List of International Rugby League members
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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 29 members (14 full and 15 affiliate), and 28 observer members.
Full Members
| 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 | |
 Ghana |
Rugby League Federation Ghana | Full Member: 2025–present Affiliate Member: 2020–2025 Observer: 2014–2020 |
[1][2] |
 Jamaica |
Jamaica Rugby League Association | Full Member: 2013–present Affiliate: 2011–2013 Observer: ????–2011 |
[3] |
 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 Observer: ????–???? |
[4] |
 Tonga |
Tonga National Rugby League | Founding Member: 1998–2020[a] | |
| Tonga Rugby League XIII | Full Member: 2024–present | [5] | |
 Ukraine |
Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League | Full Member: 2013–present Affiliate: ????–2013 Observer: ????–???? |
[3] |
 Wales |
Wales Rugby League | Full Member: 2010–present Affiliate: ????–2010 Observer: ????–???? |
[6] |
Affiliate Members
| Nation | Governing body | Membership details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
 Canada |
Canada Rugby League | Affiliate Member: 2013–present Observer: 2010–2013 |
|
 Czech Republic |
Czech Rugby League Association | Affiliate Member: 2011–present Observer: 2006–2011 |
|
 Germany |
Rugby League Deutschland | Affiliate Member: ????–2014 Observer: 2006–????; 2014–2015 |
[7][8] |
| Nationaler Rugby League Deutschland | Affiliate Member: 2017–present | ||
 Greece |
Greek Rugby League Association | Affiliate Member: 2018–present Observer: 2017–2018 |
[9][10] |
 Ireland |
Rugby League Ireland | Affiliate Member: 2000–2010; 2024–present Full Member: 2010–2024 Observer: ????–???? |
[11] |
 Italy |
Federazione Italiana Rugby League | Affiliate Member: 2010–2017; 2024–present Full Member: 2017–2024 Observer: 2003–2010 |
[12][11] |
 Kenya |
Kenya Rugby League Federation | Affiliate Member: 2022–present Observer: ????–2022 |
[13] |
 Lebanon |
Lebanese Rugby League Federation | Affiliate Member: ????–2012; 2024–present Full Member: 2012–2024 Observer: ????–???? |
[4][11] |
 Malta |
Malta Rugby League | Affiliate Member: 2013–present Observer: ????–2013 |
|
 Netherlands |
Netherlandse National Rugby League Bond | Observer: 2003–2006 | [14] |
| Netherlandse Rugby League Bond | Affiliate Member: 2017–present Observer: 2012–2017 | ||
 Nigeria |
Nigeria Rugby League | Affiliate Member: 2020–present Observer: 2014–2020 |
[15][1] |
 Norway |
Rugby League Norge | Affiliate Member: 2011–present Observer: 2009–2011 |
|
 Scotland |
Scotland Rugby League | Affiliate Member: 2007–2011; 2024–present Full Member: 2011–2024 Observer: ????–2007 |
[11] |
 South Africa |
South African Rugby League | Affiliate Member: 2026–present Full Member: 1998–2026 Founding Member |
[16] |
 United States |
American National Rugby League | Affiliate Member: ????–2015 Observer: ????–???? |
[17] |
| USA Rugby League | Affiliate Member: 2015–present |
Observer Members
| Nation | Governing body | Membership details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania |
Albanian Rugby League | Observer Member: 2018–present | [18] |
 Argentina |
Argentina Rugby League | Observer Member: 2024–present | [19] |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Asocijacija Ragbi 13 Bosnia-Hercegovina | Observer Member: 2018–present | [20] |
 Brazil |
Confederação Brasileira de Rugby League | Observer Member: ????–2019; 2026–present Affiliate Member: 2019–2026 |
[21][16] |
 Bulgaria |
Bulgarian Rugby League Federation | Observer Member: 2017–present | [22] |
 Burundi |
Burundi Rugby League | Observer Member: 2016–present | [23] |
 Cameroon |
Cameroon Rugby League XIII | Observer Member: 2017–2021; 2026–present Affiliate Member: 2021–2026 |
[24][16] |
 Chile |
Federacion de Rugby Futbol League 13 | Observer Member: ????–2018; 2025–Present Affiliate: 2018–2025 |
[25][26] |
 Colombia |
Colombia Rugby League XIII | Observer Member: ????–present | |
 DR Congo |
DR Congo Rugby League XIII | Observer Member: 2015–present | |
 Georgia |
Georgia Rugby League | Observer Member: ????–present | |
 Japan |
Japanese Rugby League Association | Observer Member: 2021–present | |
 Libya |
Libya Rugby League Association | Observer Member: 2019–present | |
 Morocco |
Fédération Marocaine de Rugby League | Observer Member: ????–2021; 2025–Present Affiliate Member: 2021–2025 |
[24][26] |
 Mexico |
Mexican Rugby Federation | Observer Member: 2018–present | |
 Montenegro |
Montenegro Rugby League | Observer Member: 2021–present | |
 Palestine |
Palestine Rugby League | Observer Member: 2014–present | [27] |
 Philippines |
Philippines National Rugby League | Observer Member: 2021–present | |
 Poland |
Polska Rugby XIII | Observer Member: 2017–present | |
 Portugal |
Portugal Rugby League | Observer Member: 2026–present | [16] |
 Sierra Leone |
Sierra Leone Rugby League Federation | Observer Member: 2014–present | [17] |
 Slovakia |
Slovakia Rugby League | Observer Member: 2023–present | [28] |
 Spain |
Spanish Rugby League Association | Observer Member: 2013–2015; 2024–present Affiliate Member: 2015–2024 |
[29][11] |
 Sweden |
Sweden Rugby League | Observer Member: 2011–present | |
 Turkey |
Turkish Rugby League Association | Observer Member: 2017–2018; 2026–present Affiliate Member: 2018–2026 |
[30][16] |
 Vanuatu |
Vanuatu Rugby League | Observer Member: ????–present |
Suspended Members
| Nation | Governing body | Membership details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
 Russia[b] |
Russian Rugby League Federation | Observer Member: 1993–2000 Affiliate Member: 2000–2003 Full Member: 2003–2010 |
[3][31][11] |
| Association of Rugby League Clubs | Affiliate Member: 2010–2013; 2024–present Full Member: 2013–2024 |
Former Members
| Nation | Governing body | Membership details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
 Belgium |
Belgium Rugby League Association | Observer member: 2013–2024 | [11] |
 Catalonia |
Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga | Observer member: 2008–2014 | [7] |
 Denmark |
Denmark Rugby League Federation | Observer member: 2011–2024 | [11] |
 El Salvador |
El Salvador Rugby League | Observer member: 2021–2025 | [26] |
 Ethiopia |
Ethiopian Rugby League Association | Observer member: 2014–2024 | [32][11] |
 Hungary |
Hungarian Rugby League Federation | Observer member: 2013–2026 | [16] |
 Latvia |
Latvia Rugby League | Observer member: 2008–2024 | [11] |
 North Macedonia |
Macedonian Rugby League | Observer member: 2023–2026 | [28][16] |
 Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia Rugby League Association | Observer member: 2013–2024 | [11] |
 Solomon Islands |
Solomon Islands Rugby League Federation | Observer Member: 2011–2025 | [26] |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
Trinidad and Tobago Rugby League | Observer member: ????–2024 | [11] |
See also
Notes
- 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.
- Russia are currently suspended due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine