2019 World Rankings - Men

For 2019, a new leader emerged. The Kiwis jumped two places in the process, which shows the differences in ranking are not that large between the top three. Of course, the more games you play the better you do which has some crying foul. However, in a sport where the international game is marginalised a system that rewards nations that takes internationals more seriously should be rewarded.

What I did find intriguing was that four new nations appeared but seven disappeared! I know some of those deleted have played matches so I wonder what that's all about? What that does explain is how Latvia went up four places and is still last.

For the 45 countries on the list, they are colour coded by region, not just for show. It also confirms the sport's worst kept secret, that the Pacific is now clearly RL's strongest region.

			Rankings 2019
			1	New Zealand	+2
			2	Australia	-1
			3	England	-1
			4	Tonga	-
			5	Fiji	-
			6	PNG	+4
			7	Samoa	-
			8	France	-2
			9	Scotland	-1
			10	Lebanon	-1
			11	Greece	+8
			12	Ireland	-
			13	Italy	-
			14	Wales	-3
			15	Serbia	+2
			16	Malta	-
			17	Norway	+3
			18	USA	-3
			19	Poland	+4
			20	Jamaica	-6
			21	Hungary	-3
			22	Czech Rep	+4
			23	Cook Is	+20
			24	Turkey	+7
			25	Netherlands	+1
			26	Spain	+2
			27	Canada	-6
			28	Nigeria	New
			29	Solomon Is	-2
			30	Sweden	+8
			31	Germany	-1
			32	Chile	-
			33	Ghana	New
			34	Morocco	New
			35	Vanuatu	-2
			36	South Africa	+2
			37	Russia	-8
			38	Cameroon	New
			39	Ukraine	-4
			40	Colombia	+1
			41	Brazil	+4
			42	Belgium	-3
			43	Denmark	+1
			44	Bulgaria	+3
			45	Latvia	+4