International Rugby League world rankings announced as England close in on powerhouse

Australia top the International Rugby League (IRL) standings in the running game, but England are rated as the planet’s leading wheelchair side.

England’s men are closing in on second-placed New Zealand after they beat Toa Samoa 2-0 in this autumn’s Test series and the Kiwis failed to qualify for the final of the Pacific Cup.

The English women remain third in the world rankings, behind Australia and New Zealand.

Major changes see Samoa rocket up the women’s rankings after their successful Pacific Championships campaign, while Tonga have moved back into the top four men’s teams and New Zealand feature for their first time in the wheelchair rankings.

The IRL world rankings are calculated on each nation’s performance over the current season and the three preceding campaigns.

Points are awarded for every match based on the result, margin of victory or defeat, relative strength of opposition, date – with recent games weighted more heavily – and importance of the fixture.

There were 72 sanctioned international matches in 2024, an increase of eight on the previous year.

IRL chairman Troy Grant said: “There have 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.

“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 IRL members who have collectively placed us in the most positive position the international game has been in for a number of years.

“The women’s game is now the fastest growing part of rugby league and it is really building up significant strength in places like Africa and Europe, as well as the Pacific.

“Wheelchair rugby league is also growing at an unbelievable pace. The World Cup in 2022 really put it into the hearts and minds of rugby league fans, particularly in England and we expect the 2026 World Cup in Australia to have a similar impact.”

Men’s rankings:

Women’s rankings:

Wheelchair rankings