List of International Rugby League members

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.

Members

Full

Nation	Governing body	Membership details	Ref.
Australia	Australian Rugby League Commission	Founding Member: 1998–present
Cook Islands	Cook Islands Rugby League	Founding Member: 1998–present
England	Rugby Football League	Founding Member: 1998–present
Fiji	Fiji National Rugby League	Founding Member: 1998–present
France	French Rugby League Federation	Founding Member: 1998–present
Jamaica	Jamaica Rugby League Association	Full Member: 2013–present Affiliate: 2011–2013	^[1]
New Zealand	New Zealand Rugby League	Founding Member: 1998–present
Papua New Guinea	Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League	Founding Member: 1998–present
Samoa	Rugby League Samoa	Founding Member: 1998–present
Serbia	Serbian Rugby League	Full Member: 2012–present Affiliate: ????–2012	^[2]
South Africa	South African Rugby League	Founding Member: 1998–present
Tonga	Tonga National Rugby League	Founding Member: 1998–2020
Tonga	Tonga Rugby League XIII	Full Member: 2024–present	^[3]
Ukraine	Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League	Full Member: 2013–present Affiliate: ????–2013	^[1]
Wales	Wales Rugby League	Full Member: 2010–present Affiliate: ????–2010

Affiliate

Nation	Governing body	Membership details	Ref.
Brazil	Confederação Brasileira de Rugby League [pt]	Affiliate Member: 2019–present	^[4]
Cameroon	Cameroon Rugby League XIII	Affiliate Member: 2021–present	^[5]
Canada	Canada Rugby League	Affiliate Member: 2013–present
Chile	Federacion de Rugby Futbol League 13	Affiliate Member: 2018–present	^[6]
Czech Republic	Czech Rugby League Association	Affiliate Member: 2011–present
Germany	Nationaler Rugby League Deutschland	Affiliate Member: 2017–present	^[7]
Ghana	Rugby League Federation Ghana	Affiliate Member: 2020–present Observer Member: 2014–present	^[8]
Greece	Greek Rugby League Association	Affiliate Member: 2018–present	^[9]
Ireland	Rugby League Ireland	Affiliate Member: ????–present Full Member: 2011–2024	^[10]
Italy	Federazione Italiana Rugby League	Affiliate Member: ????–present Full Member: 2017–2024	^[11]^[10]
Kenya	Kenya Rugby League Federation	Affiliate Member: 2022–present	^[12]
Lebanon	Lebanese Rugby League Federation	Affiliate Member: ????–present Full Member: 2012–2024	^[2]^[10]
Malta	Malta Rugby League	Affiliate Member: 2013–present
Morocco	Fédération Marocaine de Rugby League	Affiliate Member: 2021–present	^[5]
Netherlands	Nederlandse Rugby League Bond	Affiliate Member: 2017–present	^[13]
Nigeria	Nigeria Rugby League	Affiliate Member: 2020–present Observer Member: 2018–present	^[8]
Norway	Rugby League Norge	Affiliate Member: 2011–present
Russia	Association of Rugby League Clubs	Affiliate Member: ????–present Full Member: ????–2010; 2013–2022	^[1]^[14]^[10]
Scotland	Scotland Rugby League	Affiliate Member: 2007–present Full Member: 2011–2024	^[10]
Turkey	Turkish Rugby League Association	Affiliate Member: 2018–present	^[15]
United States	USA Rugby League	Affiliate Member: 2015–present

Observers

Nation	Governing body	Membership details	Ref.
Albania	Albanian Rugby League	Observer Member: 2018–present	^[16]
Argentina	Argentina Rugby League	Observer Member: 2024–present	^[17]
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Asocijacija Ragbi 13 Bosnia-Hercegovina	Observer Member: 2018–present	^[18]
Bulgaria	Bulgarian Rugby League Federation	Observer Member: 2017–present	^[19]
Burundi	Burundi Rugby League	Observer Member: 2016–present	^[20]
Colombia	Colombia Rugby League XIII	Observer Member: ????–present
DR Congo	DR Congo Rugby League XIII	Observer Member: 2015–present
El Salvador	El Salvador Rugby League	Observer Member: 2021–present
Georgia	Georgia Rugby League	Observer Member: ????–present
Hungary	Hungarian Rugby League Federation	Observer Member: 2013–present
Japan	Japanese Rugby League Association	Observer Member: 2021–present
Libya	Libya Rugby League Association	Observer Member: 2019–present
Mexico	Mexican Rugby Federation	Observer Member: 2018–present
Montenegro	Montenegro Rugby League	Observer Member: 2021–present
North Macedonia	Macedonian Rugby League	Observer Member: 2023–present	^[21]
Palestine	Palestine Rugby League	Observer Member: 2014–present	^[22]
Philippines	Philippines National Rugby League	Observer Member: 2021–present
Poland	Polska Rugby XIII	Observer Member: 2017–present
Sierra Leone	Sierra Leone Rugby League Federation	Observer Member: ????–present
Slovakia	Slovakia Rugby League	Observer Member: 2023–present	^[21]
Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands Rugby League Federation	Observer Member: 2011–present
Spain	Spanish Rugby League Association	Observer Member: 2013–present Affiliate Member: 2015–2024	^[23]^[10]
Sweden	Sweden Rugby League	Observer Member: 2011–present
Vanuatu	Vanuatu Rugby League	Observer Member: ????–present

