European Rugby League
The European Rugby League (ERL) is the umbrella body for nations playing the sport of rugby league football across Europe and the Northern Hemisphere. Previously known as the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF), the ERL operates several competitions, most notably the European Cup. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions. History. 2003-2019. The federation was founded January 2003 following an initiative between Richard Lewis, Executive Chairman of Britain's Rugby Football League (RFL) and his French counterpart Jean Paul Ferre. The RLEF's first  constitution was approved in January 2004 and the federation's first Board of Directors was elected. This first Board of Directors consisted of Jean Paul Ferre as President/Chairman and Richard Lewis as Deputy Chairman with Nigel Wood and Nicolas Larrat being the other Board members. Representatives for Morocco, Italy, Serbia, Russia, Lebanon, Ireland, Scotland and Wales attended. Russia became a full member of the RLEF, joining Britain and France, and the RLIF soon after. At the time of its foundation, the RLEF placed a "particular emphasis on generating development funding within each country". Historically, much of the development work  conducted in Europe had been funded by the RFL. Following the profitable 2008 World Cup, the RFL and RLEF prepared to bid for funds to enhance their activities. In December 2009, Kevin Rudd, a former Scotland rugby league international, stepped down as Executive Officer of the RLEF after more than five years in the post. RLEF Chairman Richard Lewis stated that Rudd "has done an outstanding job and created a platform, structure and competitions framework that can take us into the future". Rudd was succeeded by Danny Kazandjian. Kazandjian had previously been a key figure in the establishment of rugby  league in Lebanon and had led the RLEF's development drive in the Mediterranean and Middle East regions as Director of Development for the Euro-Med region. 2020-present. The RLEF was renamed the European Rugby League in 2021, in line with the RLIF's renaming to the International Rugby League. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions. Membership. Currently 11 nations are full members of the federation; there are also ten associate members and sixteen official observers. Full members are entitled to a greater proportion of voting  rights and to become members of the Rugby League International Federation. In order to become an associate member, a nation must meet the following criteria: The ERL stipulates that continued associate and full membership of the federation is subject to a check every two years to ensure that the minimum criteria are still being met.