Rugby league

Rugby league

An attacking player attempts to evade two defenders
Highest governing body	Rugby League International Federation
Nicknames	League, RL
First played	7 September 1895, post schism, England
Registered players	800,000
Clubs	5,000
Characteristics
Contact	Full contact
Team members	Thirteen
Mixed gender	Single
Type	Team sport, Outdoor
Equipment	Rugby League ball
Venue	Rugby league playing field

Rugby league football,^[1] usually called rugby league,^[2] league, rugby or football , is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field.^[3] One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 as a split from the Rugby Football Union over the issue of payments to players.^[4] Its rules gradually changed with the purpose of producing a faster,^[5][6] more entertaining game for spectators.^[7]

In rugby league, points are scored by carrying the ball and touching it to the ground beyond the opposing team's goal line; this is called a try, and is the primary method of scoring.^[3] The opposing team attempts to stop the attacking side scoring points by tackling the player carrying the ball.^[3] In addition to tries, points can be scored by kicking goals. After each try, the scoring team gains a free kick to try at goal with a conversion for further points.^[3] Kicks at goal may also be awarded for penalties, and field goals can be attempted at any time.

Rugby league is a popular sport in Northern England,^[8] the states of Queensland and New South Wales in Australia,^[9] New Zealand,^[10] southwest France and Papua New Guinea,^[11] where it is the national sport.^[12][13] The European Super League and Australasian National Rugby League (NRL) are the premier club competitions. Rugby league is played internationally, predominantly by European, Australasian and Pacific Island countries, and is governed by the Rugby League International Federation. The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954; the current holders are Australia.^[14]

Etymology

Rugby league football takes its name from the bodies that split to create a new form of rugby football, distinct from that run by the Rugby Football Unions, in Britain, Australia and New Zealand between 1895 and 1908.

The first of these, the Northern Rugby Football Union, was established in 1895 as a breakaway faction of England's Rugby Football Union (RFU). Both organisations played the game under the same rules at first, although the Northern Union began to modify rules almost immediately, thus creating a new faster, stronger paced form of rugby football. Similar breakaway factions split from RFU-affiliated unions in Australia and New Zealand in 1907 and 1908, renaming themselves "rugby football leagues" and introducing Northern Union rules.^[15] In 1922, the Northern Union also changed its name to the Rugby Football League^[16] and thus over time the sport itself became known as "rugby league" football.

History

In 1895, a schism in Rugby football resulted in the formation of the Northern Rugby Football Union (NRFU).^[17] Although many factors played a part in the split, including the success of working class northern teams, the main division was caused by the RFU decision to enforce the amateur principle of the sport, preventing "broken time payments" to players who had taken time off work to play rugby. Northern teams typically had more working class players (coal miners, mill workers etc.) who could not afford to play without this compensation, in contrast to affluent southern teams who had other sources of income to sustain the amateur principle.^[4] In 1895, a decree by the RFU banning the playing of rugby at grounds where entrance fees were charged led to twenty-two clubs (including Stockport who negotiated by telephone) meeting at the George Hotel, Huddersfield on 29 August 1895 and forming the "Northern Rugby Football Union".^[18] Within fifteen years of that first meeting in Huddersfield, more than 200 RFU clubs had left to join the rugby revolution.

In 1897, the line-out was abolished^[19] and in 1898 professionalism introduced.^[20] In 1906, the Northern Union changed its rules, reducing teams from 15 to 13 a side and replacing the ruck formed after every tackle with the play the ball.^[21]

A similar schism to that which occurred in England took place in Sydney, Australia. There, on 8 August 1907 the New South Wales Rugby Football League was founded at Bateman's Hotel in George Street.^[22] Rugby league then went on to displace rugby union as the primary football code in New South Wales and Queensland.^[23]

On 5 May 1954 over 100,000 (official figure 102,569) spectators watched the 1953–54 Challenge Cup final at Odsal Stadium, Bradford, England, setting a new record for attendance at a rugby football match of either code.^[22] Also in 1954 the Rugby League World Cup, the first for either code of rugby, was formed at the instigation of the French. In 1966, the International Board introduced a rule that a team in possession was allowed three play-the-balls and on the fourth tackle a scrum was to be formed. This was increased to six tackles in 1972 and in 1983 the scrum was replaced by a handover.^[24] 1967 saw the first professional Sunday matches of rugby league played.

