List of rugby league competitions

Last updated

The following is a list of rugby league competitions that are still currently in existence. This includes both international tournaments played by national Test teams and also domestic club and provincial competitions. Throughout the list bold indicates the league is a professional or semi-professional competition.

Contents

International tournaments

The Paul Barriere Trophy of the Rugby League World Cup RLWC trophy.jpg
The Paul Barrière Trophy of the Rugby League World Cup

Global

CompetitionTeams
Rugby League World Cup Flag of the United Nations.svg All Nations
Rugby League Four Nations Flag of England.svg  England, Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia, Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand, Guest

Continental

CompetitionTeams
Rugby League European Championship Flag of Europe.svg Europe
Rugby League European Championship B
Rugby League European Championship C
Rugby League European Championship D
Pacific Rugby League Championship Flag placeholder.svg Oceania
Americas Rugby League Championship Flag placeholder.svg North America
South American Rugby League Championship Flag placeholder.svg South America
MEA Championship Flag of the African Union.svg Africa and Flag of the Arab League.svg The Middle East

Regional

CompetitionTeams
Asian Cup South East Asia
Balkans Cup The Balkans
Mediterranean Cup Mediterranean Countries
Nordic Cup The Nordic Countries
Caribbean Carnival CupThe Caribbean

Challenge Matches

Trophy of the Baskerville Shield between England and New Zealand Baskerville Trophy 2.jpg
Trophy of the Baskerville Shield between England and New Zealand
CompetitionTeams
Anzac Test Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia vs Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
The Ashes Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia vs Flag of England.svg  England
Baskerville Shield Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain vs Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Polynesian Cup Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa vs Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
Melanesian Cup Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji vs Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea
Colonial Cup Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada vs Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Griffin Cup Flag of Germany.svg  Germany vs Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Hayne/Mannah Cup Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji vs Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
(One-off match)
Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand vs Any Pacific Island Nations
State of Origin series Flag of Queensland.svg  Queensland vs Flag of New South Wales.svg  New South Wales
War of the Roses Flag of Lancashire.svg  Lancashire vs Yorkshire Flag.png  Yorkshire

Domestic Leagues

Europe

Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Bosnia & Herzegovina Championship120121

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
CZRLA First Division 720111
CZRLA Second Division 420112

Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Danish Rugby League Championship 220131
Trophy of the Elite One Championship Bouclier Max Rousie.JPG
Trophy of the Elite One Championship

Flag of France.svg  France

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Elite One Championship 1019311
Elite Two Championship 1019822
National Division 1 1419763
National Division 2 2219784

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain [lower-alpha 1]

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Super League [lower-alpha 2] 12 1996 1
RFL Championship [lower-alpha 3] 1520032
RFL League 1 920033
National Conference League Various [lower-alpha 4] 19864
Conference League South 122012
Various Regional Leagues [lower-alpha 8] VariousVarious5

Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Irish Elite League 420011

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Italia Rugby Football League 320101

Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Dutch Rugby League Competition 520141

Flag of Norway.svg  Norway

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Norge National Championship 520101

Flag of Russia.svg  Russia

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Russian Championship 919911

Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Serbian Championship 820021

Flag of Spain.svg  Spain

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Campeonato Nacional de Liga 620141
Catalan Rugby League Championship 920092

Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Sweden Super League 320111

Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Ukraine Super League720121

Multinational

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedCriteria
Balkan Super League 6
(Lv 1)
7
(Lv 2)		2018 Balkan nations

Asia - Pacific

The NRL Grand Final trophy Nrltrophy.jpg
The NRL Grand Final trophy

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Flag of Australia (converted).svg National Rugby League [lower-alpha 9] 1719981
Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales Cup 14 1908 2
Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland Cup [lower-alpha 10] 141996
Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Melbourne Rugby League 172001
Flag of South Australia.svg NRL South Australia 51952
Flag of Western Australia.svg NRL Western Australia 141948
Flag of the Northern Territory.svg Northern Territory Rugby league 61951
Ron Massey Cup [lower-alpha 11] 3
NSW North Coast Division
NSW Greater Northern Division
NSW Riverina and Monaro Division
NSW Western Division
NSW Greater Southern Division
NSW Newcastle and Central Coast Division
Queensland Rugby League Central Division
Queensland Rugby League Northern Division
Queensland Rugby League South East Queensland Division
Sunraysia-Riverlands Rugby League
Limestone Coast Rugby League
Pilbara Rugby League

Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Cook Islands League 719941

Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Fiji National Rugby League 1420101

Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
NZRL National Competition 720101

Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Papua New Guinea National Rugby League 1219901

Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Philippines National Rugby League 420131

Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Thailand Rugby League Premiership 620141

Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Tongan National Rugby League 1219881

Middle East - Africa

Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Ghana 13s Championship 420151

Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Kenya Rugby League Premiership 820171

Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Lebanon Championship 1020021

Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Nigeria Rugby League 1020191

Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Rhino Cup 820111
Protea Cup 420132
Western Province Rugby League 520123
Jan Prinsloo Cup?2019

