Australia remain leading Rugby League nation

Australia are still the world’s leading Rugby League nation, according to the latest RLIF rankings.

The Kangaroos extended their stay at the top of the world rankings thanks largely to a win over New Zealand in 2013’s ANZAC Test.

England remain third while Tonga’s convincing win over Samoa sees the Pacific Islanders move up two places, breaking into the top 10 and overtaking the USA and Scotland. 

The two European Shield matches in May have allowed Russia and Serbia to close the gap on Italy, with Russia poised to move ahead of the 14th-placed Italians should they win in Padova on June 29.

RLIF World Rankings – June 2013

1 Australia

2 New Zealand

3 England

4 France          

5 Wales           

6 Papua New Guinea    

7 Fiji    

8 Samoa          

9 Ireland           

10 Tonga         

11 Scotland     

12 USA

13 Italy

14 Russia         

15 Serbia

16 Lebanon

17 Cook Islands

18 Germany

19 Canada       

20 Norway        

21 Malta           

22 Jamaica      

23 Ukraine        

24 South Africa

25 Latvia

26 Denmark     

27 Estonia       

28 Sweden       

29 Netherlands 

30 Morocco     

31 Belgium