The first sponsors, Joshua Tetley and John Player, entered the game for the 1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season. Television would have an enormous impact on the sport of rugby league in the 1990s when Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation sought worldwide broadcasting rights and refused to take no for an answer. The media giant's "Super League" movement saw big changes for the traditional administrators of the game. In Europe it resulted in a move from a winter sport to a summer one as the new Super League competition tried to expand its market. In Australasia, the Super League war resulted: long and costly legal battles and changing loyalties, causing significant damage to the code in an extremely competitive sporting market. In 1997 two competitions were run alongside each other in Australia, after which a peace deal in the form of the National Rugby League was formed. The NRL has since become recognised as the sport's flagship competition and since that time has set record TV ratings and crowd figures.^[25]

Rules

The objective in rugby league is to score more points through tries, goals (also known as conversions) and field goals (also known as drop goals) than the opposition within the 80 minutes of play. If after two halves of play, each consisting of forty minutes, the two teams are drawing, a draw may be declared, or the game may enter extra time under the golden point rule, depending on the relevant competition's format.

The try is the most common form of scoring,^[26] and a team will usually attempt to score one by running and kicking the ball further upfield, or passing from player-to-player in order to manoeuvre around the opposition's defence. A try involves touching the ball to the ground on or beyond the defending team's goal-line and is worth four points. A goal is worth two points and may be gained from a conversion or a penalty. A field goal, or drop goal, is only worth one point and is gained by dropping and then kicking the ball on the half volley between the uprights in open play.

Field position is crucial in rugby league,^[27] achieved by running with or kicking the ball. Passing in rugby league may only be in a backward or sideways direction. Teammates therefore have to remain on-side by not moving ahead of the player with the ball. However the ball may be kicked ahead for teammates, but again, if they are in front of the kicker, when the ball is kicked, they are deemed off-side. Tackling is a key component of rugby league play. Only the player holding the ball may be tackled. A tackle is complete, for example, when the player is held by one or more opposing players in such a manner that he can make no further progress and cannot part with the ball, or when the player is held by one or more opposing players and the ball or the hand or arm holding the ball comes into contact with the ground.^[28] An attacking team gets a maximum of six tackles to progress up the field before possession is changed over. Once the tackle is completed, the ball-carrier must be allowed to get to his feet to 'play-the-ball'. Ball control is also important in rugby league, as a fumble of the ball on the ground forces a handover, unless the ball is fumbled backwards. The ball can also be turned over by going over the sideline.

Positions

Leeds playing at the 2008 Boxing Day friendly against Wakefield Trinity at Headingley

Players on the pitch are divided into forwards and backs, although the game's rules apply to all players the same way. Each position has a designated number to identify himself from other players. These numbers help to identify which position a person is playing. The system of numbering players is different depending on which country the match is played in. In Australia and New Zealand, each player is usually given a number corresponding to their playing position on the field. However, since 1996 European teams have been able to grant players specific squad numbers, which they keep in irrelevance to the position they play, similarly to association football.^[29]

Substitutes (generally referred to as "the bench") are allowed in the sport, and are typically used when a player gets tired or injured, although they can also be used tactically. Each team is currently allowed four substitutes, and in Australia and New Zealand, these players occupy shirt numbers 14 to 22.^[30] There are no limitations on which players must occupy these interchangeable slots. Generally, twelve interchanges are allowed in any game from each team, although in the National Rugby League, this was reduced to ten prior to the 2008 season.^[31] If a team has to interchange a player due to the blood bin rule or due to injury, and this was the result of misconduct from the opposing team, the compromised team does not have to use one of its allocated interchanges to take the player in question off the field.

