International eligibility rules relaxed again in major change predicted to ‘future-proof’ the game

International Rugby League has officially relaxed eligibility rules to allow players to represent countries where their great-grandparents were born. The decision, confirmed by IRL chair Troy Grant following a submission from the Cook Islands, applies across all three forms of the game. Additionally, the IRL Board voted unanimously to elevate Tonga and Samoa to Tier 1 status alongside Australia, New Zealand, and England in recognition of their international performances and governance.