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.
Competition | Teams |
---|---|
Rugby League World Cup | All Nations |
Rugby League Four Nations | England, Australia, New Zealand, Guest |
Competition | Teams |
---|---|
Asian Cup | South East Asia |
Balkans Cup | The Balkans |
Mediterranean Cup | Mediterranean Countries |
Nordic Cup | The Nordic Countries |
Caribbean Carnival Cup | The Caribbean |
Competition | Teams |
---|---|
Anzac Test | Australia vs New Zealand |
The Ashes | Australia vs England |
Baskerville Shield | Great Britain vs New Zealand |
Polynesian Cup | Samoa vs Tonga |
Melanesian Cup | Fiji vs Papua New Guinea |
Colonial Cup | Canada vs United States |
Griffin Cup | Germany vs Netherlands |
Hayne/Mannah Cup | Fiji vs Lebanon (One-off match) |
Peter Leitch QSM Challenge | New Zealand vs Any Pacific Island Nations |
State of Origin series | Queensland vs New South Wales |
War of the Roses | Lancashire vs Yorkshire |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Bosnia & Herzegovina Championship | 1 | 2012 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
CZRLA First Division | 7 | 2011 | 1 |
CZRLA Second Division | 4 | 2011 | 2 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Danish Rugby League Championship | 2 | 2013 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Elite One Championship | 10 | 1931 | 1 |
Elite Two Championship | 10 | 1982 | 2 |
National Division 1 | 14 | 1976 | 3 |
National Division 2 | 22 | 1978 | 4 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Super League [lower-alpha 2] | 12 | 1996 | 1 |
RFL Championship [lower-alpha 3] | 15 | 2003 | 2 |
RFL League 1 | 9 | 2003 | 3 |
National Conference League | Various [lower-alpha 4] | 1986 | 4 |
Conference League South | 12 | 2012 | |
Various Regional Leagues [lower-alpha 8] | Various | Various | 5 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
RLI Premiership | 5 | 1997 | 1 |
RLI Championship | 3 | ???? | 2 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Italia Rugby Football League | 3 | 2010 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Dutch Rugby League Competition | 5 | 2014 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Norge National Championship | 5 | 2010 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Russian Championship | 9 | 1991 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Serbian Championship | 8 | 2002 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Campeonato Nacional de Liga | 6 | 2014 | 1 |
Catalan Rugby League Championship | 9 | 2009 | 2 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Sweden Super League | 3 | 2011 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Ukraine Super League | 7 | 2012 | 1 |
Multinational
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Criteria |
---|---|---|---|
Balkan Super League | 6 (Lv 1) 7 (Lv 2) | 2018 | Balkan nations |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
National Rugby League [lower-alpha 9] | 17 | 1998 | 1 |
New South Wales Cup | 14 | 1908 | 2 |
Queensland Cup [lower-alpha 10] | 14 | 1996 | |
Melbourne Rugby League | 17 | 2001 | |
NRL South Australia | 5 | 1952 | |
NRL Western Australia | 14 | 1948 | |
Northern Territory Rugby league | 6 | 1951 | |
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 | |||
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Cook Islands League | 7 | 1994 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Fiji National Rugby League | 14 | 2010 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
NZRL National Competition | 7 | 2010 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Papua New Guinea National Rugby League | 12 | 1990 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Philippines National Rugby League | 4 | 2013 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Thailand Rugby League Premiership | 6 | 2014 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Tongan National Rugby League | 12 | 1988 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Ghana 13s Championship | 4 | 2015 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Kenya Rugby League Premiership | 8 | 2017 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Lebanon Championship | 10 | 2002 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Nigeria Rugby League | 10 | 2019 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Rhino Cup | 8 | 2011 | 1 |
Protea Cup | 4 | 2013 | 2 |
Western Province Rugby League | 5 | 2012 | 3 |
Jan Prinsloo Cup | ? | 2019 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
TOP 1 - Brazilian Rugby League 13-a-side Championship | 8 | 2019 | 1 |
TOP 2 - Brazilian Rugby League 13-a-side Second Division Championship | 4 | 2019 | 2 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
British Columbia Rugby League | 6 | 2012 | 2 |
Ontario Rugby League Competition | 3 | 2010 | |
Alberta Rugby League Competition | 3 | 2019 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Jamaica National League | 8 | 2005 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
North East Rugby League [lower-alpha 12] | 4 | 2011 [lower-alpha 13] [lower-alpha 14] | 1 |
Florida Rugby League [lower-alpha 12] | 4 | 2014 [lower-alpha 15] | 1 |
Pacific Coast Rugby League [lower-alpha 12] | 6 | 2018 [lower-alpha 16] | 1 |
Utah Rugby League [lower-alpha 12] | 4 | 2024 | 1 |
Multinational
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Toronto Wolfpack Canada Cup | 10 | 2023 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Criteria |
---|---|---|---|
World Club Challenge | 2 | 1976 | Champions of NRL and Super League |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Criteria |
---|---|---|---|
NRL State Championship | 2 | 2014 | Champions of New South Wales Cup and Queensland Cup |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Criteria |
---|---|---|---|
Lord Derby Cup | 1934 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Criteria |
---|---|---|---|
Challenge Cup [lower-alpha 17] | 80 | 1896 | All Teams |
1895 Cup | 20 | 2019 | Tiers 2 and 3 |
Conference Challenge Trophy | 58 | ???? | Tier 4 |
BARLA National Cup | ? | 1973 | Amateur Clubs |
Scottish Cup | 4 | ???? | Scottish National League |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Criteria |
---|---|---|---|
Serbian Cup | 2001 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
Copa España | 6 | 2013 | 1 |
Competition | Criteria |
---|---|
Women's Rugby League World Cup | Global |
Competition | Teams |
---|---|
The Ashes | Australia vs England |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
