Rugby league around the world
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Rugby league is a sport played in countries around the world and governed by the Rugby League International Federation.
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[edit] Africa
Rugby league is a virtually unknown sport in Africa. South Africa is an RLIF test nation with a small competition and Morocco is an affiliate nation.
[edit] Americas
Rugby league is a minority sport in the Americas. It has been played at an organised amateur level in North America since it was first introduced as a competition sport in the 1990s after several decades of efforts to introduce the game.
No test nations in the Americas are currently recognised by the Rugby League International Federation.
There is a small league in the United States and national teams have represented Jamaica and the West Indies in the past. However, only the United States and Jamaica have been affiliated with the RLIF.
[edit] Asia
Rugby league is virtually unknown in Asia. Currently rugby league is played in Japan, who are affiliated with the RLIF.
Russia has a strong rugby league presence, although the country extends to Asia, the competition is in European Russia.
Lebanon in the Middle East has its own domestic competition and national team.
[edit] Europe
Rugby league is a moderately popular game in parts of Europe, particularly the eastern and western parts of the continent. England is the birthplace of the game, has a professional competition in Superleague (Europe) (which includes a team from France) and Great Britain (including Scotland and Wales) is an RLIF test nation. Russia is also a test nation, and the sport is popular there. Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Serbia are all affiliate RLIF nations. The game also has a history in Georgia.
[edit] 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 American Samoa, New Caledonia, Niue and Tokelau. The Solomon Islands also have some history of the sport.
