Geography of rugby league
Rugby league is a full contact football code and spectator sport played in various countries around the world and governed by the Rugby League International Federation. As of 2010 there are currently 27 nations fielding domestic leagues that meet the World Cup eligibility requirements. Further to this there are over 30 others that are playing at an emerging level status at varying degrees of international competition and are in the process of developing the game in their nations. The global player pool is estimated to be in the millions.
Although one of the last football codes to be developed, since the modern 1990's professional era the game has expanded outside of its traditionals heartlands in Australia, England, France and New Zealand. As a result, many players of European, American 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 the sport's inception in 1908, the first multi-national tournament 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".[1][2]
Africa
Rugby league is a growing sport in Africa, with the game first introduced to the continent in the 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,[3] Morocco, Burundi, Nigeria and Ghana.[4][5][6]
Countries that meet current World Cup qualification criteria:
| Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Morocco | Rugby league in Morocco | Maroc | Observer | Maroc Rugby League | Maroc University League | Emerging Nations's Fourth Place |
 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 |
Other countries with a history of the game:
| Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Burundi | Rugby league in Burundi | Ama Suguru | Observer | Burundi Rugby League Association | ||
 Cameroon | Rugby league in Cameroon | Cameroon | Observer | |||
 DR Congo | Rugby league in DR Congo | DR Congo | Observer | |||
 Ethiopia | Rugby league in Ethiopia | Ethiopia | Observer | Ethiopia Rugby League Association | ||
 Gambia | Rugby league in Gambia | Gambia | Observer | |||
 Ghana | Rugby league in Ghana | Stars | Observer | Ghana Rugby League | ||
 Libya | Rugby league in Libya | Libya | Observer | |||
 Nigeria | Rugby league in Nigeria | Greens | Observer | Nigeria Rugby League | 1× Africa and Middle East Champion | |
 Sierra Leone | Rugby league in Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone | Observer | |||
 South Sudan | Rugby league in South Sudan | South Sudan | Observer |
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.[7]
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.
Countries that meet current World Cup qualification criteria:
| Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brazil | Rugby league in Brazil | Carcarás (M) / Amazonas (W) | Affiliate | Brazil Rugby League Confederation | Premiership | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Canada | Rugby league in Canada | Wolverines (M) / Ravens (W) | Affiliate | Canada Rugby League | Canada Rugby League | Emerging Nations' Fifth Place |
 Chile | Rugby league in Chile | Caciques | Affiliate | Chile Rugby League Federation | In development | |
 Jamaica | Rugby league in Jamaica | Reggae Warriors | Member | Jamaica Rugby League Association | Jamaica National League | Group Stages / 1× Americas Champion |
 United States | Rugby league in the United States | Hawks | Affiliate | USARL | USA Rugby League | 1× Quarter Finalists / Emerging Nations' Third Place / 2× Americas Champion |
Other countries with a history of the game:
| Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina | Rugby league in Argentina | Penguins | Observer | Argentina Rugby XIII | 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 | ||
 Mexico | Rugby league in Mexico | Mexico | Observer | |||
 Peru | Rugby league in Peru | Emperadores | Observer | |||
 Uruguay | Rugby league in Uruguay | Gauchos | Observer | |||
 West Indies | Rugby league in the West Indies | The Wahoos | Observer | West Indies Rugby League Federation | ||
Asia
Rugby league is a growing sport in Asia 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. Although Russia has a growing rugby league presence and extends into Asia, the main competition is in Europe.
Countries that meet current World Cup qualification criteria:
| Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Lebanon | Rugby league in Lebanon | The Cedars | Member | Lebanese Rugby League Federation | Bank of Beirut Championship | 1× Quarter Finalists |
Other countries with a history of the game:
| Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance[lower-alpha 1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 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 |
 Pakistan | Rugby league in Pakistan | Pakistan | Observer | |||
 Palestine | Rugby league in Palestine | Palestine | Observer | |||
 Philippines | Rugby league in the Philippines | Tamaraws | Observer | Philippines National Rugby League | ||
 Saudi Arabia | Rugby league in Saudi Arabia | KSA | Observer | |||
 Thailand | Rugby league in Thailand | Thailand Stars | Observer | Thai Rugby League | ||
 United Arab Emirates | Rugby league in UAE | Falcons | Observer | Emirates Rugby League | ||
Europe
World Cup eligibile: Serbia, Norway, Russia, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Ukraine,
England is the birthplace of rugby league. Rugby league is a moderately popular game in parts of Europe.
- England is home to the professional Super League, with a team from France and Canada participating at different times during its history.
- Great Britain is an RLIF test nation, with players from England, Scotland and Wales.
- Russia is an RLIF test nation, and the sport is popular there.
- Norway, Czech Republic, Spain, Germany, Greece, Malta, Turkey, are all affiliate RLIF nations. In 2020. full members of RLIF from Europe are: England, France, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Russia, Serbia, Italy, Ukraine.[8]
- The game also has a history in Georgia.
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Oceania
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.
Countries that meet current World Cup qualification criteria:
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Non-IRL associated
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See also
- List of international rugby league teams
Notes
- Position refers to the Rugby League World Cup unless stated otherwise.
- No Scottish teams compete in the British professional structure.
References
- Folkard, 2003: 337
- SPARC, 2009: 28
- https://warringtonwolves.com/rfl-news/the-full-blood-project/
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2013-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- http://www.rlef.eu.com/morocco_xiii/introduction
- http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/564/ghana-rugby-league-takes-to
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2013-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- https://intrl.sport/member-nations/