The European Rugby League (ERL) (previously Rugby League European Federation (RLEF)) is the umbrella body for nations playing the sport of rugby league football across Europe.[1] In the absence of other continental federations, ERL also controls rugby league in North America the Middle East and Africa through its sub-branches Americas Rugby League and Middle East-Africa Rugby League.[2]

European Rugby League
AbbreviationERL
Formation1 January 2003; 21 years ago (2003-01-01)
TypeSports Confederation
HeadquartersManchester, England
Region served
Europe (primary)
North America, Africa, Middle East (via sub-branches)
Membership
11 Full, 16 Affiliate, 20 Observer
Official language
English, French
Chairman
Maurice Watkins CBE
General Manager
David Butler
Parent organization
International Rugby League
Websitewww.europeanrugbyleague.com

History

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The federation was founded January 2003 following an initiative between Richard Lewis, Executive Chairman of Great Britain's Rugby Football League (RFL) and his French counterpart Jean Paul Ferre of the French Rugby League Federation (FFR).[3] The RLEF's first constitution was approved in January 2004 and the federation's first Board of Directors was elected.[3] This first Board of Directors consisted of Jean Paul Ferre as Chairman and Richard Lewis as Deputy Chairman, with Nigel Wood and Nicolas Larrat being the other Board members.[3] Representatives for Morocco, Italy, Serbia, Russia, Lebanon, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales attended.[3] Russia became a full member of the RLEF, joining Britain and France, and the RLIF soon after.[3]

At the time of its foundation, the RLEF placed a "particular emphasis on generating development funding within each country".[3] Historically, much of the development work conducted in Europe had been funded by the RFL.[4] Following the profitable 2008 World Cup, the RFL and RLEF prepared to bid for funds to enhance their activities.[4]

2004 saw the revival of the Rugby League European Championship, now ran by the RLEF.

In December 2009, Kevin Rudd, a former Scotland rugby league international, stepped down as Executive Officer of the RLEF after more than five years in the post.[5] RLEF Chairman Richard Lewis stated that Rudd "has done an outstanding job and created a platform, structure and competitions framework that can take us into the future".[5] Rudd was succeeded by Danny Kazandjian.[6] Kazandjian had previously been a key figure in the establishment of rugby league in Lebanon and had led the RLEF's development drive in the Mediterranean and Middle East regions as Director of Development for the Euro-Med region.[6]

In 2011, the RLEF introduced two sub-branches – Americas Rugby League and Middle East-Africa Rugby League – to further develop rugby league in those regions.[2]

In 2021, The RLEF was renamed to the European Rugby League in line with the RLIF's renaming to the International Rugby League.[7]

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions.[8]

Competitions

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Competitions Champion Title
European Championship   France
(2018)
8th
European Championship B   Serbia
(2021)
4th
European Championship C   Greece
(2019)
2nd
European Championship D   Netherlands
(2021)
1st
Under-19 European Championship   England
(2024)
2nd
Balkans Cup   Serbia
(2017)
2nd
Nordic Cup   Norway
(2017)
3rd
Americas Championship   Jamaica
(2018)
1st
MEA Championship   Nigeria
(2022)
2nd

ERL board

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Current board

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Member Position Nationality
Graeme Thompson Interim Chairperson   Scotland
Paul Nicholson Independent Director   Wales
Mahdi Choudhury Independent Director   England
Brian Juliff Member-Elected Director   Wales
Gurol Yildiz Member-Elected Director   Turkey
Alison O'Brien RFL-Appointed Director   England
Luc Lacoste FFRXIII-Appointed Director   France

Former members: Chairperson: Maurice Watkins   England, Board Member: Blagoje Stoiljkovic   Serbia

Membership

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Currently eleven nations are full members of the federation; there are also fifteen affiliate members and nineteen official observers. Full members are entitled to a greater proportion of voting rights and to become members of the Rugby League International Federation.