NRL Women's Premiership | 6 | 2018 | 1 |
Brisbane and District Women's Rugby League | 12 | 2004 | 2 |
Nellie Doherty Cup | 2 | 1999 | 1 |
Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League | 12 | 2005 | 2 |
Tarsha Gale Nines | 12 | 2016 | 3 |
Women's All Stars Match | 2 | 2011 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
RFL Women's Super League | 8 | 2017 | 1 |
RFL Women's Championship | 2017 | 2 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
RLI Women's Premiership | 3 | 2021 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Tier |
---|---|---|---|
PNG Womens Rugby League | 10 | 1990 | 1 |
Competition | Teams | Instituted | Criteria |
---|---|---|---|
RFL Women's Challenge Cup | All Teams |
The 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup was the ninth Rugby League World Cup tournament held and saw yet another change of format with competition stretched to cover almost three years. The national rugby league teams of Australia, France, Great Britain, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea played each other on a home and away basis. These matches were fitted into the normal international programme of three-match test series between the nations, with a pre-designated match from each series counting as the world cup fixture. The tournament culminated in the 1988 Rugby League World Cup final.
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australia and New Zealand for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to purchase the pay television rights to rugby league in Australia. After two years of legal battles the competition was played for a single season in 1997 alongside the rival Australian Rugby League (ARL) competition before the two merged in 1998 to form the National Rugby League (NRL).
The Ireland men's national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, is organised by Rugby League Ireland and represents the entire isle of Ireland in international rugby league. The representative team is composed largely of players of Irish descent who compete in the Super League as well as the Australasian National Rugby League. Ireland is also represented by an Ireland A side, which is made up of players from the Irish domestic competition.
The Rugby Football League (RFL) is the governing body for rugby league in England. Founded in 1895 as the Northern Rugby Football Union following 22 clubs resigning from the Rugby Football Union, it changed its name in 1922 to the Rugby Football League.
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents Great Britain in rugby league. Administered by the Rugby Football League (RFL), the team is nicknamed The Lions.
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea in the sport of rugby league football.
The International Rugby League (IRL) is the global governing body for the sport of rugby league football. Previously known as the Rugby League Imperial Board, the International Rugby League Board and latterly the Rugby League International Federation, the IRL is responsible for the Laws of the Game, the development, organisation and governance of rugby leagues internationally, and for the sport's major international tournaments; most notably the Rugby League World Cup.
The Fiji national rugby league team, nicknamed the Bati, has been participating in international rugby league football since 1992. The team is controlled by the governing body for rugby league in Fiji, Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL), which is currently a member of the Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC). Fiji have thrice reached the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup, in 2008, 2013 and 2017, and are currently ranked 6th in the International Rugby League's World Rankings. They are coached by Fijian Wise Kativerata, and their captain is Kevin Naiqama.
The Pacific Cup was a rugby league football competition for national teams from the Pacific region.
Rugby league is played across England but is most popular in Northern England, especially Yorkshire and Lancashire where the game originated. These areas are the heartland of rugby league. The sport is also popular in Cumbria where the amateur game is particularly powerful.
While rugby league has been played in the United States since 1954, with Australia and New Zealand playing games there on their return from the Rugby League World Cup in France, serious attempts to start the sport in the United States began only in the late 1970s. The establishment of a national team and a domestic competition in the late 20th century has seen more recent progress.
The Sheffield Eagles are a professional rugby league club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. They play home games at the Olympic Legacy Park and compete in the Championship, the second tier of British rugby league.
The Cardiff Demons RLFC name has been used multiple times over the years. Firstly for a now-defunct men's rugby league side, and subsequently for a women's rugby league side who began in 2021.
Women's rugby league is the female-only version of rugby league.
Rugby league is a full contact football code and spectator sport played in various countries around the world. It is govererned globally by the International Rugby League.
Rugby league is played across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, but its heartland in parts of Northern England is where the sport is most popular, and is where the majority of professional clubs are based. The sport was first established in the George Hotel, Huddersfield, where 22 clubs split from the Rugby Football Union to form the Northern Rugby Football Union.
The Super League Test series was a rugby three-test match series between the Great Britain Lions and Super League's Australian national team held during November 1997 in England. Named the British Gas Test series due to sponsorship from Centrica's British Gas brand, it went to a decider in the third test that was won by Australia.
Elias Paiyo is a Papua New Guinean professional Rugby League player who represented Papua New Guinea in the 1995 and 2000 Rugby League World Cups.
The Rugby League Pacific Championship is a rugby league tournament for national teams in Oceania. Its inaugural tournament was in 2019. Of the seven Oceanian teams, six compete across two divisions of three teams, while a rotating seventh goes on tour.
The North American Rugby League (NARL) is an unsanctioned rugby league club competition in North America.