Rugby League began in England in 1895.

Twenty two northern Rugby Union clubs formed a breakaway to form then Northern Rugby Football Union. The name was altered to the Rugby Football League in 1922

Today, there are 248,645 registered players.

The elite competition is the Super League that includes 12 teams. Then there is the co-operative National Leagues One that has 10 teams and National League Two that has12 teams.

There is the Rugby League Conference that includes 72 teams from all over the United Kingdom. The season starts in February and concludes in October.

Running concurrently to the Leagues seasons is the Carnegie Challenge Cup, a knockout competition that starts with more than 100 teams and has its final at Wembley Stadium.

Each club has its own ground. International matches are scheduled for various grounds, Headingly, Wigan, Manchester, and Hull to name four.

Great Britain critics rate the 1954, 1960 and 1972 teams as their best ever. Each side was a World Cup winner.

Junior strength is vast with more than 230,000 aged between six and 18 registered. There are nearly 500 schools playing Rugby League, providing 1,274 teams.

Each year Great Britain organised the Carnegie Champions School tournament which is the largest League competition in the world. Last year more than 25,000 children participated.

The overall standard is improving with greater emphasis on home grown talent.

Sponsorship is healthy. "engage Mutual Assurance" are the major sponsors of the Super League. Northern Rail and Gillette are also significant sponsors.

England will play an international in June 2008 against France as a warm-up for the World Cup.

When invited to name three players likely to make an impact on the World Cup, the names of Jamie Peacock, the man-of-steel front rower from the Leeds Rhinos, the 21-year-old James Roby from St Helens who is renowned for “big hits” despite his size, and Leon Pryce of St Helens, a five-eighth who declared last year he would prefer to be in Blackpool than Bondi, readily came to mind.

Rugby Football League Red Hall Red Hall Lane Leeds, West Yorkshire LS17 8NB UK

Telephone: + 44 113 232 9111 Fax: + 44 113 232 3666 Email: rfl@rfl.uk.com Web: http://www.rfl.uk.com/

Foundation Year: 1895 Affiliated Since: 1948 RLIF Status: Test Nation