International rugby league in 2021
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A list of men and women international rugby league matches played throughout 2021 and does not include wheelchair rugby league international matches. A † denotes a recognised, but unofficial match that did not contribute to the IRL World Rankings.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Championship B, European Championship C, European Championship D and Americas Championship were all initially postponed until 2021, however all were eventually abanonded except for the European Championship B and European Championship D due to travel restrictions.
2021 Rugby League World Cup was also postponed until 2022 due to Australia and New Zealand pulling out months before the tournament was scheduled to commence.
Season overview
| Men's international tours | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Start date | Touring side | Region | Results [Matches] |
| 6 June 2021 |  Serbia |
Balkans | 4–0 [4] |
| Men's international friendlies | |||
| Start date | Home team | Away team | Winners |
| 28 February 2021 |  Brazil |
 Uruguay |
Brazil |
| 6 March 2021 |  Peru |
 El Salvador |
El Salvador |
| 13 June 2021 | Brazil |
 Philippines |
Philippines |
| 2 October 2021 |  Germany |
 Netherlands |
Netherlands |
| 23 October 2021 |  France |
 England |
England |
| 24 October 2021 |  Jamaica |
 Scotland |
Draw |
| 19 December 2021 |  North Macedonia |
 Vietnam |
North Macedonia |
| Men's international tournaments | |||
| Start date | Tournament | Winners | |
| 3 October 2021 | European Championship B |
Serbia | |
| 14 October 2021 |  European Championship D |
Netherlands | |
| Women's international tours | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Start date | Touring side | Region | Results [Matches] |
| No international women's tours in 2021 | |||
| Women's international friendlies | |||
| Start date | Home team | Away team | Winners |
| 25 June 2021 | England |
 Wales |
England |
| 17 October 2021 | Wales |
 Ireland |
Ireland |
| 23 October 2021 | France |
England |
England |
| Women's international tournaments | |||
| Start date | Tournament | Winners | |
| No international women's tournaments in 2021 | |||
Rankings
The following were the rankings at the beginning of the season.
| IRL Men's World Rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Official rankings as of 18 November 2019[1] | |||
| Rank | Change | Team | Points % |
| 1 |  2 |  New Zealand | 100.00% |
| 2 |  1 |  Australia | 91.82% |
| 3 | 1 | England | 85.34% |
| 4 |  |  Tonga | 60.66% |
| 5 | |  Fiji | 36.57% |
| 6 | 4 |  Papua New Guinea | 28.53% |
| 7 | |  Samoa | 22.09% |
| 8 | 2 | France | 16.69% |
| 9 | 1 | Scotland | 15.00% |
| 10 | 1 |  Lebanon | 11.81% |
| 11 | 5 |  Greece | 11.38% |
| 12 | | Ireland | 11.36% |
| 13 | 1 |  Italy | 7.86% |
| 14 | 3 | Wales | 7.75% |
| 15 | 4 | Serbia | 0.00% |
| 16 | 1 |  Malta | 6.77% |
| 17 | 1 |  Norway | 5.63% |
| 18 | 3 |  United States | 5.39% |
| 19 | 4 |  Poland | 5.35% |
| 20 | 7 | Jamaica | 5.04% |
| 21 | 1 |  Hungary | 4.27% |
| 22 | 3 |  Czech Republic | 4.16% |
| 23 | 5 |  Cook Islands | 3.87% |
| 24 | 7 | Turkey | 3.51% |
| 25 | 1 | Netherlands | 3.29% |
| 26 | 4 |  Spain | 3.18% |
| 27 | 6 |  Canada | 2.81% |
| 28 |  |  Nigeria | 2.51% |
| 29 | 2 |  Solomon Islands | 2.32% |
| 30 | 10 |  Sweden | 2.16% |
| 31 | 4 | Germany | 1.95% |
| 32 | 1 |  Chile | 1.86% |
| 33 | |  Ghana | 1.80% |
| 34 | 16 |  Morocco | 1.69% |
| 35 | 3 |  Vanuatu | 1.47% |
| 36 | |  South Africa | 1.46% |
| 37 | 8 |  Russia | 1.41% |
| 38 | |  Cameroon | 1.31% |
