Tonga and Samoa set to become Tier 1 nations after rapid rise in international rugby league

International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant announced that the IRL Board voted unanimously to engage with Tonga and Samoa regarding their elevation to Tier 1 status. Currently, only Australia, New Zealand, and England hold Tier 1 status. The governing body will work with both nations over the coming months to assess and prevent any unintended consequences before finalizing the decision.

Elevating both nations will affect player eligibility rules, as athletes cannot switch between Tier 1 nations under normal circumstances. This prevents dual-eligible heritage players from deferring to Tonga or Samoa if left out of Australian or New Zealander squads. Alongside the planned elevation, the IRL expanded heritage eligibility rules to include great-grandparents.