Asia and The Middle East
Rugby league is a growing sport in Asia and the Middle East, with a large growth in players since the 1990s, some of which have played at the game's elite levels in the National Rugby League and Super League. The game in the Middle East is one of the fastest growing sports with regular internationals played against European and Mediterranean teams. Although Russia has a growing rugby league presence and extends into Asia, the main competition is in Europe.
Countries that meet current World Cup qualification criteria:
| Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Rugby league in Japan | Samurais | Affiliate | Japanese Rugby League Association | Japanese Rugby League | Emerging Nations - Pool Round |
| Lebanon | Rugby league in Lebanon | The Cedars | Affiliate | Lebanese Rugby League Federation | Bank of Beirut Championship | World Cup - Pool Round |
Other countries with a history of the game:
| Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | Non-Affiliate | China Rugby League | ||||
| Indonesia | Non-Affiliate | Indonesia Rugby League | Bali 9's/West Papua | |||
| Israel | Non-Affiliate | |||||
| Pakistan | Rugby league in Pakistan | Observer | ||||
| Palestine | Non-Affiliate | |||||
| Qatar | Observer | |||||
| Saudi Arabia | Observer | |||||
| Singapore | Non-Affiliate | Singapore Rugby League | ||||
| United Arab Emirates | Rugby league in UAE | Falcons | Observer | Emirates Rugby League |
Read more about this topic: Rugby League Around The World
Famous quotes containing the words asia and, asia, middle and/or east:
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—P.J. (Patrick Jake)
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