The Canada national rugby league team represents Canada in international rugby league football tournaments.
History
1987–2000: Origins Rugby league was first introduced to Canada in the 1900s but was quickly outlawed by Rugby Union officials and thus became Canadian football. It was not until the late 1980s that rugby league was re-introduced to Canada at an amateur level, when a short-lived 4-team domestic competition, known as the Tri-Counties Rugby League, was established. Four teams competed in its first year, three in Canada and one in the U.S., the New York–based Adirondacks club.
The Canadian national team played their first game in 1987 against the USA. They then played sporadically throughout the 1990s and participated in the 1995 and '96 Rugby League World Sevens and Rugby League Emerging Nations World Cup in 2000. Following the 2000 Emerging Nations World Cup, the Canadian Rugby League Federation folded. As a result, the national team was disbanded and the sport remained dormant for 10 years.
2010 onwards: Revival
In 2010, a new governing body, Canada Rugby League, was formed. Their first comeback game was in 2010 in the War at the Shore tournament, where they played New England Immortals, a New England representative team, and the New York Knights AMNRL club team, losing both games. The team's international comeback was later in the year in September in the inaugural Colonial Cup. Later that year they competed in the Rugby League Atlantic Cup in Jacksonville, Florida.
Canada's first win since they were reformed came the following year in 2011 against Jamaica. They collected their second win in September, against the US in the second game of the Colonial Cup. However, due to an earlier loss to the US and the resulting aggregate scores, Canada was unable to win the Cup. Canada's international season finished up with a defeat against South Africa, in a warm up game before their 2013 World Cup qualifiers campaign.
In 2014, Stuart Donlan was appointed as head coach. Donlan's first game was the 2014 Colonial Cup's only fixture. He coached Canada to a famous victory which made them the Colonial Cup champions for the very first time. Aaron Zimmerle, the head coach of the Tweed Heads Seagulls, took over the main coaching role in 2015 in their 2017 World Cup qualifying campaign.
After failing to qualify for the 2017 World Cup, the Canada Rugby League Board appointed Benjamin Fleming as coach on a three-year deal. Canada Rugby League Association Vice President David Graham said "the board's decision to appoint Fleming as Head Coach was based on the hard work and passion he has shown since returning to the association last year."
Current squad Canada squad for 22nd November, 2025 match against Jamaica. PlayerPositionClubJacob BourneFullback Point Grey ThunderJalen HarrisonRight Wing Vancouver Valley VipersJason ChuckRight Centre Brampton BeaversColin CrozierLeft Centre Durham DawgsDarian ArcherLeft Wing Brantford BroncosRhys JacksStand Off/Five Eighth Whistler WolvesGreg WiseHalfback/Scrum Half Brampton BeaversDan MartynProp Vancouver Valley VipersToby HornHooker Whistler WolvesChuck CurranProp Brantford BroncosQais NasseriRight Second Row Durham DawgsAugustus MurphyLeft Second Row Royal CityScyler DumasLock Forward Vancouver DragonsRobin LegaultInterchange Whistler WolvesDoug Howard Interchange Leichhardt WanderersBlake MarshallInterchange Wynnum ManlyOliver LenahanInterchange Vancouver Valley Vipers
Competitive Record
Overall and IRL Rankings
Below is the head-to-head record of the Canadian national rugby league team up to date as of 14 July 2026. AgainstFirst PlayedPWLD% WonLast PlayedFAD 2019 1 1 0 0 100% 2018 78 2 +76 2018 1 1 0 0 100% 2018 62 12 +50 Lionhearts 2012 2 0 2 0 0% 2014 16 102 –86 2016 1 0 1 0 0% 2016 12 26 –14 1995 1 0 1 0 0% 1995 32 72 –40 2000 1 0 1 0 0% 2000 6 66 –60 2010 11 6 4 1 54.55% 2025 250 214 +36 1999 2 1 1 0 % 2000 28 26 +2 2012 1 1 0 0 100% 2012 36 18 +18 20261100100%2026346 +2820261100100%2026566 +50202610100%20261022–12 2019 1 0 1 0 0% 2019 8 36 –28 2011 1 0 1 0 0% 2011 22 36 –14 1993 28 5 22 1 % 2024 448 914 –466 Total 1993 54 17 35 2 33.33% 2026 1,098 1,558 –460
World Cup World Cup RecordYearRoundPositionWinDrawLoss 1954did not enter 1957 1960 1968 1970 1972 1975 1977 1985–88 1989–92 1995 2000did not qualify 2008 2013 2017 2021 2026
Colonial Cup Colonial Cup recordYearRoundPositionGPWLD 2010Second place2/21010 2011Second place2/22110 2012Second place2/22020 2013Second place2/24130 2014Champions1/21100 2015Champions1/23210 2016Second place2/22020 2017Second place2/21010 2024Draw1/21001Total2 Titles9/9175111
Caribbean Carnival Cup The Caribbean Carnival Cup is annual series that has been played between Canada and Jamaica since 2011.
Caribbean Cup recordYearRoundPositionGPWLD 2011Champions1/21100 2012Champions1/21100 2013Champions1/21100 2014Champions1/21100Total4 Titles4/44400
Americas Rugby League Championship The tournament contested by Americas national rugby league teams. Americas Rugby League Championship RecordYearResultAtlantic Cup (2009-2010) 2009Not Invited 20103rd20022478Americas Championship (2016-onwards)20162nd2101461620173rd20023264 20183rd21017050
See also
Toronto Wolfpack Rugby league in Canada
References
External links Canada Rugby League Website