The IRL Board has begun discussions with Samoa and Tonga about promoting the Pacific nations to Tier 1 status, alongside Australia, England and New Zealand.
The elevation of Samoa and Tonga as Tier 1 nations would be in recognition of their performances on and off the field, with both nations reaching the semi-finals of 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Samoa became the first Pacific nation to play in a World Cup Final in 2022, while Tonga are the only Tier 2 nation to have defeated Australia, England and New Zealand.
IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “The Board voted unanimously to engage with Tonga and Samoa on elevating them from Tier 2 to Tier 1 status. I have been in contact with both nations to advise them of the Board’s decision. We will be working with them over the next couple of months to ensure there is no unintended consequences from that potential elevation to Tier 1.
“This is out of respect and acknowledgement of their achievements on two fronts; obviously their performances on field are without question the equivalent of the current three Tier 1 nations and secondly these two nations have taken gigantic leaps forward regarding their governance and what they are doing domestically.”
The discussions around Samoa and Tonga's potential elevation to Tier 1 status form part of a series of significant announcements from the IRL, including plans for a new Magic Round format for the 2030 Rugby League World Cup, to be staged across the Pacific and USA, and changes to international eligibility rules allowing players to represent a nation through a great-grandparent connection.
