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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rugby league in Morocco | Maroc | Affiliate | Maroc Rugby League | Maroc University League | Euro Med Challenge - Champion | |
Rugby league in South Africa | The Rhinos | Test | South African Rugby League | Tom van Vollenhoven Cup | World Cup - Pool Round |
Other countries with a history of the game:
Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rugby league in Burundi | Ama Suguru | Non-Affiliate | Burundi Rugby League Association | N/A | Middlesex 9's | |
Rugby league in DR Congo | NA | Non-Affiliate | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Rugby league in Ethiopia | NA | Non-Affiliate | Ethiopia Rugby League Association | N/A | N/A | |
Rugby league in Gambia | NA | Non-Affiliate | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Rugby league in Ghana | Stars | Non-Affiliate | Ghana Rugby League | N/A | N/A | |
Rugby league in Nigeria | Greens | Non-Affiliate | Nigeria Rugby League | N/A | Middlesex 9's | |
Rugby league in South Sudan | South Sudan national rugby league team | Non-Affiliate | N/A | N/A | N/A |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rugby league in Brazil | Brasil 13s | Affiliate | Brazil Rugby League Confederation | TOP 1 | South American Cup 2018 Champion | |
Rugby league in Canada | Wolverines | Affiliate | Canada Rugby League | Canada Rugby League | Emerging Nations - Pool Round | |
Rugby league in Chile | Caciques | Affiliate | Chile Rugby League Federation | In development | World Cup - Qualifiers | |
Rugby league in Jamaica | Reggae Warriors | Affiliate | Jamaica Rugby League Association | Jamaica National League | Atlantic Cup - Runner Up | |
Rugby league in the United States | Hawks | Affiliate | USARL | USA Rugby League | World Cup - Quarter-finalist |
Other countries with a history of the game:
Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rugby league in Argentina | Penguins | Non-Affiliate | Argentina Rugby XIII | In Development | N/A | |
Rugby league in Colombia | Hermanos Colombianos | Non-Affiliate | - | In development | NA | |
Rugby league in Ecuador | Ecuador XIII | Non-Affiliate | - | In development | NA | |
Rugby league in El Salvador | Trueno Azul | Non-Affiliate | ESRL | In development | NA | |
Rugby league in Peru | Emperadores | Non-Affiliate | - | In development | NA | |
Rugby league in Uruguay | Gauchos | Non-Affiliate | - | In development | NA | |
Rugby league in the West Indies | The Wahoos | Non-Affiliate | West Indies Rugby League Federation | Jamaica National League | York 9's - Champion | |
Asia and the Middle East
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rugby league in Lebanon | The Cedars | Affiliate | Lebanese Rugby League Federation | Bank of Beirut Championship | World Cup - Quarter-finalist |
Other countries with a history of the game:
Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-Affiliate | China Rugby League | |||||
Non-Affiliate | Indonesia Rugby League | Bali 9's/West Papua | ||||
Rugby league in Japan | Samurais | Affiliate | Japanese Rugby League Association | Japanese Rugby League | Emerging Nations - Pool Round | |
Rugby league in Pakistan | Observer | |||||
Non-Affiliate | ||||||
Rugby league in the Philippines | Tamaraws | Observer | Philippines National Rugby League | |||
Observer | ||||||
Rugby league in Thailand | Thailand Stars | Observer | Thai Rugby League | |||
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.
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:
Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rugby league in Australia | Kangaroos | Member | Australian Rugby League | National Rugby League | ||
Rugby league in the Cook Islands | Kukis | Member | Cook Islands Rugby League | |||
Rugby league in Fiji | Bati | Member | Fiji National Rugby League | Fiji National Rugby League Competition | ||
Rugby league in New Zealand | Kiwis | Member | New Zealand Rugby League | National Rugby League | ||
Rugby league in Papua New Guinea | Kumuls | Member | Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League | Papua New Guinea National Rugby League | ||
Rugby league in Samoa | Toa Samoa | Member | Rugby League Samoa | |||
Rugby league in Tonga | Mate Ma'a Tonga | Member | Tonga National Rugby League | Tongan National Rugby League | ||
See also
- List of international rugby league teams
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/