Wales become full RLIF members

Wales have become the 12th full member of the Rugby League International Federation following a meeting of the Federation board in Melbourne on Thursday.

They were also granted automatic qualification to the 2013 World Cup which will take place in the United Kingdom.
Previously, full international membership has gone to Great Britain but since the start of 2008, when the Great Britain side was permanently split into four nations for full test international purposes, that spot was given to England.

Now this week, Wales, who were the first country in the world to host a rugby league international when they beat New Zealand 9-8 in Aberdare on January 1st 1908, have taken their rightful place as a full member of the Federation.