IRL Membership: Chile, Morocco reclassified

International Rugby League has announced the reclassification of Federation Marocaine de Rugby League (Morocco) and Rugby Futbol League 13 de Chile (Chile) from Affiliate to Observer Members.

The reclassification of Morocco and Chile comes after their national bodies were found to be non-compliant with the terms of the IRL membership policy for an extended period.

Compliance is assessed annually through the annual membership audit, with non-compliant members given a two-year corrective action period to address non-compliance. 

In addition, the national federations of El Salvador and the Solomon Islands have been expelled from the IRL following at least three years of non-submission of the annual membership audit.

The reclassification of nations follows the introduction of the current membership policy in 2019, which initially allowed for a two-year transition period to allow members time to adjust to the new policy.   

Covid then delayed compliance deadlines and every nation was afforded a Covid-free two-year corrective action period following non-compliant status.