| 39 | 2 |  Ukraine | 1.21% |
| 40 | 1 |  Colombia | 1.06% |
| 41 | 4 | Brazil | 0.50% |
| 42 | |  Belgium | 0.30% |
| 43 | 4 |  Denmark | 0.13% |
| 44 | 4 |  Bulgaria | 0.10% |
| 45 | 4 |  Latvia | 0.07% |
| *Change from July 2019 | |||
| Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT | |||
| IRL Women's World Rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Official rankings as of 18 November 2019[1] | |||
| Rank | Change | Team | Points % |
| 1 | | Australia | |
| 2 | | New Zealand | |
| 3 | | England | |
| 4 | 2 | Papua New Guinea | |
| 5 | 1 | Canada | |
| 6 | 1 | France | |
| 7 | 2 | Cook Islands | |
| 8 | | Italy | |
| 9 | | Serbia | |
| 10 | | Fiji | |
| 11 | | Turkey | |
| 12 | | Samoa | |
| 13 | | Brazil | |
| 14 | 6 | Lebanon | |
| 15 | | Greece | |
| *Change from July 2019 | |||
| Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT | |||
February
March
Peru vs El Salvador men in Australia
April
Turkey men vs Australian Defence Force
Gallipoli Cup
| Australian Defence Force |
46 – 0† | Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Simington (2), Tabuai (2), Mason, McGregor, Munro, Rutley, Walton Goals: Munro (4/7), Walton (1/2) |
Report (NRL) |
Notes:
- This match was a curtain raiser to an NRL fixture between the Sydney Roosters and the St. George Illawarra Dragons.[4]
June
Serbia men tour of the Balkans
Bosnia and Herzegovina  |
4 – 50 | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Banovic Goals: Ljubanic (0/1) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) Report (SRL) |
Tries: Krnjeta (2), Nedeljkovic (2), Marinkovic, Jevdjic, Ilic, Popovic, Bibic Goals: Stojilkovic (6/7), Bibic (1/2) |
| Bulgaria |
16 – 28 | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Ivanov, Debreliev, Kostadinov Goals: Rasol (2/3) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) Report (SRL) |
Tries: Ilic (2), Mladenovic (2), Krnjeta Goals: Stojiljkovic (4/6) |
Montenegro  |
16 – 24 | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Kusic (3) Goals: Popovic (2/3) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) Report (SRL) |
Tries: Zivojinovic (2), Krnjeta (2), Bibic Goals: Arnold (2/2), Bibic (0/2), Djordjevic (0/1) |
Albania  |
12 – 22 | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Cela, Tushaj Goals: Gucaj (2/2) |
Report (SRL) |
Tries: Jevdjić (2), Arnold, Živojinović Goals: Simovic (3/4) |
Brazil vs Philippines men in Australia
Magellan Cup
| Brazil |
8 – 40 | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Guzzo (2) |
Report |
Tries: Tootell (2), Stephenson, Cartwright, Sheedy, Jones, Phillips, Godfrey Goals: Russell (3), Cartwright |
Wales women in England
| England |
60 – 0 | Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Rudge (2), Roberts, Jones, Cunningham, Hoyle, Goldthorp, Roche, Beevers, Wilson, Dodd Goals: Stanley (6/7), Stott (2/4) |
Report (ERL) Report (RFL) Highlights |
Combined Nations All Stars in England
Combined Nations All Stars match
| England |
24 – 26† | Combined Nations All Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Farrell (2), Knowles, Davies Goals: Ratchford (4/4) |
Report (Sky Sports) Report (BBC) |
Tries: Sio (2), Mata'utia, McGillvary Goals: Sezer (5/6) |
October
Netherlands men in Germany
Griffin Cup
| Germany |
16 – 48 | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Amefia, Heinrichsen, Ngondi Goals: Amefia (1/1), Doughton (1/1), Seelweger (0/1) |
Report |
Tries: Schoenmaker (3), Schultz (2), Dirkzwager, Ngirubiu, Longhurst, Neves, Wilce Goals: Idzerda (3/5), Thomson (1/4) |
European Championship B
Source: ERL
| Serbia |
