International rugby league in 2018

A list of men and women international rugby league matches played throughout 2018 and does not include wheelchair rugby league international matches. A † denotes a recognised, but unofficial match that did not contribute to the IRL World Rankings.

February

Hungary vs Philippines

Malta vs Hungary

April

Burundi vs DR Congo

June

Japan vs Hong Kong

Notes:

• Paul Wani became the first Papua New Guinean to referee an international match since Graham Ainui in 1991.

Euro C

Melanesian Cup

Notes:

• Rhadley Brawa, Junior Rau (both Papua New Guinea), King Vuniyayawa, and Pio Sokobalavu (both Fiji) made their Test debuts.

Polynesian Cup

Notes:

• Robert Jennings, Tevita Tatola (both Tonga), Josh Aloiai, Michael Chee-Kam, Christian Crichton, Tyrone May, Isaiah Papali'i, and Ligi Sao (all Samoa) made their Test debuts, while Jorge Taufua made his debut for Samoa having previously represented Tonga.

England vs New Zealand in United States

Notes:

• Newly appointed New Zealand coach Michael Maguire opted not to name a captain for this Test match. Issac Luke took de facto control of the role.
• Jake Connor, Thomas Makinson (both England), Slade Griffin, and Jamayne Isaako (both New Zealand) made their Test debuts, while Leeson Ah Mau, Herman Ese'ese, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Esan Marsters, Ken Maumalo made their debuts for New Zealand having previously represented another nation (Samoa in all cases, except Cook Islands for Marsters).
• This match set the highest attendance for a standalone rugby league match played in the United States, eclipsing the 12,349 that attended the 1987 State of Origin exhibition match at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach and the ≈12,000-12,500 that attended the 2008 pre-season trial between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Leeds Rhinos at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. An international between the United States and Canada at Baltimore Memorial Stadium in 1995, which acted as a curtain raiser for a CFL match between the Baltimore Stallions and Toronto Argonauts, posted a crowd of 27,853.

South Africa vs Malta

Euro C

Hungary vs Ireland

July

Czech Republic vs Hungary

Notes:

• Bartek Sierota became the first Pole to referee an international match.

August

Euro C

September

Norway vs Poland

Griffin Cup

Euro C

Euro C

Euro C

Sweden vs Netherlands

Hungary vs Poland

October

Emerging Nations

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Papua New Guinea vs Australian PM's XIII (women)

Euro B

Serbia vs France

Italy vs South Africa

New Zealand vs Australia

Women

Men

Notes:

• Joseph Manu, Brandon Smith (both New Zealand), Damien Cook, Luke Keary, and Latrell Mitchell (all Australia) made their Test debuts, while James Tedesco made his debut for Australia having previously represented Italy.

Sweden vs Norway

Euro B

England vs France

Notes:

• Oliver Holmes, Tom Johnstone, Reece Lyne, Adam Milner, Jamie Shaul, Liam Sutcliffe, Luke Thompson (all England), Lambert Belmas, Paul Marcon, and Anthony Marion (all France) made their Test debuts, while Robbie Mulhern made his debut for England having previously represented Ireland.

Colombia vs El Salvador

Tonga vs Australia

Notes:

• The Australian players agreed to a one-time reduction of their $20,000 match payments in order to make this match financially viable.

Euro B

Knights Tour of Papua New Guinea

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Italy vs Niue

France vs England (women)

Euro A

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Baskerville Shield

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November

France vs Italy (women)

Americas Championship

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Notes:

• In their seventh meeting, this was the first time Jamaica has won against the United States.
• Jamaica became the 11th team to qualify for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

South American Championship

Notes:

• This was a part of the 2018 South American Cup.

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Notes:

• This was a part of the 2018 South American Cup.

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Notes:

• This was a part of the 2018 South American Cup.

Women's South American Championship

References