Unranked nations

[langpark]

Did anyone see this part in the RLIF strategy??

What I cannot work out is how Bosnia-Herzogovina is not listed anywhere there! If I remember correctly, they have a 3-team league and their national side played two matches last year (vs Greece and Hungary).

They've got the most obscure countries on earth in there (some of which I'm sure have had zero activity) yet left out Bosnia... :?

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Only in RL would there be list of world unrankings.

 

[langpark]

Only in RL would there be list of world unrankings.

It does make sense though (although the list is indeed over the top).

For example; Poland. They've been around a good few years and especially in this last year have shown signs of growth, to the point where I think some sort of domestic league is less than 12 months away from being a reality. Poland, I can understand being on the list of unranked nations. There are some others that I've never heard of (in a RL context). And again, where is Bosnia!?

 

[East Coast Tiger]

If they deserve to be ranked, rank them. If they are not worth ranking, leave them off a list of 'world rankings'. I don't know how they can mess that up.

 

[deluded pom?]

I won't be in a hurry to see any of the Egyptians home games!

 

[roughyedspud]

Bet they'd bomb the wings.......to soon???

 

[CQ Italia]

Bosnia-Herzogovina also have a 9s team (watched them play in Belgrade this year) - great bunch of guys!

I think they are trying to get government recognition, but it is difficult (I can't remember the exact reason why though!)

 

[yakstorm]

The RLIF are trying to make a statement with this strategic plan so I get why they would want to list absolutely every nation that has put the words Rugby and League in the same sentence.

Being able to list 68 countries suddenly makes RL seem like a serious international sport. Personally I feel for some of those unranked nations they deserve to have their names published somewhere.

Places like Japan, Solomon Islands, Ghana, UAE and Thailand have all run domestic competitions of some sort which is worthy of some sort of recognition.

What is disappointing however is that legit places like Bosnia who have missed out and then there is next to no method was to why some nations get ranked and others dont.

Morocco for example, last played anyone in 2011 yet still have a rank. Vanuatu however last played a national team in 2014 (3 of their 4 opponents are ranked as well) yet they aren't ranked.

 

[roughyedspud]

Its only like union saying 2billion people watched the world cup lol

 

[langpark]

Of the unranked nations, I think some are close to getting proper recognition.

Poland and Bosnia, I believe are imminent.
Ghana and Kenya seem to have been each plugging away for a few years now (though not sure of exactly what's going on there).
Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan all seem to have steady activity.
Mexico have had a few domestic matches as well.
Then there's Vanuatu as well

So there's already another 9 nations, that could well be RLIF ranked by, who knows, 2017? That would mean 45. We could well be pushing 50 by the year 2020, would be great.

Again, I don't really know what the criteria etc. is, but as YS said about, Morocco have been dormant for years now and are still in the rankings.

 

[DlEHARD]

I'm really proud to see Hong Kong on the map. It'll be key in Asia.

 

[adamkungl]

Of the unranked nations, I think some are close to getting proper recognition.

Poland and Bosnia, I believe are imminent.
Ghana and Kenya seem to have been each plugging away for a few years now (though not sure of exactly what's going on there).
Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan all seem to have steady activity.
Mexico have had a few domestic matches as well.
Then there's Vanuatu as well

So there's already another 9 nations, that could well be RLIF ranked by, who knows, 2017? That would mean 45. We could well be pushing 50 by the year 2020, would be great.

Again, I don't really know what the criteria etc. is, but as YS said about, Morocco have been dormant for years now and are still in the rankings.

I thought the criteria for ranking was closely aligned with RLIF affiliate membership - a 4 team annual domestic league, some junior and youth league, and various governance requirements, but it seems pretty flimsy. For the most part the ranked teams seem to fulfill this.

The last 2 ranked teams added were Niue and Philippines.

 

[langpark]

I thought the criteria for ranking was closely aligned with RLIF affiliate membership - a 4 team annual domestic league, some junior and youth league, and various governance requirements, but it seems pretty flimsy. For the most part the ranked teams seem to fulfill this.

The last 2 ranked teams added were Niue and Philippines.

It's a bit of a grey area. Cos countries like Hungary and Denmark have never come close to fulfilling that part of the criteria but seem to have been members for a while now.

 

[dorcolrugby]

To be ranked they need to be at least observers of the confederation (RLEF or APRLC) as at this level a nation is able to play full international match.
It is up to national governing body to decide when they'd apply for the observer (if they meet the criteria) in co-operation with regional manager, but the timing is only up to NGB.

I know Bosnia-Herzegovina has more developed RL than some higher ranked nations, but due to administrative obstructions they are yet to apply for RLEF observer status. Anyway, I agree that they deserved to be seen in this list before, for example, Macedonia and Montenegro.
Plus, Ukraine flag is turned upside down, it is Tunisian flag instead of Trinidad & Tobago's in this paper, so it could have been done in (visually) better way.

 

[Evil Homer]

Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Namibia and Malaysia are nations of which I've never seen/heard any mention of RL activity before. They've obviously been in contact with the RLIF/RLEF in some way, but I agree that to list them is a bit silly. This isn't a new thing though, I remember Cuba used to be included on world rankings for a while despite no activity.