International Rugby League announces classifications framework

The IRL Classifications Committee, established last year to guide the creation of a framework for players with a disability, has published the sport’s first classification manual.

The committee has worked for 15 months to consider the various aspects required to classify a player with disability to ensure that the sport can be played as fairly and safely as possible. The manual will be used determine a player’s eligibility to compete under IRL PDRL classification regulations and to group players with similar overall function in classes for competition.

Committee chair Victoria Myers commented, “Over the last 15 months the IRL Classifications Committee has invested time and commitment in developing a classification system that is ready to be implemented within international competitions.   

“The classification journey has been very rewarding, and a wealth of knowledge shared by practitioners within elite disability sport communities enabled us to complete a framework in line with international standards.

“The medical and technical knowledge gained allowed the committee to make important decisions on classifier matters such as eligibility, profiling of players, and sport classes. Classification is aimed at making the competition as fair as possible and our goal was to create a level playing field for all athletes. We are eager to apply our classification system to PDRL international competitions, the next PDRL World Cup event and beyond.”

As a part of the process, a classification day was held in York and the experience of players, coaches and classifiers used to inform the final technical document. In addition to the manual, IRL has recruited a Head of Classification and Chief Classifier to bolster its presence in the discipline.

The framework will be used for the Physical Disability World Cup in 2022.