International Rugby League

https://www.intrl.sport/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/intrl/

International Rugby League is a privately owned organization headquartered in the UK, founded in 1927 and employing approximately 20 individuals. The organization reported $4.9M in revenue as of 2023. It functions as the global governing body for the sport of rugby league football, with its main product being contact sports.

Revenue

Founded

1927

Headcount

Headquarters

Primary Segment

Contact sports

Ownership

Privately Owned

News Summary:

International Rugby League announced a historic rule change in women's rugby league on March 17, 2026, removing its tiering system. This significant shake-up opens up opportunities for players with Australian, New Zealand, and English heritage for the upcoming World Cup, potentially boosting nations like England with more stars from the NRLW. Previously, players could represent only one 'tier one' nation—Australia, England, or New Zealand—in their career, mirroring the men's game. Earlier, on March 13, Fiji National Rugby League confirmed it met the international body's requirements after filing its annual membership audit report, with IRL's head of membership and competitions, David Butler, marking them as compliant. On March 11, the IRL Board unanimously approved Kalyn Ponga's application to switch Tier 1 eligibility from Australia to the NZ Kiwis, potentially allowing him to play his first match for New Zealand in the RLWC2026 opener against the Kangaroos on October 15. Previously, on January 13, International Rugby League announced the passing of its former Chief Executive, David Collier OBE, at 70. Collier served as the IRL's first full-time CEO for three years starting in 2015, during which he oversaw growth in the number of playing nations.

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International Rugby League offers 2 products in the sports industry. International Rugby League's product portfolio comprises of contact sports.

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International Rugby League's revenues were less than $10M in 2023. All the revenue comes from rugby League.

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Mar

25th

2026

18:30

Events, B2B Tag

Fiji face risk of being kicked out of 2026 Rugby League World Cup – Total Rugby League

FIJI BATI are at risk of being kicked out of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. That’s because Fiji National Rugby League’s (FNRL) has failed to submit its Annual Membership Audit, as well as failing to in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Total Rugby League

Mar

17th

2026

01:30

B2B Tag

England receive major World Cup boost as international rugby league removes tiering in women's game

International women’s rugby league has seen a major shake-up after a historic rule change was announced by the sport’s governing body. With a World Cup at the end of the year, the rules on international eligibility have been changed opening up massive opportunities for players with Australian, New Zealand and English heritage.

Serious About Rugby League

Mar

15th

2026

18:30

B2B Tag

England handed potential Women’s World Cup boost by IRL change – Total Rugby League

ENGLAND could be able to call upon more stars of the NRLW in this year’s World Cup after the International Rugby League scrapped its tiering system. Under the previous rules, players could only represent a single ‘tier one’ nation – Australia, England or New Zealand – in their career, like in the men’s game.

Total Rugby League

Mar

13th

2026

04:14

B2B Tag

Fiji league says it's met international body requirements

Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) says they have fully met the requirements given by the International Rugby League, after filing their annual membership audit report this week. FNRL said on Friday that David Butler, head of membership and competitions at International Rugby League (IRL), had responded to them: "I am happy to inform you that I think we have sufficient information from FNRL now to mark you as compliant with the AMA [annual membership audit].

RNZ

Mar

11th

2026

12:51

B2B Tag

Kalyn Ponga confirmed eligible for NZ Kiwis

A coup for NZRL with Kalyn Ponga confirmed to switch from the Australia to the Kiwis after the IRL Board unanimously approved his application to play for New Zealand. Ponga requested to switch Tier 1 eligibility, his first match for the Kiwis could be in the RLWC2026 opener against the Kangaroos on October 15 in Sydney.

Nzsportswire

Jan

13th

2026

14:06

B2B Tag

Vale David Collier

International Rugby League is saddened by the passing of the Federation’s former Chief Executive David Collier OBE, aged 70. David became the IRL’s first fulltime CEO in 2015 and oversaw a period of growth in the number of playing nations during his three years at the helm.

International Rugby League

Jan

6th

2026

21:01

B2B Tag

IRL World Rankings 2025: Nigeria, Ghana continue rise

Nigeria have continued their stunning rise up the Women’s IRL World Rankings to 10th place and the West African nation is aiming to climb higher after announcing several key appointments for 2026. Along with neighbouring Ghana, International Rugby League’s newest Full Member, Nigeria has been one of the IRL’s most pro-active nations in recent years as the game continues to grow in Africa.

International Rugby League

Dec

19th

2025

05:17

B2B Tag

Rugby League World Cup 2030 set for major shock restructure

The International Rugby League board have confirmed that the 2030 World Cup will now comprise of men’s, women’s and wheelchair events running alongside one another, continuing the trend from recent tournaments. It had initially been confirmed that next year’s event in Australia would be the final time for the foreseeable future that all three events would take place at the same time.

Love Rugby League

Dec

18th

2025

21:01

B2B Tag

IRL Rugby League World Cup 2030

International Rugby League has announced that the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair World Cups will continue to be played together, with the three disciplines to again be staged concurrently in 2030. A meeting of the IRL Board on Tuesday decided that the 2030 World Cup should maintain the same format as RLWC26 in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, in which the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair tournaments are being staged concurrently.

International Rugby League

Dec

18th

2025

18:30

B2B Tag

Together again: 2030 World Cup to retain RLWC26 format

National Rugby League

Dec

17th

2025

14:03

B2B Tag

Ghana awarded IRL Full Membership

Rugby League Federation Ghana has been approved as the 15th full member of International Rugby League following the 2025 Annual General Meeting on December 18. The historic achievement caps a 13-year journey that began through a collaboration between sponsors Hector and Sara Giwa-McNeil and the British government, which, in collaboration with European Rugby League, integrated the sport into its local leadership development initiatives and led to the creation of the governing body in 2014.

International Rugby League

Nov

21st

2025

18:30

B2B Tag

IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026: Men's, Women's Wheelchair draws announced

International Rugby League Chair Troy Grant has declared IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 will be the "biggest global showcase the game has seen" as the draws for the Men's, Women's and Wheelchair tournaments were announced.

International Rugby League

International Rugby League sells broadcasting rights of its 2 rugby League competitions to 16 companies globally, covering 7 countries. International Rugby League's rights holders include BBC.