In order to become an associate member, a nation must meet the following criteria:

  • Implementation of a constitution and rules that commit the governing body to acting in the best interest of rugby league, throughout the whole of their country.[3]
  • Production of an annual financial report.[3]
  • Running a league competition with at least four teams.[3]
  • Implementation of a junior development programme.[3]
  • The production of a Business Development Plan outlining an organisation's future aims, including aims to find part funding for staff positions.[3]
  • A communications strategy.[3]
  • An administrators, match officials and coach education strategy.[3]

The ERL stipulates that continued associate and full membership of the federation is subject to a check every two years to ensure that the minimum criteria are still being met.[3]

Full members

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Association National team Founded IRL
affiliation
ERL
affiliation
Rugby Football League   England 1895 1948 2003
Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII   France 1934 1948 2003
Jamaica Rugby League Association   Jamaica 2004 2013 2004
Serbian Rugby League   Serbia 2004 2012 2004
South African Rugby League   South Africa 1998 1998 2012
Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League   Ukraine 2008 2013 2013
Wales Rugby League   Wales 2005 2010 2010

Affiliate members

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Association National team Founded IRL
affiliation
ERL
affiliation
Cameroon Rugby League 13   Cameroon 2017
Canada Rugby League   Canada 2010
Czech Rugby League Association   Czech Republic 2005
Nationaler Rugby League Deutschland   Germany 2014
Ghana Rugby League   Ghana 2014
Greek Rugby League Association   Greece 2017
Rugby League Ireland   Ireland 1988 2000 2003
Federazione Italiana Rugby League   Italy 2008 2010 2010
Kenya Rugby League   Kenya 2023
Lebanese Rugby League Federation   Lebanon 2003 2012 2003
Maltese Rugby League Association   Malta 2008
Fédération Marocaine de Rugby League   Morocco 2011
Netherlandse Rugby League Bond   Netherlands 2009
Nigeria Rugby League   Nigeria 2018
Norway Rugby League   Norway 2009
Russian Rugby League   Russia 2010 2013 2013
Scotland Rugby League   Scotland 1994 2011 2003
Asociación Española de Rugby League   Spain 2013
Turkish Rugby League Association   Turkey 2016
USA Rugby League   United States 2011

Official observers

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Former observer members

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ERL national team results at World Cups

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Team 1954 1957 1960 1968 1970 1972 1975 1977 1985-88 1989-92 1995 2000 2008 2013 2017 2021
  Belgium
  Canada DNQ DNQ DNQ
  Czech Republic DNQ
  Denmark
  England 2nd 2nd SF SF SF 2nd SF
  France 2nd GS GS 2nd GS GS GS GS GS GS GS QF GS QF GS GS
  Germany DNQ
  Ghana
  Great Britain 1st 2nd 1st GS 2nd 1st 2nd GS 2nd
  Greece DNQ GS
  Hungary
  Ireland QF QF GS GS GS
  Italy DNQ GS GS GS
  Jamaica DNQ DNQ GS
  Latvia DNQ -
  Lebanon GS DNQ DNQ QF QF
  Malta DNQ DNQ
  Morocco DNQ
  Netherlands DNQ
  Nigeria
  Norway DNQ
  Palestine
  Russia GS DNQ DNQ DNQ Ex
  Saudi Arabia
  Scotland GS GS QF GS GS
  Serbia DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
  Sierra Leone
  South Africa GS GS W DNQ DNQ DNQ
  Spain DNQ DNQ
  Sweden
  Ukraine DNQ DNQ
  United States DNQ DNQ QF GS DNQ
  Wales GS SF SF DNQ GS GS GS

1st  Winner, 2nd  2nd place, SF  Semi-finalist, QF  Quarter-finalist, GS  Group stage, DNQ  Did not qualify, W  Withdrew, Ex  Expelled

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About ERL".
  2. ^ a b "History".
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n RLEF. "Overview". Rugby League European Federation. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  4. ^ a b Michael Fisher (2 January 2009). "RFL chief executive Nigel Wood backs Super League to flourish". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  5. ^ a b rugbyleague.com (18 December 2009). "Euro development boss to step down". rugbyleague.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  6. ^ a b rugbyleague.com (21 May 2010). "RLEF appoint new development exec". rugbyleague.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Rugby League European Federation undergoes rebranding". ERL. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Russia banned from international rugby league competitions". Halifaxcourier.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  9. ^ a b "North Macedonia and Slovakia are the latest nations to be awarded International Rugby League observer status". intrl.sport. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Sol Mokdad issues public apology to UAE Rugby Federation to end criminal proceedings against him". The National. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
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