The International Rugby League rankings have been updated following a record year in which 72 sanctioned international matches took place, an increase on last year’s record breaking year of 64. 

Australia remains first in the men’s and women’s rankings following their Pacific Cup victories, while England are still the top wheelchair team – but only by the narrowest of margins from France after winning one match apiece in their recent series, whilst Ireland have moved up to third place. 

England are closing in on second-placed New Zealand in the men’s rankings after beating Toa Samoa 2-0 in their historic series and the Kiwis failed to qualify for the final of the Pacific Cup. 

In the women’s rankings, there has been significant movement after qualifying tournaments and matches for the 2026 World Cup in Africa, Europe, North America and the Pacific which has positively affected many of European Rugby League’s members in each of the three regions. 

The IRL World Rankings are calculated on each nation’s performance over the current season and the three preceding seasons. 

Points are awarded to each team for each match based on:

• The result of the match - win, lose or draw.
• The margin of victory (or defeat) - the larger the winning margin the greater the value to the rankings.
• The relative strength of opposition faced - if you play a higher ranked team that is of greater value than playing a lower ranked team.
• The date of the match – more recent matches are weighted more heavily - a result in the most recent two years is worth double a result three years ago and four times a result that is four years old.
• The importance of the match - World Cup matches are ranked top followed in order by World Cup Qualifiers, Regional Championships and one-off international matches.
• The points are then used to create the Official World Rankings by ordering the teams by virtue of the points gained over the four-year period.

Only officially sanctioned matches played at senior level between two approved members are considered as part of the rankings.

“There has been more international matches played this year than in any other year in the history of rugby league and they have been played across all parts of the world and with more countries playing than ever before” noted IRL Chair Troy Grant. 

“The quality, the standards, the viewership and the interest in international rugby league has never been as high, and that is largely to the credit of the National Federations who have collectively placed us in the most positive position the international game has been in for a number of years”

Men
England are closing the gap on New Zealand for second place, whilst France retain 8th place. Serbia and Netherlands have climbed one place each to 9th and 11th respectively whilst Wales climb five places to 12th place after victories against Jamaica and Serbia in 2024. 

Malta rise two places to 13th as Ukraine take 14th spot, an improvement of six places.

USA have soared up seven places from 31st to 24th after two victories against South Africa and a draw against Canada who rise 10 places to 31st who also recorded a victory over Jamaica. 

South Africa climb two positions to 26th as the Middle East & Africa’s only climber. 

Women
England and France retain their 3rd and 4th places, whilst Wales climb a place to 7th.  Ireland climbs from 10th to 8th after securing their place in the 2025 World Series with victory over Greece who climb one place to 8th.

Despite victory in the Americas RLWCQ Canada slips a place to 9th, but USA climbs two places to 14th and Jamaica retains 23rd spot.

Nigeria retain 18th place and Kenya rise a place to 19th after their two-match series ended with a victory each, though Nigeria progressed to the World Series based on countback.

Wheelchair

Ireland have climbed to be ranked third in world despite their Autumn loss to France in a year which saw them crowned Celtic Cup champions as the competition was staged in Ireland for the first time. England retain first position with France hot on their wheels in second.

Spain climb a place after a largely competitive encounter against England and now occupy 7th.