International Rugby League: Rugby Football is a popular full-contact team sport, played worldwide. Believed to have originated in 1823, at the Rugby School, in Warwickshire, England, this sport has evolved over the years.
With the disbanding from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in 1895, Northern Union is better known Rugby League since 1922.
Sanctioned and overseen by the International Rugby Board (IRB) and the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF), there are numerous International Rugby League competitions that are held every year, with various countries participating in them. The countries are distinguished as Test and Non-Test playing nations and are named below:
- Test Nations Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, Great Britain/England, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Samoa, South Africa and Tonga.
- Non-Test Nations - American Samoa, Argentina, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Malta, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, New Caledonia, Netherlands, Niue, Norfolk Island, Portugal, Scotland, Serbia, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, United States, Wales and West Indies.
The major International Rugby League competitions that are held are listed below as:
- The Rugby League World Cup this international tournament was first held in France in 1954, and is played to determine the best rugby league playing nation in the world. Its current champions are Australia which will also be host to the next Cup event in 2008.
- The Ashes a rugby league Test tournament between Great Britain and Australia, this event was first played in 1908 in London. While Australia won the 2003 series, they also expect to be hosts for the 2010 Ashes event.
- The ANZAC Test its current name being the Bundaberg Rum Test, this Test event between Australia and New Zealand is held around Anzac Day. The first event was held in 1997 in Australia. Australia have won six of the seven matches played till now, and will also host the 2007 event in April.
- The Tri-Nations also known as the Gillette Tri-Nations tournament, it is played amongst Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. First played in 1999, the next event would be hosted by United Kingdom in 2009. Its current champions are Australia.
- The Pacific Cup Started in 1974, this Cup event is for teams from the Pacific region. Held of and on over the years, the event was recently revived by New Zealand in 2004. Tonga are the current champions.
- The Pacific Rim Championship a competition held in conjunction with the Pacific Cup, and held biennially.
- The Mediterranean Cup An annual tournament which began in 2000, with an unsteady run, is held in Lebanon. The countries participating are Lebanon, France, Morocco and Serbia.
- The European Nations Cup Earlier known as European Championship, it began in 1935, and is a Cup event for European nations, which is sanctioned by the Rugby League European Federation. France are the standing 2005 winners.
- The Emerging Nations Tournament started in 1995, this international event is for those nations that have failed to qualify for the World Cup. The standing winners are the British Amateur Rugby League Association since 2000.
- The World Club Challenge this annual tournament is held between the winners of the Australian NRL and the Super League (Europe). The 2007 champions are St Helens RFC.
- The NRL Telstra Premiership
- The Liberty Bell Cup
Thus, the tournaments held under the International Rugby League, has promoted the growth for the sport of rugby league immensely, establishing it worldwide as a popular recreational sport.
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