International Rankings July 2018

[adamkungl]

1. Australia
100.00%

2. New Zealand
72.65%

3. England
70.36%

4. Tonga
27.97%

5. Fiji
25.79%

6. Samoa
25.46%

7. Scotland
24.48%

8. France
18.34%

9. Lebanon
13.87%

10. PNG
12.36%

11. Ireland
10.56%

12. Wales
7.98%

13. Italy
7.42%

14. USA
7.09%

15. Jamaica
5.24%

16. Canada
5.06%

17. Serbia
4.35%

18. Malta
3.77%

19. Norway
2.71%

20. Russia
2.65%

21. Hungary
2.35%

22. Spain
2.33%

23. Belgium
2.27%

24. Czech Republic
2.20%

25. Ukraine
2.10%

26. Greece
1.92%

27. Philippines
1.87%

28. Netherlands
1.42%

29. Sweden
1.36%

30. Germany
1.34%

31. Cook Islands
1.34%

32. South Africa
1.29%

33. Chile
1.17%

34. Niue
1.05%

35. Denmark
0.85%

36. Vanuatu
0.80%

37. El Salvador
0.73%

38. Thailand
0.72%

39. Argentina
0.61%

40. Colombia
0.57%

41. Japan
0.40%

42. Solomon Islands
0.36%

43. Brazil
0.35%

44. Uruguay
0.32%

45. Hong Kong
0.20%

46. Bulgaria
0.14%

47. Latvia
0.08%

48. Morocco

 

[adamkungl]

http://rlif.com/article/8436/latest-world-rankings

Following the completion of the mid-season internationals and commencement of European qualifying for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, the latest edition of the RLIF world rankings has been announced.



Tonga, after their 38-22 victory over Samoa in the Polynesian Cup have consolidated fourth position - gained after their run to the semi final of the 2017 RLWC - and closed the gap on the three nations above them, leaving their head coach Kristian Woolf calling for more matches against the higher-ranked.



“It is affirmation that all the steps taken towards showing the promise of the game for our country and team are being formally recognised,” he said. “Our next steps are to secure more fixtures against the top three countries.



“We have proved over the last two years that we can compete with them, and we believe we have earned the right to more opportunities. That is the goal of the Mate Ma’a Tonga Rugby League now – to secure consistent Test matches against the world powers of rugby league.”



England’s win over New Zealand in Denver sets up the three match autumn series between the nations for the Baskerville Shield as a battle for second place, and Ukraine’s win over Malta in European Championship C - South has seen them rise a place as they aim for the next stage of World Cup play offs to be held in 2019.



RLIF CEO Nigel Wood commented: “The twice-yearly world rankings not only reflect achievement but also the increased level of rugby league being played across the globe. It is another impetus behind planning more international fixtures and tournaments to cater for the greater demand of nations to test themselves at the highest level.



“The progress in South America is encouraging and the beginning of the road to the next World Cup in England should see more moves in the rankings by the end of the year. It is significant to see the ambition of nations such as Tonga, and I wish them well in their discussions to arrange fixtures that will whet the appetite of spectators and players across the world.”



The world rankings are based on a five year period of sanctioned Test matches, with more recent games carrying a greater value. Calculation is also based on the ranking of the opposition faced.

 

[adamkungl]

Buggered if I know how the score is calculated but it's the first time in a while we've actually been given one. So that's nice.

Of note..

England still not overtaken NZ despite making the WC final, and beating them again, while NZ have been awful for 3 years

Tonga and Fiji obviously top of the tier 2 pile, while Samoa and Scotland seemingly live off past glories (small though they were).

Lebanon PNG and Ireland seem to have climbed based on their WC wins, but France still sits above them.

Possibly for the first time in a long while, the top 14 nations are actually the 14 who played in the WC.

Belgium remains oddly high considering I can't remember them actually playing anyone of note, and the teams around them are mostly involved in 2021WC qualifiers.

And Sadly, Cook Islands remains far, far lower than they should be due to rarely playing any games. They have played 3 games since the 2013 WC which would be close to the least of any nation, and simply isn't good enough.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

holy moly the drop-off is frightening. they should change the way they calculate them to at least make them look more competitve to the casual viewer.

compared to onion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Rugby_Rankings

which is more linear and makes you think, at least, that things are competitive.

 

[adamkungl]

holy moly the drop-off is frightening. they should change the way they calculate them to at least make them look more competitve to the casual viewer.

The drop-off is probably accurate though. Professional players v non-professional players. Rugby League is a punishing game. And tbh Union IS a lot closer in reality. Is what it is.

 

[yakstorm]

The mid-year rankings should be removed.

Not enough games are played between January and June to make any significant impact on the placings, especially now Australia won't play anymore mid-season matches.

 

[Perth Red]

On Cook Islands how come they arent playing games? Funding or lack of eligible players?
Whilst abtiny population RL seemed popular on the main island when I was over there and sure like the other pi’s there’d be nz eligible players?

 

[deluded pom?]

Buggered if I know how the score is calculated

Me neither. The rankings are based on percentages. Percentages of what? And how does that take the quality of the competition (the tournament and the opposition) into account?

 

[siv]

In region its not too bad

Its the cross region rankings that fall down

Maybe the Emerging Nations RLWC will help

 

[titoelcolombiano]

New Zealand's recent form:
2018
L v England
2017
L v Fiji (WC Semi Final)
L v Tonga (WC)
W v Samoa (WC)
W v Scotland (WC)
L v Australia
2016
D v Scotland (4N)
L v Australia (4N)
W v England (4N)
L v Australia

England's recent form:
2018
W v New Zealand
2017
L v Australia (WC Final)
W v Tonga (WC Semi Final)
W v France (WC Quarter Final)
W v PNG (WC)
W v Lebanon (WC)
L v Australia (WC)
W v Samoa
2016
L v Australia (4N Final)
W v Scotland (4N)
L v New Zealand (4N)
W v France

England have a 1-1 head to head record with NZ during this period, have made a world cup final and a four nations final with an ovarall record of 8W - 4L.

At the same time NZ have not made the final of the four nations due to a draw with Scotland, lost in the quarter finals of the world cup to Fiji and didn't top their group in the world cup because of a loss to Tonga. They have an overall record of 3W 6L 1D.

England have played more and won more recently, by any logical metric they should have climbed to number 2 in the world by now.

 

[Pommy]

New Zealand's recent form:
2018
L v England
2017
L v Fiji (WC Semi Final)
L v Tonga (WC)
W v Samoa (WC)
W v Scotland (WC)
L v Australia
2016
D v Scotland (4N)
L v Australia (4N)
W v England (4N)
L v Australia

England's recent form:
2018
W v New Zealand
2017
L v Australia (WC Final)
W v Tonga (WC Semi Final)
W v France (WC Quarter Final)
W v PNG (WC)
W v Lebanon (WC)
L v Australia (WC)
W v Samoa
2016
L v Australia (4N Final)
W v Scotland (4N)
L v New Zealand (4N)
W v France

England have a 1-1 head to head record with NZ during this period, have made a world cup final and a four nations final with an ovarall record of 8W - 4L.

At the same time NZ have not made the final of the four nations due to a draw with Scotland, lost in the quarter finals of the world cup to Fiji and didn't top their group in the world cup because of a loss to Tonga. They have an overall record of 3W 6L 1D.

England have played more and won more recently, by any logical metric they should have climbed to number 2 in the world by now.

2015 we played a 3 game series with NZ which we won 2-1, making it even stranger.
I have zero idea how this is calculated or how long it spans.