Former members

Nation	Governing body	Membership details	Ref.
Belgium	Belgium Rugby League Association	Observer member: 2013–2024	^[10]
Catalonia	Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga	Observer member: 2008–2014	^[24]
Denmark	Denmark Rugby League Federation	Observer member: 2011–2024	^[10]
Ethiopia	Ethiopian Rugby League Association	Observer member: 2014–2024	^[25]^[10]
Latvia	Latvia Rugby League	Observer member: 2008–2024	^[10]
Saudi Arabia	Saudi Arabia Rugby League Association	Observer member: 2013–2024	^[10]
Trinidad and Tobago	Trinidad and Tobago Rugby League	Observer member: ????–2024	^[10]

Notes

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Rugby League's international body RLIF has welcomed Russia, Ukraine and Jamaica to full membership". SBS. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Lebanon & Serbia promoted to full members of RLIF". NRL.com. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
^ "IRL welcomes new governing body in Tonga".
^ "Brazil Rugby League to be recognised by the Rugby League International Federation". RLIF. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
^ ^a ^b "International Rugby League upgrades two members and welcomes one new member". IRL. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
^ "Chile are the latest nation to gain Affiliate Member status with the Asia Pacific Rugby League". RLIF.com. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ "Germany restores its affiliate membership". RLEF. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Nigeria and Ghana Approved as Affiliate Members International Rugby League". IRL. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
^ "Greece Rugby League Association admitted to RLEF". RLEF. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l "IRL Membership: Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Scotland Reclassified". International Rugby League. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
^ "Italy Promoted to Full Member Status of RLIF". RLIF. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
^ "Kenya Rugby League Federation awarded International Rugby League Affiliate Membership". Rugby League International Federation. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
^ "Dutch upgraded following RLEF congress in Belgrade". RLEF. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ Berry, Mark (1 March 2022). "Russia banned from international rugby league competitions". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
^ "Turkey accorded affiliate member status of Rugby League European Federation". RLEF. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ "Albania granted observer status". RLEF. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ "Argentina granted IRL observe member status". International Rugby League. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
^ "Bosnia Herzegovina awarded observer status". RLEF. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
^ "Bulgarian Rugby League Federation comes on board". RLEF. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ "Burundi joins RLEF". RLEF. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b "North Macedonia and Slovakia granted IRL membership". europeanrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
^ "Palestine Rugby League gain RLEF observer status". RLEF. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
^ "Spain becomes twentieth RLEF member". RLEF. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ "Germany & Catalonia lose status". RLIF. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014.
^ "Ethiopia recognised as an observer". RLEF. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2018. |

[RUS-UKR-JAM-1] "Rugby League's international body RLIF has welcomed Russia, Ukraine and Jamaica to full membership". SBS. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2018.

[LBN-SRB-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] "Brazil Rugby League to be recognised by the Rugby League International Federation". RLIF. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.

[CAM-MOR-5] "International Rugby League upgrades two members and welcomes one new member". IRL. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.

[6] "Chile are the latest nation to gain Affiliate Member status with the Asia Pacific Rugby League". RLIF.com. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

[7] "Germany restores its affiliate membership". RLEF. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

[GHA-NIG-8] "Nigeria and Ghana Approved as Affiliate Members International Rugby League". IRL. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.

[9] "Greece Rugby League Association admitted to RLEF". RLEF. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

[2024_reclassifications-10] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l "IRL Membership: Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Scotland Reclassified". International Rugby League. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.

[11] "Italy Promoted to Full Member Status of RLIF". RLIF. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2018.

[12] "Kenya Rugby League Federation awarded International Rugby League Affiliate Membership". Rugby League International Federation. Retrieved 2024-02-05.

[13] "Dutch upgraded following RLEF congress in Belgrade". RLEF. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

[14] Berry, Mark (1 March 2022). "Russia banned from international rugby league competitions". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 15 March 2024.

[15] "Turkey accorded affiliate member status of Rugby League European Federation". RLEF. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

[16] "Albania granted observer status". RLEF. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

[17] "Argentina granted IRL observe member status". International Rugby League. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.

[18] "Bosnia Herzegovina awarded observer status". RLEF. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.

[19] "Bulgarian Rugby League Federation comes on board". RLEF. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

[20] "Burundi joins RLEF". RLEF. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2018.

[MKD-SVK-21] "North Macedonia and Slovakia granted IRL membership". europeanrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2024-09-01.

[22] "Palestine Rugby League gain RLEF observer status". RLEF. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2018.

[23] "Spain becomes twentieth RLEF member". RLEF. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

[24] "Germany & Catalonia lose status". RLIF. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014.

[25] "Ethiopia recognised as an observer". RLEF. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2018. |

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