Backs

The backs are generally smaller, faster and more agile than the forwards. They are often the most creative and evasive players on the field, relying on running, kicking and handling skills, as well as tactics and set plays, to break the defensive line, instead of brute force. Generally forwards do the majority of the work (hit-ups/tackling).

• The title of fullback (numbered 1) comes from the fullback's defensive position where the player drops out of the defensive line to cover the rear from kicks and runners breaking the line. They therefore usually are good ball catchers and clinical tacklers. In attack the fullback will typically make runs into the attack or support a runner in anticipation of a pass out of the tackle. Fullbacks can play a role in attack similar to a halfback or five-eighth and the fact that the fullback does not have to defend in the first defensive line means that a coach can keep a playmaker from the tackling responsibilities of the first line whilst allowing them to retain their attacking role.
• The wingers (numbered 2 and 5) are normally the fastest players in a team and play on the far left and right fringes of the field (the wings). Their main task is to receive passes and score tries. The wingers also drop back on the last tackle to cover the left and right sides of the field for kicks while the fullback covers the middle.
• The centres (numbered 3 and 4) are positioned one in from the wings and together complete what is known as the three-quarter line. Usually the best mixture of power and vision, their main role is to try to create attacking opportunities for their team and defend against those of the opposition. Along with the wingers, the centres score plenty of tries throughout a season. They usually have a large build and therefore can often play in the second row forwards.

Usually, the Stand Off/Five-Eighth and Scrum Half/Half-Back are a team's creative unit or 'playmakers'. During the interactions between a team's 'key' players (Five-Eighth, Half-Back, Fullback, Lock Forward, and Hooker), the Five-Eighth and Half-Back will usually be involved in most passing moves.

• The stand-off half (or Five-Eighth) (numbered 6): There is not much difference between the stand-off half and the scrum half (Halfback), in that both players may operate in front of the pack during 'forward play' (as prime receiver [7] and shadow receiver [6], one on each side of the ruck, or both on same side of the ruck), and both players may operate in front of the backs during 'back play' (as prime pivot [6] and shadow pivot [7], one on each side of the pack, or both on same side of the ruck / pack). The Five-Eighth position is named with regard to the distance that the player stands in relevance to the team.
• The halfback (numbered 7): There is not much difference between the halfback and the five-eighth, in that both players may operate in front of the pack during 'forward play' (as prime receiver [7] and shadow receiver [6], one on each side of the ruck, or both on same side of the ruck). Both players may operate in front of the backs during 'back play' (as prime pivot [6] and shadow pivot [7], one on each side of the ruck / pack, or both on same side of the ruck / pack). The halfback position is named with regard to halfway between the fullback and the forwards.

Forwards

Rugby league is noted for its hard physical play

The forwards' two responsibilities can be broken into "normal play" and "scrum play". For information on a forward's role in the scrum see rugby league scrummage. Forward positions are traditionally named after the player's position in the scrum yet are equal with respect to "normal play" with the exception of the hooker. Forward positions are traditionally assigned as follows:

