List of International Rugby League members

Last updated

The International Rugby League (IRL) was founded in its current form in 1998, consisting of 10 full members.[ citation needed ] The federation currently consists of 35 members (14 full and 21 affiliate), and 24 observer members.

Contents

Full Members

NationGoverning bodyMembership detailsRef.
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Australian Rugby League Commission Founding Member: 1998–present
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands Cook Islands Rugby League Founding Member: 1998–present
Flag of England.svg  England Rugby Football League Founding Member: 1998–present
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Fiji National Rugby League Founding Member: 1998–present
Flag of France.svg  France French Rugby League Federation Founding Member: 1998–present
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Jamaica Rugby League Association Full Member: 2013–present
Affiliate: 2011–2013
Observer: ????–2011		 [1]
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand New Zealand Rugby League Founding Member: 1998–present
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League Founding Member: 1998–present
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Rugby League Samoa Founding Member: 1998–present
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Serbian Rugby League Full Member: 2012–present
Affiliate: ????–2012
Observer: ????–????		 [2]
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa South African Rugby League Founding Member: 1998–present
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga Tonga National Rugby League Founding Member: 1998–2020 [a]
Tonga Rugby League XIII Full Member: 2024–present [3]
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League Full Member: 2013–present
Affiliate: ????–2013
Observer: ????–????		 [1]
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Wales Rugby League Full Member: 2010–present
Affiliate: ????–2010
Observer: ????–????		 [4]

Affiliate Members

NationGoverning bodyMembership detailsRef.
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Confederação Brasileira de Rugby League  [ pt ]Affiliate Member: 2019–present
Observer: ????–2019		 [5]
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Cameroon Rugby League XIII Affiliate Member: 2021–present
Observer: 2017–2021		 [6]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Canada Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2013–present
Observer: 2010–2013
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Czech Rugby League Association Affiliate Member: 2011–present
Observer: 2006–2011
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Rugby League Deutschland Affiliate Member: ????–2014
Observer: 2006–????; 2014–2015		 [7] [8]
Nationaler Rugby League Deutschland Affiliate Member: 2017–present
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana Rugby League Federation Ghana Affiliate Member: 2020–present
Observer: 2014–2020		 [9]
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Greek Rugby League Association Affiliate Member: 2018–present
Observer: 2017–2018		 [10] [11]
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland Rugby League Ireland Affiliate Member: 2000–2010; 2024–present
Full Member: 2010–2024
Observer: ????–????		 [12]
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Federazione Italiana Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2010–2017; 2024–present
Full Member: 2017–2024
Observer: 2003–2010		 [13] [12]
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Kenya Rugby League Federation Affiliate Member: 2022–present
Observer: ????–2022		 [14]
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Lebanese Rugby League Federation Affiliate Member: ????–2012; 2024–present
Full Member: 2012–2024
Observer: ????–????		 [2] [12]
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta Malta Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2013–present
Observer: ????–2013
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Netherlandse National Rugby League Bond Observer: 2003–2006 [15]
Netherlandse Rugby League Bond Affiliate Member: 2017–present
Observer: 2012–2017
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Nigeria Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2020–present
Observer: 2014–2020		 [16] [9]
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Rugby League Norge Affiliate Member: 2011–present
Observer: 2009–2011
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Scotland Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2007–2011; 2024–present
Full Member: 2011–2024
Observer: ????–2007		 [12]
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Turkish Rugby League Association Affiliate Member: 2018–present
Observer: 2017–2018		 [17]
Flag of the United States.svg  United States American National Rugby League Affiliate Member: ????–2015
Observer: ????–????		 [18]
USA Rugby League Affiliate Member: 2015–present

Observer Members

NationGoverning bodyMembership detailsRef.
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania Albanian Rugby League Observer Member: 2018–present [19]
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Argentina Rugby League Observer Member: 2024–present [20]
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina Asocijacija Ragbi 13 Bosnia-Hercegovina Observer Member: 2018–present [21]
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Bulgarian Rugby League Federation Observer Member: 2017–present [22]
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi Burundi Rugby League Observer Member: 2016–present [23]
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile Federacion de Rugby Futbol League 13 Observer Member: ????–2018; 2025–Present
Affiliate: 2018–2025		 [24] [25]
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Colombia Rugby League XIII Observer Member: ????–present
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo DR Congo Rugby League XIII Observer Member: 2015–present
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Georgia Rugby League Observer Member: ????–present
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Hungarian Rugby League Federation Observer Member: 2013–present
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Japanese Rugby League Association Observer Member: 2021–present
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya Libya Rugby League Association Observer Member: 2019–present
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco Fédération Marocaine de Rugby League Observer Member: ????–2021; 2025–Present
Affiliate Member: 2021–2025		 [6] [25]
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Mexican Rugby Federation Observer Member: 2018–present
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro Montenegro Rugby League Observer Member: 2021–present
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia Macedonian Rugby League Observer Member: 2023–present [26]
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine Palestine Rugby League Observer Member: 2014–present [27]
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Philippines National Rugby League Observer Member: 2021–present
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Polska Rugby XIII Observer Member: 2017–present
Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Rugby League Federation Observer Member: 2014–present [18]
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Slovakia Rugby League Observer Member: 2023–present [26]
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Spanish Rugby League Association Observer Member: 2013–2015; 2024–present
Affiliate Member: 2015–2024		 [28] [12]
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Sweden Rugby League Observer Member: 2011–present
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu Vanuatu Rugby League Observer Member: ????–present

