USAExPatriotNZCitizen
https://rugbyleaguespotlight.com/espana-rugby-league-debut-match/
debut of rl in Spain of all places...
debut of rl in Spain of all places...
¿N. ig-mah¿
Spain had announced a national team in 2009 but never managed to get a game against another nation. I guess they must have a lot of players playing in other countries competitions.
USAExPatriotNZCitizen
https://rugbyleaguespotlight.com/ghana-rugby-league-championship-launches/
If Ghana can get behind rl like Kenyans get behind 7's that'd be pretty cool
If Ghana can get behind rl like Kenyans get behind 7's that'd be pretty cool
¿N. ig-mah¿
I have been taking a bit of an interest in international league. I have tried to follow and discover all of the unusual nations for the past few years. Other teams that have been looking to get involved internationally are Argentina (another team that were looking for games in 2009), Cuba (again 2009), Hawaii (same year, they were going to play as a separate nation to the US), India (2011), Indonesia (2011), Kazakhstan (2009), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (they played Lebanon in 2009), Pakistan (2011), Palestine (2011), Panama (2009), Phillipines (played Thailand once in 2012, and once this year), Singapore (2011), Solomon Islands (played Vanuatu this year), Thailand (played Phillipines, as mentioned), Tuvalu (2011), UAE (played Lebanon in 2008), Vanuatu (who have played Greece and Solomons) and West Indies (who played one match in 2004). Most of the matches I have mentioned were probably not sanctioned Test Matches, but they are still interesting. All of the other countries I have listed without games noted, have been unable to find others to play against (as far as I have been able to find).
I would like to see many of these nations involved in some small international tournaments. This would help to grow the game immensely. I know some teams have started out in some quite amusing ways. One of the Eastern European countries (can't recall exactly which country) played an International many years ago where they had to borrow uniforms from another country (and if I remember correctly, the uniforms were from a rugby union team, as well) for their first outing.
I would like to see many of these nations involved in some small international tournaments. This would help to grow the game immensely. I know some teams have started out in some quite amusing ways. One of the Eastern European countries (can't recall exactly which country) played an International many years ago where they had to borrow uniforms from another country (and if I remember correctly, the uniforms were from a rugby union team, as well) for their first outing.
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Keyword being 'slowly'. Or more Sllllllooooooooowwwwwwllllllllllllyyyyyyyyy!
Till the RLIF get some balls it'll never take off...
https://twitter.com/JAMRugbyLeague
Till the RLIF get some balls it'll never take off...
https://twitter.com/JAMRugbyLeague
USAExPatriotNZCitizen
true enough[DOUBLEPOST=1382909716][/DOUBLEPOST]https://rugbyleaguespotlight.com/greek-rugby-league-championship-begins/
¿N. ig-mah¿
If I read it correctly, Greece and Hungary were playing against each other today. Not sure if it was the final score, but I read 90 - nil to Greece. Braith Anasta played for Greece.
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
¿N. ig-mah¿
Some tough rankings there too. PNG hadn't played any other nations top team since their one game against Fiji in 2011. They have played a trial against the Rabbitohs, and the annual games against the Australina Prime Ministers 13, but none of that will go against international rankings. Seems harsh to drop down the rankings while not playing a game.
ramraider78
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Not sure about Nuie and Vanuatu? Only games CI get ranked on are the Pacific Cup and if you dont do well there then you get ranked down.
Off Wiki. How they come up with the rankings. Check out the unranked teams at the end...
RLIF World Rankings
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Proof The RLIF World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in the sport of rugby league football. The teams of the member nations of the Rugby League International Federation, rugby league football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest. A point system is used, with points being awarded based on the results of RLIF-recognized international matches. Under the existing system, rankings are based on a team's performance over the last three years, with more recent results and more significant matches being more heavily weighted to help reflect the current competitive state of a team.
Ranking system
The RLIF World Rankings are calculated based on an average of points accumulated by each Nation over a three year cycle. Under the structure, matches deemed of higher importance such as World Cup games, Four Nations and other major tournament finals draw more points than mid-season Tests and other ‘Internationals’. For each match that a nation participates they are given a base level of points. This base level is affected upon the type of match (World Cup, Major Tournament, Test Match and International) and the status of the opponent.
Bonus points are given for teams that reach certain milestones deemed of significant international importance including reaching a tournament final or qualifying for an event such as a World Cup.
From the total number of points that a nation will receive these points are then averaged to help give a more accurate view of the performance of a nation over the three year cycle.
Nations which have played less than 5 matches over a three year cycle will be penalised under the current point structure.
Use of the rankings
The rankings are used by Rugby League International Federation to view the progression and ability of the national rugby league teams.
The data is currently used in things as seeding for tournaments such as the European Cup, Mediterranean Cup and Pacific Cup.