• The props or front-row forwards (numbered 8 and 10) are normally the largest players on field. They are positioned in the centre of the line. The prop will be an "enforcer", dissuading the opposition from attacking the centre of the defensive line and, in attack, will give the team momentum by taking the ball up to the defence aggressively.
• The hooker (numbered 9) is most likely to play the role of dummy-half. In defence the hooker usually defends in the middle of the line against the opposition's props and second-rowers. The hooker will be responsible for organising the defence in the middle of the field. In attack as dummy-half this player is responsible for starting the play from every play-the-ball by either passing the ball to the right player, or, at opportune moments, running from dummy-half. It is vital that the hooker can pass very well. Traditionally, hookers "hooked" the ball in the scrum. Hookers also make probably more tackles than any other player on the field. The hooker is always involved in the play and needs to be very fit. They need to have a very good knowledge of the game and the players around them.
• The second row forwards (numbered 11 and 12) The modern day second row is very similar to a centre and is expected to be faster, more mobile and have more skills than the prop and will play amongst the three-quarters, providing strength in attack and defence when the ball is passed out to the wings. Good second-rowers combine the skills and responsibilities of props and centres in the course of the game.
• The Loose forward (numbered 13) is the only forward in the third (last) row of the scrum. They are usually among the fittest players on the field, covering the entire field on both attacking and defending duties. Typically they are big ball-runners who can occasionally slot in as a passing link or kick option; it is not uncommon for locks to have the skills of a five-eighth and to play a similar role in the team.

Rugby league worldwide

Rugby league is played in over 70 nations throughout the world, 36 are ranked by the RLIF and a further 32 are officially recognized and unranked.^[32] The strongest rugby league nations are Australia, England and New Zealand. The Rugby League World Cup is the highest form of representative rugby league and currently features 14 teams. Those which have contested World Cups are; Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Fiji, Wales, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Ireland, USA, Scotland, Italy, Tonga, Cook Islands, Lebanon, Russia and South Africa. The current World Champions are Australia, who won the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Oceania and South Pacific

The 2006 NRL Grand Final between Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm at Olympic Stadium, Sydney

Rugby League is the largest television sport and 3rd most attended sport in Australia ^[33] and neighbouring Papua New Guinea is one of two countries to have rugby league as its national sport (with Cook Islands).^[12][13] This has led to officials from that country lobbying to have a team admitted to the National Rugby League,^[34] Australia's elite club competition which also features a team from Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city. The reasonable popularity of the code in New Zealand has led to the possibility of another team from the South Island entering the competition as well.^[35] Rugby league is the dominant winter sport in the eastern Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland.^[36] The game is also among the predominant sports of Tonga^[37] and is played in other Pacific nations such as Samoa and Fiji. In Australia, and indeed the rest of the region, the annual State of Origin series ranks among the most popular sporting events.^[38][39]

UK and France

The Rugby League European Federation are responsible for developing rugby league in Europe and the Northern Hemisphere,^[40] while the Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation are responsible for developing rugby league in the Asia-Pacific region.^[41] The Rugby League European Cup and Rugby League Pacific Cup are both run by the RLEF and APRLC respectively and are used as a stepping stone to the Rugby League Four Nations with Australia, New Zealand and England, the fourth team being decided by who wins the Pacific and European Cup, and rotates each year from Europe to the Pacific.

A game between Leeds and Hull academy sides in England, May 2009

In England, rugby league has traditionally been associated with the northern counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria where the game originated, especially in towns along the M62 corridor.^[8] Its popularity has also increased elsewhere.^[42][43][44] Currently, one of the twelve Super League teams are based outside of these traditional counties: Catalans Dragons. Figures published by the Rugby Football League showed an 81% increase in women playing the sport in the twelve months prior to October 2008, as well as an increase in juniors of both genders nationwide.^[45] Over 40,000 players were registered by the RFL as of October 2008 with an overall participation rate in the game doubling in the last four years to well over 285,000 by late 2009.^[45] Rugby league has traditionally been the second largest spectator sport in England, after football, for the entire twentieth century (with a highest attendance of 6.8 million spectators in the 1948-1949 season).

