Who are the best international rugby league teams?

Australia has the strongest men’s World Cup record and leads the dated IRL rankings used here for both men and women. New Zealand and England complete the top three in each ranking. But “best” needs a measure: recent international results, World Cup titles and a particular tournament campaign are different questions.

This comparison covers international thirteen-a-side rugby league, not rugby union or club competitions. Rankings below are from the IRL update published on 20 August 2026, covering standings as of 31 July; World Cup title counts run through the edition played in 2022. Results after those cutoffs are excluded.

Best teams by official international ranking

The IRL’s August 2026 announcement places these teams in the leading seven positions:

Rank	Men’s national team	Women’s national team
1	Australia	Australia
2	New Zealand	New Zealand
3	England	England
4	Samoa	France
5	Tonga	Samoa
6	Papua New Guinea	Papua New Guinea
7	Fiji	Canada

These are separate competitions and separate rankings. A country’s men’s position does not establish the strength of its women’s team.

The rankings also measure more than wins. The IRL’s published method uses the current season and three preceding seasons, taking account of results, margins, opposition strength, recency and match importance. World Cup matches carry the greatest importance, ahead of qualifiers, regional championships and one-off internationals.

Only officially sanctioned senior matches between approved members count. Club results are outside this comparison, as are fixtures that do not meet those IRL criteria.

For readers asking which teams have the strongest recent international record, the dated ranking is a useful starting point. It is not a prediction that the higher-ranked team will win every meeting. For tournament entrants rather than a strength comparison, see our international teams and 2026 World Cup guide.

Australia leads the men’s World Cup record

Through the tournament played in 2022, the men’s title totals were Australia 12, Great Britain three and New Zealand one, across 16 editions. That gives Australia three-quarters of the titles—a much stronger historical claim than simply being first in one ranking update. The World Cup winners record also shows Australia’s six consecutive titles from 1975 to 2000.

Australia secured its 12th title by beating Samoa 30–10 in the 2022 final. It was the Kangaroos’ third consecutive tournament win. The edition retained the 2021 label despite being played in 2022.

New Zealand’s smaller title count should not be mistaken for an inability to beat Australia. The Kiwis won their first World Cup with a 34–20 final victory in 2008. Their national federation’s history also records a 30–0 victory over Australia in the 2023 Pacific Championships final. Those results demonstrate why all-time dominance and superiority in a particular campaign are not interchangeable.

Great Britain’s titles belong under Great Britain, not relabelled as England’s. Their 1972 success also illustrates a format trap: the final against Australia finished 10–10, even after extra time. Great Britain received the trophy because of its better preliminary record, as the match archive explains. Counting only outright final victories would miss a legitimate championship.

The women’s historical answer is closer

Australia and New Zealand each had three women’s World Cup titles through 2022. The Kiwi Ferns won in 2000, 2003 and 2008, documented in the NZRL history. Australia then won three consecutive editions, completing that sequence with a 54–4 victory over New Zealand in the 2022 final.

So the answer changes with the measure: Australia leads the August 2026 women’s ranking, while Australia and New Zealand share the historical World Cup title lead through 2022. Our women’s international rugby league guide covers that competition separately.

Which measure should you use?

• Recent international strength: use a dated IRL ranking, then check subsequent results.
• World Cup achievement: count titles under the team name that actually competed, including championships decided without an outright final win.
• Best in a specific tournament: use that edition’s results and format, rather than importing an all-time ranking.