IRL publishes 2025 Annual Report

International Rugby League has released its 2025 Annual Report.

The past year has been one in which international rugby league has taken great strides on and off the field ahead of the most competitive IRL Rugby League World Cup yet in 2026.

From the revival of The Ashes to the intensity and skill on display in the Pacific Championships to the inaugural IRL Rugby League World Series in Canada to Australia and England Women playing in Las Vegas and the admission of Ghana as an IRL Full Member, 2025 was a year of significant events and achievements.

International rugby league attracted record attendances at matches and record viewership around the globe, while the number of nations playing the game continued to grow during a year which began with France’s win over Morocco in January and finished with Netherlands beating Greece in December.

The World Cup picture was also completed in 2025, with Fiji Women, France Men and Cook Islands Men qualifying for RLWC2026, which will be played in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Fiji's win capped the first ever Women's IRL Rugby League World Cup qualifying event in rugby league history. This involved 16 nations, in four regions, playing 19 games, which is a clear step forward in the growth and maturity of the Women's game.

The Bulikula claimed the eighth and final Women’s RLWC2026 berth by beating Nigeria in the final of the inaugural IRL World Series 2025, hosted by Canada and also involving Ireland.

Nigeria's efforts and performances have triggered interest from the Nigerian government, which is now keen to invest in grassroots programmes.

France and Cook Islands secured the final two Men’s RLWC2026 berths, with France beating Jamaica in Albi in October and Cook Islands defeating South Africa in the last qualifier played alongside the Men’s and Women’s Pacific Cup finals in Sydney.

The Pacific Championships delivered four weeks of the highest quality men’s and women’s rugby league and despite the absence of the Kangaroos, who were playing in the first Ashes Series for 22-years, the fans responded in record numbers across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

The Kiwis, Samoa and Tonga whetted the appetite of fans for RLWC2026, while in PNG, the Kumuls confirmed that they will also have a say in the outcome of the World Cup after winning the Pacific Bowl for a third consecutive year.

The Kiwis regained the Pacific Cup, while the Jillaroos retained the Women’s trophy. Cook Islands Moana won the Women’s Pacific Bowl – the nation’s first major rugby league triumph.

Crowds at the Pacific Championships totalled 158,041, including a record 44,682 attendance at Suncorp Stadium for the Samoa v Tonga match, with passionate supporters from both nations producing an incredible atmosphere. A further 38,144 fans attended Eden Park in Auckland for the Kiwis v Tonga and Kiwi Ferns v Jillaroos double-header.

At the same time, the Kangaroos were in England for the first Ashes Series since 2003 and fans welcomed the return of the rivalry with crowds totalling 132,418 packing stadiums in London, Liverpool and Leeds.

The Kangaroos cemented top spot in the IRL World Rankings with a 3-0 Ashes Series clean sweep, while the Jillaroos also retained their No.1 ranking after a dominant 2025 which began with a 90-4 triumph against England at Allegiant Stadium and included wins over the Kiwi Ferns (twice) and Fetu Samoa.

Ireland successfully defended the Wheelchair Celtic Cup against Scotland and Wales, while World Cup holders England edged Australia in the Wheelchair Ashes on the Gold Coast to retain top spot in the IRL World Rankings.

There were also international fixtures played across the globe in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia, with Philippines hosting the inaugural Asian Championships, won by Singapore, who beat the Tamaraws in the final. Japan and Hong Kong were the other nations.

Rugby League in Europe continued to lead the way with more senior international matches played involving European teams than ever before, with a total of 40 Senior Internationals played across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair game.

Kangaroos hooker Harry Grant and Jillaroos winger Julia Robinson won the Men’s and Women’s IRL Golden Boot winners, while England’s Rob Hawkins became the first player to win back-to-back Golden Boots when he capped a stunning season by winning the IRL Wheelchair award.

Away from the playing field, the Rugby League Federation Ghana (RLFG) was officially approved as the 15th full member of International Rugby League (IRL) on December 18, following a 13-year development journey.

Ghana is the second African nation (after South Africa) to achieve this, granting them full voting rights. This a major step for not only RLFG but also rugby league in Africa, the game’s fastest growing region.

It is possible that in 2026 other African nations will be full member-eligible, and IRL has responded by increasing its support to sustain the advances that are being made in several productive national federations. To augment that burgeoning local capacity and safeguard game authenticity, IRL launched the sport’s broadest and most sophisticated global technical education project in 2025.

Following a pilot mission to Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya in January, which was only confirmed following years of course development and testing, the IRL Board committed record funding to this fundamental project which will deliver the qualification, mentoring and professional development of local technical leaders.

IRL also supported the deployment of mentors to Philippines to deliver Level 1 coaching and match officials courses in November during the Asia Championships as part of Philippines’ requirements as an Observer member.

A major piece of work which will hugely benefit IRL members in the future was the implantation of IRL’s Technical Education Portal.