France first played rugby league as late as 1934, where in the five years prior to the Second World War, the sport's popularity increased as Frenchmen became disenchanted with the state of French rugby union in the 1930s.^[46] However, after the Allied Forces were defeated by Germany in June 1940, the Vichy regime in the south seized assets belonging to rugby league authorities and clubs and banned the sport for its association with the left-wing Popular Front government that had governed France before the war.^[46] The sport was unbanned after the Liberation of Paris in August 1944 and the collapse of the Vichy regime, although it was still actively marginalised by the French authorities until the 1990s.^[46] Despite this, the national side appeared in the finals of the 1954 and 1968 World Cups, and the country hosted the 1954 event.^[47][48] In 1996, a French team, Paris Saint-Germain was one of eleven teams which formed the new European Super League, although the club was dissolved in 1997.^[49] In 2006, the Super League admitted the Catalans Dragons, a team from Perpignan in the southern Languedoc-Roussillon region.^[50] They have subsequently reached the 2007 Challenge Cup Final and made the play-offs of the 2008 Super League XIII season. The success of the Dragons in Super League has initiated a renaissance in French rugby league, with new-found enthusiasm for the sport in the south of the country where most of the Elite One Championship teams are based.

Other countries

The early 21st century has seen other countries take up the game and compete in international rugby league with the Rugby League European Federation expanding the game to new areas such as Canada, Ghana, Philippines,Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Spain and Hungary to name a few.^{[51][52][53][54]}

Domestic competitions

The two most prominent fully professional leagues are the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League and to a lesser extent the semi professional French Elite One Championship and Elite Two Championship. Domestic semi professional leagues exist below the NRL and Super League, especially on a state or county level, in Australia the Queensland Cup (which includes a team from Papua New Guinea) and NSW Cup, which provides players to various NRL teams. In the United Kingdom below Super League is the Championship and Championship 1. The Fiji National Rugby League Competition also runs semi professional teams,^[55] as does the USA Rugby League in the United States. In other countries the game is played at an amateur level.

Attendances

Rugby league does not attract a large number in attendance for international matches, however, games in the NRL and Super League usually attract reasonable crowds.

International

The top five attendances for rugby league test matches (International) are:

Game	Date	Result	Venue	City	Crowd
2013 World Cup Final	30 November 2013	Australia def. New Zealand 34–2	Old Trafford	Manchester	74,468
1992 World Cup Final	24 October 1992	Australia def. Great Britain 10–6	Wembley Stadium	London	73,631
1932 Ashes series, Game 1	6 June 1932	England def. Australia 8–6	Sydney Cricket Ground	Sydney	70,204
1962 Ashes series, Game 1	9 June 1962	Great Britain def. Australia 31–12	Sydney Cricket Ground	Sydney	70,174
1958 Ashes series, Game 1	14 June 1958	Australia def. Great Britain 25–8	Sydney Cricket Ground	Sydney	68,777

Domestic

The top five attendances for domestic based rugby league matches are:

Game	Date	Result	Venue	City	Crowd
1999 NRL Grand Final	26 September 1999	Melbourne def. St George Illawarra 20–18	Stadium Australia	Sydney	107,999
1999 NRL season Round 1	6 March 1999	Parramatta Eels def. St George Illawarra Dragons 20–10	Stadium Australia	Sydney	104,583
1954 Challenge Cup Final replay	5 May 1954	Warrington def. Halifax 8–4	Odsal Stadium	Bradford	102,569*
1985 Challenge Cup Final	4 May 1985	Wigan def. Hull 28–24	Wembley Stadium	London	99,801
1966 Challenge Cup Final	21 May 1966	St Helens def. Wigan 21–2	Wembley Stadium	London	98,536

* The official attendance of the 1954 Challenge Cup Final replay was 102,569. Unofficial estimates put the attendance as high as 150,000, Bradford Police confirming 120,000.