Criticism
Since the ranking system's introduction in 2007 many people[who?] have criticized the rankings of some of the teams placings in the official standings released by the Rugby League International Federation with claims that the strength of the teams are often seen as a secondary force in the moving of rankings in comparison with the amount of fixtures that are played in by a nation.[citation needed]
The counterbalancing argument to this is that this system encourages nations to play in more international matches or 'friendlies' outside of just major tournaments in the hope of gaining a higher RLIF ranking.
Current calculation method
Match status
A weighting system has been implemented by the RLIF to give more points to teams if they gain a victory over a major team in a major tournament, with friendlies ranked with considerably less points than any World Cup finals match or the final of Cups such as the European, Mediterranean and Pacific Cups.
Opponent strength
The RLIF has organized the ranking so that a win against a very highly ranked opponent is a considerably greater achievement than a win against a low-rated opponent, so the strength of the opposing team is a factor.
Assessment period
All matches played over the last thirty-six months or three years are included in the calculation of the rankings, but there is a weighting system implemented to put more emphasis on recent results.
Ranking schedule
Rankings are calculated throughout each year but are based only on matches played in the previous three years with the most recent update being in November 2011.
A team must play at least five matches over the RLIF designated period to be included in the rankings without having a penalty applied to the nations national team.
Other National Teams
The following teams are not mentioned on the RLIF Rankings website but have Observers status or are significant enough to have a page on Rugby League Planet
I'd love to see the game grow in South Africa, maybe take an NRL trial game over there? Or even an end of year test match between AUS and NZ.
Weno
When you look at the fast mobile monsters they have over S.A with there rugby sides.
It would be a sight if they tapped into and become accustomed to our game.
Really hope they have a good dig at it.
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Bang on there. RLIF is just an ARL lap dog. Even NSWRL have a bigger bark then them.
After reading your links I couldnt agree more. If the games to truly grow then the RLWC should be played in at least 2 minor countries before it comes to the big 3. The RLIF need to think of it as an investment.
Of course this is all just pie in the sky. They'll go where the money is. Sad reality...
Brother Faisal
Could international league re capture this golden era? Wouldve loved to live in this time and witness these games. They said the Aussies hadnt won the ashes in 30 years? wow thats world dominance from the poms
Sup42
Contributor
Just ask Fifa what are the benefits of taking a world cup to South Africa, Granted Football is their main game over there , but the Rugby people would attend the Rugby world cup by way of curiosity and if the SRU gave Union players dispensation ( backs Im thinking and some of there more Mobile forwards ) this thing would go nuts over there and we'd have a future nation to bump there way up the ladder.
Just look at the way the Blacks support the NZ Rugby team over there , the same kind of outlet for them in Rugby league would see some growth in the black population playing Rugby league......another political page in the history of the game.
Go for it you dicks
Just look at the way the Blacks support the NZ Rugby team over there , the same kind of outlet for them in Rugby league would see some growth in the black population playing Rugby league......another political page in the history of the game.
Go for it you dicks
It would be far easier and make more sense to grow the game in a country that plays Union than taking it to North America or Asia.
Lord Gnome of Howick MBE
I disagree to a certain extent.
Just suppose that either version of rugby got a tiny foothold in China, the USA or Russia for instance - if it became their second or third sport they would dominate internationally (which is why the NZRU doesn't actually want rugby to be a global sport, despite having to say that it does publically.)[DOUBLEPOST=1383025621][/DOUBLEPOST]
Although I do agree that the pacific nations are a league market waiting to be tapped.
I love the idea of the kiwis playing regular tests with them.
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Lol Tonga ranked below Russia...
Latest World Rankings Announced
For the first time since the rugby league world rankings were introduced, Australia's position at the head of them is under threat.
Should New Zealand - who beat the Kangaroos in the recent Four Nations final in Christchurch to pick up their first-ever trophy on home soil - defeat the Green and Gold's in next year's Anzac Test and England on their three match autumn tour, they will go into top spot.
The Anzac encounter has added significance in 2015 as it will commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign.
"We're very pleased with our progress this year and the Four Nations success was definitely a positive step forward," said New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney.
"But we face some big challenges in the next 12 months – the Anzac Test against Australia and a tour of England – so we need to have to focus on maintaining and improving our levels of performance.
"If we can continue this development towards 2017, we will put ourselves in a great position to challenge for the 2017 World Cup title, which is our ultimate goal."
Among the other notable changes in the rankings, Samoa – after their superb performances in the Four Nations - are clearly in fourth, having been 8th after the 2013 World Cup, Serbia have made great progress moving from 17th this time last year to 13th now, Canada are up to 14th from 16th and Scotland, who picked up their inaugural trophy when winning the 2014 European Championships, have overtaken Wales to move into the top eight.
