302013482017
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 242013302016–17
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 12015–16, 2019-202122012–15, 2016–17
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 282019282019
Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 242018–19332016, 2017
North Macedonia352024422023
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 172019262015–17
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 42012162017
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 222018–19352015
Poland1930
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 142013, 2014372019
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 42015–1682012–13
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 42016–17112013–14
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 112015–16172012, 2013–14
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 292019422017
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 242012–13362019
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 192016282014
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 282012, 2016322014
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 352017382017
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 32021162014, 2015
Turkiye19342024
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 202014392019
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 92014182019
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 402017442017
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 352016-17, 2019372017
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 52013232021

See also

References

  1. "Australia strengthen grip on rankings". Rugby League International Federation. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  2. "Australia strengthen grip as world No 1". Rugby League International Federation. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  3. "RLIF announce latest World Rankings". Rugby League International Federation. 1 August 2014.
  4. "Latest World Rankings Announced". Rugby League International Federation. 30 November 2014.
  5. "Latest world rankings released". Rugby League International Federation. 17 December 2015.
  6. "PNG make the biggest move in new World Rankings". Rugby League International Federation. 1 June 2016.
  7. "Australia and England can both overtake New Zealand in World Rankings". Rugby League International Federation. 28 October 2016.
  8. "Australia reclaim world No.1 ranking". NRL.com. 23 November 2016.
  9. "Australia to enter RLWC2017 as World Number 1". Rugby League International Federation. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  10. "World Rankings released ahead of RLWC2017". Rugby League International Federation. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  11. "Latest World Rankings announced". Rugby League International Federation. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.