See also

• History of rugby league
• List of rugby league terms
• Playing rugby league
• List of international rugby league teams
• Rugby league nines
• Tag Rugby (OzTag) — a completely non-contact version of rugby league
• Touch football — an almost non-contact version
• League tag — A semi-contact version of Rugby League
• Comparison of rugby league and rugby union

References

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   • Bellew, T. J. (1984). Laws of the game of rugby league football. Australian Rugby Football League.
   • A. N., Gaulton (1968). Encyclopaedia of Rugby League Football. London: Robert Hale. ISBN 978-0-7091-0377-6.
   • Macklin, Keith (1974). The History of Rugby League Football. London: Stanley Paul. ISBN 978-0-09-120780-9.
   • John Nauright & Charles Parish (2010). Sports around the World. USA: ABC-CLIO, LLC.
   • Paul Downward and Ian Jackson (2004). Common Origins, Common Future? A Comparative Analysis of Association Football and Rugby League Football in the UK. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-98032-0.
   • Moorhouse, Geoffrey (1996). A People's Game: The Centenary History of Rugby League Football, 1895–1995. London: Hodder and Stoughton.
   • Rugby Football League (1957). Rugby league football: the official illustrated handbook of the Rugby Football League. Great Britain: Educational Productions Ltd.
2. RLEF. "What is Rugby League?". Rugby League European Federation. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
3. Dept. Recreation and Sport. "Dimensions for Rugby League". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
4. Tony Collins, Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain (2006), p.3
5. Scianitti, Matthew (18 June 2011). "The world awaits for Canada's rugby team". National Post. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
6. newzealandnow.govt.nz. "Sports". Life in New Zealand. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
7. Middleton, David (March 2008). League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia. National Museum of Australia. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-876944-64-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2010. When rugby league cast itself free of an arrogant rugby union 100 years ago, it did so with a sense of re-invention. It was not just about creating better conditions for the players but about striving to produce a better game; a less complicated brand that would appeal to the masses.
8. "Rugby League World Cup 2013 will provide the sport with a true test of its popularity". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 September 2015
9. "Rugby league: National Rugby League and Australian Rugby League" (PDF). hreoc.gov.au. Australian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
10. "New Zealand Sport". Retrieved 13 August 2012.
11. "Rugby League, a uniting force in PNG". Retrieved 8 August 2012.
12. "PNG vow to upset World Cup odds". Rugby League (Federación Peruana de Frontón). 15 October 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2009. But it would still be one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history if Papua New Guinea - the only country to have rugby league as its national sport - were to qualify for the last four.
13. "PNG seal 2010 Four Nations place". BBC. 1 November 2009.
14. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=lpDdBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA254&lpg=PA254&dq=rugby+league+popularity+united+kingdom&source=bl&ots=A9kxJfXizo&sig=PsgU8D3k2Hqw5FgnYsBv2tdldQo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Vv5uVc_MLsGE8gXziIDIDw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=rugby%20league%20popularity%20united%20kingdom&f=false
15. Why Rugby League? at Crusaders Rugby League website
16. Spracklen, Karl (2001). 'Black Pearl, Black Diamonds' Exploring racial identities in rugby league. Routledge. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-415-24629-3.
17. Fagan, Sean (2008). League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia (PDF). National Museum of Australia. pp. vii. ISBN 978-1-876944-64-3.
18. Groeneveld, Margaret (2007). Matters of the heart: The business of English rugby league. Berghahn Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-84545-054-0.
19. Tony Collins, Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain (2006), p.6
20. Tony Collins, Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain, p.5 (2006)
21. Tony Collins, Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain (2006), p.6, quote:"in 1906 the number of players in a team was reduced to thirteen and an orderly play-the-ball, whereby a tackled player had to get to his feet and roll the ball behind him with his foot, was introduced. These two changes completed the break from the playing rules of rugby union and marked the birth of rugby league as a distinct sport with its own unique rules".
