Rugby League European Federation

Infobox Organization
name = Rugby League European Federation


size = 169px
motto =
type = Sports federation
formation = 2003
headquarters =
membership = 20 national associations
leader_title = Chairman
leader_name = Richard Lewis
website= http://www.rlef.eu.com/|The Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league across Europe, and the Mediterranean area. They are responsible, amongst other things, for spreading the game of rugby league across the continent and organising various competitions involving European nations.

History

The federation was founded January 2003 following an initiative between Richard Lewis, Executive Chairman of Britain's Rugby Football League and his French counterpart Jean Paul Ferre. Currently three nations are full members of the federation; the remainder are associate members. Full members are entitled to a greater proportion of voting rights and to become members of the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).

RLEF board

*Chairperson: Richard Lewis (Britain)
*Vice Chairperson: Nicolas Larrat (France)
*Treasurer: Nigel Wood (Britain)
*Board Member: Olivier Michelet

Membership

In order to become an associate member, a nation must meet the following criteria:
*Implementation of a constitution and rules that commit the governing body to acting in the best interest of rugby league, throughout the whole of their country.
*Production of an annual financial report.
*A league competition with at least four teams.
*Implementation of a junior development programme.

RLEF members

Full members

*Rugby Football League, representing England and Great Britain
*Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII, representing France
*Russian Rugby League Federation, representing Russia

Associate members

*Ireland
*Lebanon
*Serbia
*Scotland
*Wales

Official observers

*Georgia
*Holland
*Germany
*Austria
*Estonia
*Czech Republic
*Morocco
*Malta
*Italy
*Greece
*Portugal

Official 2007 RLEF Seedings

*1. England
*2. France
*3. Ireland
*4. Scotland
*5. Lebanon
*6. Wales
*7. Russia
*8. Serbia
*9. Germany
*10. Czech Republic
*11. Greece
*12. Malta
*13. Italy
*14. Latvia
*15. Estonia
*16. Morocco

Unranked but Official observer status

*1. Ukraine
*2. Norway
*3. Sweden

ee also

*Rugby League International Federation
* European Nations Cup
* RLEF European Shield
* RLEF European Bowl
* RLEF Euro Med Challenge

External links

* [http://www.rlef.eu.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.rlef.eu.com/euroseed.htm/ Official rankings]