IRL chief explains why Samoa and Tonga aren't tier one nations like Serbia.

Ahead of another big weekend of international rugby league, the game’s eligibility rules are once again in the news.

Speaking with AAP  International Rugby League (IRL) boss Troy Grant has ruled out any changes to the current system with the 2026 World Cup less than a year away.

“Why change something that is working?” Grant said.

“The responsibility we have as an organisation is to provide the best available eligible players to represent their nation.”

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“They can be eligible by birth, by heritage through the grandparent rule or by citizenship, they’re the rules,” Grant continued.

Arguing the international game has never been in better shape, Grant strongly fended off suggestions that the rise of Samoa and Tonga should see them graded as ‘tier one’ nations alongside Australia, New Zealand and England—a decision that could bring seismic selection ramifications.

“The tiering is not an on-field tiering performance, it’s about off-field governance,” Grant said.

“It is all about the domestic capabilities of their leagues—they are small countries, Tonga has a population smaller than Canberra, there is only so much capacity for them to do things.”

According to the IRL 2024 Annual Report, Tonga had just 3,042 locally-registered rugby league players in 2024 while Samoa had only 592—less than both Serbia and Jamaica.

Unsurprisingly Australia had overwhelmingly the largest talent pool to draw upon with 246,948 registered players, while England was second with 97,958 and New Zealand third with 35,101.

Registered rugby league players in 2024

Source: IRB Annual Report 2024