22. Baker, Andrew (20 August 1995). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". Independent, The (London: independent.co.uk). Retrieved 25 September 2009.
23. Jupp, James (2001). The Australian People: An Encyclopedia of the Nation, Its People and Their Origins. Cambridge University Press. pp. 342 & 343. ISBN 978-0-521-80789-0.
24. Collins, Tony (18 April 2006). Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain (1 ed.). Routledge. pp. 113–114. ISBN 978-0-415-39615-8.
25. "Rugby League Attendances 1957–2010". rleague.com. 2010.
26. "Season Summary". Rugby League Tables. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
27. "Stats Insider: Grand Final by the numbers". nrl.com (Australia: NRL.COM and Telstra Corporation Pty Ltd.). 28 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
28. "RUGBY LEAGUE LAWS OF THE GAME INTERNATIONAL LEVEL WITH NOTES ON THE LAWS AND NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP INTERPRETATIONS" (PDF). PLAYNRL.COM. 2015.
29. 'history of the sport' in 1996, theRFL
30. 'rugby league playing guide' squad numbers, This is rugby, archived from the original on 3 April 2015
31. "League rule changes for 2008". www.leagueunlimited.com (League Unlimited). Retrieved 18 June 2009.
32. http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/rugby-league-nations/91-rugby-league-test-match-or-international-game/2486-rugby-league-strategic-roadmap-aims-to-double-worldwide-tv-audience-by-2025-full-version
33. Most Popular Sports in Australia. Topendsports.com. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
34. Ilya, Gridneff (11 April 2008). "Papua New Guinea officials lobby for an NRL team". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
35. Knowler, Richard (21 February 2012). "NRL team bid for Christchurch". The Press. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
36. David Rowe, 'Rugby League in Australia: the Super League Saga', Journal of Sport & Social Issues, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 221–226 (1997)
37. Matt Fletcher, Nancy Keller (2001). Tonga. Australia: Lonely Planet. p. 73. ISBN 978-1-74059-061-7.
38. Ford, Greg (18 April 2012). "State of Origin bigger test for James Tamou". Fairfax NZ News. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
39. "Apathy in old Dart like an arrow through our heart". Stock & Land. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
40. RLEF. Rlef.eu.com. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
41. Archived 23 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
42. Woods, Dave (14 December 2008). "Interest growing in Conference". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
43. "Rugby League Activity". Active Surrey. 14 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
44. "Engage Super League Attracts Strong Viewing in 2008". Rugby Football League. 14 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
45. "National Campaign Launched". England Rugby League. 14 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
46. Schofield, Hugh (8 October 2002). "French rugby league fights for rights". news.bbc.co.uk (BBC News). Retrieved 18 July 2009.
47. "Rugby League Planet – 1954 Rugby League World Cup". www.rugbyleagueplanet.com. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
48. "Rugby League Planet – 1968 Rugby League World Cup". www.rugbyleagueplanet.com. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
49. "Step Back in Time: Catalans (H)". wigan.rlfans.com (cherryandwhite.co.uk). Retrieved 18 July 2009.
50. "French join Super League". news.bbc.co.uk (BBC Sport). 26 May 2004. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
51. RLEF. Rlef.eu.com (29 July 2011). Retrieved 20 August 2013.
52. German Rugby League Bundesliga set for kick off. Rleague.com. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
53. norskrl.com. norskrl.com. Retrieved 20 August 2013
54. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/features/meet-the-yorkshireman-determined-to-bring-rugby-league-to-madrid-1-6780857
55. http://www.fijisun.com.fj/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Rugby-League-News-3rd-May-2013-edition.pdf

Further reading

• RLIF (2004). "The International Laws of the Game and Notes on the Laws". Rugby League International Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
• Andrews, Malcolm (1981). Rugby league, the greatest game of all. Horwitz. ISBN 978-0-7255-1338-2.
• Andrews, Malcolm (1995). The A-Z of Rugby League. Hodder Moa Beckett. ISBN 978-0-340-59956-3.

External links

• Official website of the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF)
• The Rugby League Spotlight | All round Rugby League News Blog Opinion Website
• Love Rugby League – The first place for rugby league news and views
• The largest Rugby League website in the world