Samoa coach Matt Parish commented: "I am very proud of our efforts over the past 12 months and it is a just reward for the time and effort put in by the players and management.
"I have no doubt that with the team I have on board now and more international games, that Samoa can beat one of the top three nations in the next three years, provided we get the necessary support."
His Serbian counterpart, Marko Janković, noted: "We are proud of our five full international Tests and additional six domestic representative matches played in 2014.
"What we always highlight is that almost all of the players who represented us on the international stage were from within our domestic competition."
The World Rankings are calculated using a formula which takes into account not just the result but also the ranking place of the opponent. While covering results over a five-year period, it also adds greater weight to more recent fixtures.
Only fixtures that are recognised as being of Test status count towards the rankings. There have been several representative games played this year - involving nations such as Thailand, Philippines and Bosnia Herzegovina - which do not count but are part of a sanctioned process for possible future listing.
RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD RANKINGS (Previous ranking in brackets)
1) Australia (1)
2) New Zealand (2)
3) England (3)
4) Samoa (7)
5) France (4)
6) Fiji (5)
7) Ireland (10)
8) Scotland (11)
9) Wales (6)
10) USA (9)
11) PNG (8)
12) Italy (12)
13) Serbia (17)
14) Canada (16)
15) Russia (14)
16) Tonga (13)
17) Cook Islands (15)
18) Germany (18)
19) Norway (19)
20) Ukraine (20)
21) Lebanon (21)
22) Belgium (22)
23) Greece (26)
24) Malta (23)
25) Netherlands (25)
26) Denmark (27)
27) Jamaica (24)
28) Spain (28)
29) Czech Republic (30)
30) Sweden (32)
31) South Africa (29)
32) Hungary (33)
33) Latvia (31)
34) Morocco (34)
https://rlif.com/rugby-league-international-news/article/1511/latest-world-rankings-announced
Latest World Rankings Announced
For the first time since the rugby league world rankings were introduced, Australia's position at the head of them is under threat.
Should New Zealand - who beat the Kangaroos in the recent Four Nations final in Christchurch to pick up their first-ever trophy on home soil - defeat the Green and Gold's in next year's Anzac Test and England on their three match autumn tour, they will go into top spot.
The Anzac encounter has added significance in 2015 as it will commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign.
"We're very pleased with our progress this year and the Four Nations success was definitely a positive step forward," said New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney.
"But we face some big challenges in the next 12 months – the Anzac Test against Australia and a tour of England – so we need to have to focus on maintaining and improving our levels of performance.
"If we can continue this development towards 2017, we will put ourselves in a great position to challenge for the 2017 World Cup title, which is our ultimate goal."
Among the other notable changes in the rankings, Samoa – after their superb performances in the Four Nations - are clearly in fourth, having been 8th after the 2013 World Cup, Serbia have made great progress moving from 17th this time last year to 13th now, Canada are up to 14th from 16th and Scotland, who picked up their inaugural trophy when winning the 2014 European Championships, have overtaken Wales to move into the top eight.
Samoa coach Matt Parish commented: "I am very proud of our efforts over the past 12 months and it is a just reward for the time and effort put in by the players and management.
"I have no doubt that with the team I have on board now and more international games, that Samoa can beat one of the top three nations in the next three years, provided we get the necessary support."
His Serbian counterpart, Marko Janković, noted: "We are proud of our five full international Tests and additional six domestic representative matches played in 2014.
"What we always highlight is that almost all of the players who represented us on the international stage were from within our domestic competition."
The World Rankings are calculated using a formula which takes into account not just the result but also the ranking place of the opponent. While covering results over a five-year period, it also adds greater weight to more recent fixtures.
Only fixtures that are recognised as being of Test status count towards the rankings. There have been several representative games played this year - involving nations such as Thailand, Philippines and Bosnia Herzegovina - which do not count but are part of a sanctioned process for possible future listing.
RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD RANKINGS (Previous ranking in brackets)
1) Australia (1)
2) New Zealand (2)
3) England (3)
4) Samoa (7)
5) France (4)
6) Fiji (5)
7) Ireland (10)
8) Scotland (11)
9) Wales (6)
10) USA (9)
11) PNG (8)
12) Italy (12)
13) Serbia (17)
14) Canada (16)
15) Russia (14)
16) Tonga (13)
17) Cook Islands (15)
18) Germany (18)
19) Norway (19)
20) Ukraine (20)
21) Lebanon (21)
22) Belgium (22)
23) Greece (26)
24) Malta (23)
25) Netherlands (25)
26) Denmark (27)
27) Jamaica (24)
28) Spain (28)
29) Czech Republic (30)
30) Sweden (32)
31) South Africa (29)
32) Hungary (33)
33) Latvia (31)
34) Morocco (34)
https://rlif.com/rugby-league-international-news/article/1511/latest-world-rankings-announced