Suspended Members

NationGoverning bodyMembership detailsRef.
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia [b] Russian Rugby League Federation Observer Member: 1993–2000
Affiliate Member: 2000–2003
Full Member: 2003–2010		 [1] [29] [12]
Association of Rugby League Clubs Affiliate Member: 2010–2013; 2024–present
Full Member: 2013–2022

Former Members

NationGoverning bodyMembership detailsRef.
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Belgium Rugby League Association Observer member: 2013–2024 [12]
Flag of Catalonia.svg  Catalonia Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga Observer member: 2008–2014 [7]
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Denmark Rugby League Federation Observer member: 2011–2024 [12]
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador El Salvador Rugby League Observer member: 2021–2025 [25]
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Ethiopian Rugby League Association Observer member: 2014–2024 [30] [12]
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Latvia Rugby League Observer member: 2008–2024 [12]
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Rugby League Association Observer member: 2013–2024 [12]
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands Solomon Islands Rugby League Federation Observer Member: 2011–2025 [25]
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Rugby League Observer member: ????–2024 [12]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Tonga National Rugby League was expelled from the International Rugby League (IRL) in 2020 following refusing to enact recommend changes following the conclusion of an investigation by the IRL.
  2. ↑ Russia are currently suspended due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

References

General
Inline
  1. 1 2 3 "Rugby League's international body RLIF has welcomed Russia, Ukraine and Jamaica to full membership". SBS. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Lebanon & Serbia promoted to full members of RLIF". NRL.com. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "IRL welcomes new governing body in Tonga".
  4. ↑ "Brief History". Wales Rugby League. 10 January 2020. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "Brazil Rugby League to be recognised by the Rugby League International Federation". RLIF. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  6. 1 2 "International Rugby League upgrades two members and welcomes one new member". IRL. 6 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Germany & Catalonia lose status". RLIF. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Germany restores its affiliate membership". RLEF. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Nigeria and Ghana Approved as Affiliate Members International Rugby League". IRL. 26 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-11-26. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Greece Rugby League Association Awarded Observer Status". RLEF. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "Greece Rugby League Association admitted to RLEF". RLEF. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "IRL Membership: Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Scotland Reclassified". IRL. 15 March 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-04-16. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  13. ↑ "Italy Promoted to Full Member Status of RLEF". RLEF. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  14. ↑ "Kenya Rugby League Federation awarded International Rugby League Affiliate Membership". Rugby League International Federation. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  15. ↑ "Dutch upgraded following RLEF congress in Belgrade". RLEF. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  16. ↑ "Rugby League Nigeria Accepted as an Observer".
  17. ↑ "Turkey accorded affiliate member status of Rugby League European Federation". RLEF. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  18. 1 2 "RLEF Admits Sierra Leone and Reconstitutes USA". RLEF. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  19. ↑ "Albania granted observer status". RLEF. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  20. ↑ "Argentina granted IRL observe member status". International Rugby League. 14 March 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-04-16. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  21. ↑ "Bosnia Herzegovina awarded observer status". RLEF. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  22. ↑ "Bulgarian Rugby League Federation comes on board". RLEF. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  23. ↑ "Burundi joins RLEF". RLEF. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  24. ↑ "Chile are the latest nation to gain Affiliate Member status with the Asia Pacific Rugby League". RLIF. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "IRL Membership: Chile, Morocco reclassified". Rugby League International Federation. 5 June 2025.
  26. 1 2 "North Macedonia and Slovakia granted IRL membership". ERL . Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  27. ↑ "Palestine Rugby League gain RLEF observer status". RLEF. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  28. ↑ "Spain becomes twentieth RLEF member". RLEF. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  29. ↑ Berry, Mark (1 March 2022). "Russia banned from international rugby league competitions". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  30. ↑ "Ethiopia recognised as an observer". RLEF. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2018. |
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