66–10 | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Djordjević (3), Arsić (2), Vl. Dedić (2), Pavlović (2), Bibić, Djurić, D. Janković, Trifunović Goals: Jašari (7/13) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) Report (SRL) |
Tries: Egorov, Sazonov Goals: Vabishchevich (1/2) |
| Russia |
18–96 | Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Chuprin, Troitskii, Vabishchevich Goals: Vabishchevich (3/3) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) |
Tries: Skorbach (4), Adamyk (2), Hrankovskyi (2), Kolesnik (2), Kozak (2), Trusov (2), Beznoshchuk, Puchkov, Shcherbyna, Troyan Goals: Skorbach (12/17), Beznoshchuk (0/1) |
| Ukraine |
18–54 | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Hrankovskyi (2), Shcherbyna Goals: Skorbach (3/3) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) |
Tries: Trifunović (3), Milutinović (3), Arsić, Vl. Dedić, Stevanović, Zogović Goals: Jašari (7/10), Vo. Dedić (0/1) |
European Championship D
First semi-final
| Malta |
16–40 | Czech Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Scholey, Barlogio, Galea Goals: Galea (2/3) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) |
Tries: Bělohlávek, Preininger, Řičica (2), Hudrlík (2), Horák Goals: Hudrlík (6/7) |
Second semi-final
| Netherlands |
40–18 | Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Shoenmake (2), Ngirubiu, Farrell (2), Renac Goals: Idzera (8/8) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) |
Tries: Demir, Ertürk, Çeliktutan Goals: Bayram (3/3) |
Third-place play-off
| Malta |
12–36 | Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Zammit, Cutajar Goals: Galea (2/2) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) |
Tries: Demir, Işik, Çeliktutan, Bayram, Balçin, Tayyar Berktav, Tirendez Goals: Bayram (4/7) |
Championship final[a]
| Czech Republic |
10–36 | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Veselý, Kasík Goals: Veselý (1/2) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) |
Tries: Schoenmaker (3), Lavia, Razoux Schultz, De Ruiter Goals: Idzera (6/9) |
Jamaica vs Knights in England
| Jamaica |
4 – 56† | England Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Jones-Bishop |
Report (ERL) Report (RFL) |
Tries: Broadbent (2), Walker, Pryce, Smith (2), Longstaff, Ashton (2), Wrench Goals: Pryce (7) |
Ireland women in Wales
| Wales |
24 – 26 | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Lewis (3), Norkett (2), Michael Goals: Lewis (0/5), Salter (0/1) |
Report (ERL) Report (RFL) Highlights |
Tries: Lambert, Greenwood, Cobain, McGuinness, Dunne Goals: Pua (2/3), McGuinness (1/1), Birchall (0/1) |
England in France double header
| France |
4 – 40 | England |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Bianchini Goals: Ciria (0/1) |
Report (ERL) Report (RFL) Video Replay Highlights |
Tries: Rudge (2), Hardcastle, Whitfield, Cunningham, Stanley, Beevers Goals: Stanley (5/6), Stott (1/1) |
| France |
10 – 30 | England |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Le Cam, Sangaré Goals: Kheirallah (1/2) |
Report (ERL) Report (RFL) |
Tries: Makinson (2), Bateman (2), Farrell, Davies Goals: Abdull (3/6) |
Jamaica vs Scotland men in England
| Jamaica |
30 – 30 | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Jones Bishop (2), Coleman, J. Brown, Andrade, A. Brown Goals: Farrell (3/5) |
Report (IRL) Report (ERL) |
Tries: Emslie (2), Oakes, Hellewell, Ferguson Goals: Walmsley (5/5) |
December
North Macedonia vs Vietnam men in Australia
See also
Notes
- Netherlands promoted to the 2023 European Championship B as well as progressing to the qualifying tournament for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup.[15]