The Americas

Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
TOP 1 - Brazilian Rugby League 13-a-side Championship820191
TOP 2 - Brazilian Rugby League 13-a-side Second Division Championship420192

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia Rugby League 620122
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario Rugby League Competition 32010
Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta Rugby League Competition 32019

Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Jamaica National League 820051

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
New England pine flag.svg North East Rugby League [lower-alpha 12] 42011 [lower-alpha 13] [lower-alpha 14] 1
Flag of Florida.svg Florida Rugby League [lower-alpha 12] 42014 [lower-alpha 15] 1
Flag of California.svg Pacific Coast Rugby League [lower-alpha 12] 62018 [lower-alpha 16] 1
Flag of Utah.svg Utah Rugby League [lower-alpha 12] 420241

Multinational

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Toronto Wolfpack Canada Cup1020231

Domestic Cups

The former trophy of the World Club Challenge World Club Challenge.JPG
The former trophy of the World Club Challenge

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia / Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedCriteria
World Club Challenge 21976Champions of NRL and Super League

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedCriteria
NRL State Championship 22014Champions of New South Wales Cup and Queensland Cup
The Lord Derby Cup trophy Coupe de France Lord Derby.JPG
The Lord Derby Cup trophy

Flag of France.svg  France

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedCriteria
Lord Derby Cup 1934
The Challenge Cup trophy NRFU Challenge Cup.jpg
The Challenge Cup trophy

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedCriteria
Challenge Cup [lower-alpha 17] 801896All Teams
1895 Cup 202019Tiers 2 and 3
Conference Challenge Trophy 58????Tier 4
BARLA National Cup ?1973Amateur Clubs
Scottish Cup4???? Scottish National League

Flag of Spain.svg  Spain

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
Copa España620131

Women's Rugby League

International tournaments

International

CompetitionCriteria
Women's Rugby League World Cup Global

Continental

CompetitionTeams
Women's Rugby League European Championship Flag of Europe.svg Europe
Women's Rugby League European Championship B
Americas Rugby League Championship Flag placeholder.svg North America
South American Rugby League Championship Flag placeholder.svg South America

Challenge Matches

CompetitionTeams
The Ashes Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia vs Flag of England.svg  England

Domestic Leagues

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
NRL Women's Premiership 620181
Brisbane and District Women's Rugby League 1220042
Nellie Doherty Cup 219991
Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League 1220052
Tarsha Gale Nines 1220163
Women's All Stars Match 220111

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
RFL Women's Super League 820171
RFL Women's Championship 20172

Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedTier
PNG Womens Rugby League 1019901

Domestic Cups

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain

CompetitionTeamsInstitutedCriteria
RFL Women's Challenge Cup All Teams

Wheelchair Rugby League

International tournaments

Domestic Leagues and Cups

Nines tournaments

International

Global
Regional

Domestic

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Super League and lower division are British competitions ran by the RFL. Despite this foreign teams do compete in these competition. For a list of Non-British clubs that currently compete in these competition see here.
  2. ↑ Successor to Rugby Football League Championship First Division instituted in 1895.
  3. ↑ Successor to Rugby Football League Championship Second Division instituted in 1902.
  4. ↑ 4 divisions: 12 in Premier Division, Division One, and Division Two. 14 in Division Three.
  5. 1 2 Includes premier division, division one, division two, division three, division four, and division five.
  6. ↑ Includes premier division, division one, division two, and division three.
  7. ↑ Includes premier division, division one, and division two.
  8. ↑ Includes: Yorkshire League, [lower-alpha 5] North West League, [lower-alpha 5] Cumberland League, Barrow & District League, North East League, Pennine League, [lower-alpha 6] Hull & District League, Midlands League, [lower-alpha 7] South West League, East League, South East Men's League, London League, North Wales Conference, South Wales Premiership, Scottish National League.
  9. ↑ The National Rugby League is an Australian competitions ran by the ARL. Despite this a foreign team does compete in this competition – New Zealand's New Zealand Warriors.
  10. ↑ The Queensland Cup is an Australian competitions ran by the QRL, a state governing body within the ARL. Despite this a foreign team does compete in this competition – Papua New Guinea's Papua New Guinea Hunters.
  11. ↑ The Ron Massey Cup is an Sydney based competitions ran by the NSWRL and CRL. Despite this a foreign team does compete in this competition from Fiji.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Winner of each region enters playoff to decide the champion of the USARL competition
  13. ↑ New England Rugby League was the entire USARL competition until 2014, and as such was call simply "USARL". From 2014, and the formation of Florida Rugby League, until 2023 the competition was called "USARL Northern Conference".
  14. ↑ Not active in 2023
  15. ↑ Called "USARL Southern Conference" from 2014 to 2023
  16. ↑ Not intergrated into the USARL competition until 2024
  17. ↑ The Challenge Cup has also seen teams from Ireland, France, Russia, and Serbia compete in the competition.

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