# International rugby league in 2020

A list of men and women international rugby league matches played throughout 2020 and does not include wheelchair rugby league international matches. A † denotes a recognised, but unofficial match that did not contribute to the IRL World Rankings.
Many fixtures scheduled were cancelled or rescheduled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Kangaroo tour of England, Oceania Cup, and European Championship were all cancelled. The European Championship B, European Championship C, European Championship D and Americas Championship were all postponed until 2021, whilst the MEA Championship was postponed until a later date not confirmed.
As a result of the travel restrictions from COVID-19, only two respective men's and women's test matches were played in 2020; a men's international between Peru and Brazil in Sydney before the pandemic began, the Griffin Cup match between Germany and Netherlands, and a women's 'Clash of the Pacific' double-header in Auckland where Tonga and Niue, and New Zealand and Tonga played each other.

## Season overview

Men's international tours :
| Start date | Touring side | Region | Results [Matches] |
| No international men's tours in 2020 ||||
| Men's international friendlies ||||
| Start date | Home team | Away team | Winners |
| 22 February 2020 | Peru | Brazil | Brazil |
| 26 September 2020 | Netherlands | Germany | Netherlands |
| Men's international tournaments ||||
| Start date | Tournament | Tournament | Winners |
| No international men's tournaments in 2020 ||||
Women's international tours :
| Start date | Touring side | Region | Results [Matches] |
| No international women's tours in 2020 ||||
| Women's international friendlies ||||
| Start date | Home team | Away team | Winners |
| 7 November 2020 | Tonga | Niue | Tonga |
| 7 November 2020 | New Zealand | Samoa | New Zealand |
| Women's international tournaments ||||
| Start date | Tournament | Tournament | Winners |
| No international women's tournaments in 2020 ||||

## Rankings

The following were the rankings at the beginning of the season.
IRL Men's World Rankings :
| Official rankings as of 18 November 2019 ||||
| Rank | Change | Team | Points % |
| 1 | 2 | New Zealand | 100.00% |
| 2 | 1 | Australia | 91.82% |
| 3 | 1 | England | 85.34% |
| 4 | | Tonga | 60.66% |
| 5 | | Fiji | 36.57% |
| 6 | 4 | Papua New Guinea | 28.53% |
| 7 | | Samoa | 22.09% |
| 8 | 2 | France | 16.69% |
| 9 | 1 | Scotland | 15.00% |
| 10 | 1 | Lebanon | 11.81% |
| 11 | 5 | Greece | 11.38% |
| 12 | | Ireland | 11.36% |
| 13 | 1 | Italy | 7.86% |
| 14 | 3 | Wales | 7.75% |
| 15 | 4 | Serbia | 0.00% |
| 16 | 1 | Malta | 6.77% |
| 17 | 1 | Norway | 5.63% |
| 18 | 3 | United States | 5.39% |
| 19 | 4 | Poland | 5.35% |
| 20 | 7 | Jamaica | 5.04% |
| 21 | 1 | Hungary | 4.27% |
| 22 | 3 | Czech Republic | 4.16% |
| 23 | 5 | Cook Islands | 3.87% |
| 24 | 7 | Turkey | 3.51% |
| 25 | 1 | Netherlands | 3.29% |
| 26 | 4 | Spain | 3.18% |
| 27 | 6 | Canada | 2.81% |
| 28 | | Nigeria | 2.51% |
| 29 | 2 | Solomon Islands | 2.32% |
| 30 | 10 | Sweden | 2.16% |
| 31 | 4 | Germany | 1.95% |
| 32 | 1 | Chile | 1.86% |
| 33 | | Ghana | 1.80% |
| 34 | 16 | Morocco | 1.69% |
| 35 | 3 | Vanuatu | 1.47% |
| 36 | | South Africa | 1.46% |
| 37 | 8 | Russia | 1.41% |
| 38 | | Cameroon | 1.31% |
| 39 | 2 | Ukraine | 1.21% |
| 40 | 1 | Colombia | 1.06% |
| 41 | 4 | Brazil | 0.50% |
| 42 | | Belgium | 0.30% |
| 43 | 4 | Denmark | 0.13% |
| 44 | 4 | Bulgaria | 0.10% |
| 45 | 4 | Latvia | 0.07% |
| *Change from July 2019 ||||
| Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT ||||
IRL Women's World Rankings :
| Official rankings as of 18 November 2019 ||||
| Rank | Change | Team | Points % |
| 1 | | Australia | |
| 2 | | New Zealand | |
| 3 | | England | |
| 4 | 2 | Papua New Guinea | |
| 5 | 1 | Canada | |
| 6 | 1 | France | |
| 7 | 2 | Cook Islands | |
| 8 | | Italy | |
| 9 | | Serbia | |
| 10 | | Fiji | |
| 11 | | Turkey | |
| 12 | | Samoa | |
| 13 | | Brazil | |
| 14 | 6 | Lebanon | |
| 15 | | Greece | |
| *Change from July 2019 ||||
| Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT ||||

## February
### Peru vs Brazil men in Australia

* 22 February 2020 17:00 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
| Peru | 14–30 | Brazil |
| Tries: N. Ibarburu, Sommers, Zarate Goals: G. Altamirano (1/3) | Report | Tries: Araújo, De Araujo, Howison, Jackson, Viñas Goals: Nunes (5/5) |
* Hillier Oval, Sydney Attendance: 350 Referee: Matthew Middelton (Australia)

## September
### Germany men in Netherlands

* 26 September 2020 17:00 CEST (UTC+02:00)
| Netherlands | 20–18 | Germany |
| Tries: Longhurst, Farrell, Schoenmaker Goals: Gout (4/4) | Report | Tries: Hampson (2), Seidler Goals: Billsborough (1/1), Esser (1/1), Doughton (1/1) |
* RC Zwolle, Zwolle Referee: Jaroslav Bzoch (Czech Republic)

## November
### Tonga vs Niue women in New Zealand

* 7 November 2020 14:00 NZDT (UTC+13:00)
| Tonga | 66–8 | Niue |
| Tries: Hufanga (3), Taulanga (2), Filimoe'atu (2), Sikei (2), Vailea, Huni, Maumau-Pinomi Goals: Hufanga (9/12) | Report Highlights | Tries: Kamutoa, Hiko |
* Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

### Samoa women in New Zealand

* 7 November 2020 16:00 NZDT (UTC+13:00)
| New Zealand | 28–8 | Samoa |
| Tries: Stephens (2), Hansen, Hireme-Smiler, Vaha'akolo, Tamarua Goals: Hansen (2/4), Paul (0/2) | Report Video Replay | Tries: Lemanu, Tufuga Goals: Eli (0/2) |
* Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Referee: Viggo Rasmussen