The Imperial Rugby League Board was formed in 1927. The Imperial Rugby League Board contained representatives from Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

The International Rugby League Board was formed on 25 January 1948 in Bordeaux, France at the impetus of the Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII, led by Paul Barrière.  The International Rugby League Board introduced the Rugby League World Cup, first played in France in 1954.

After the dispute between the Australian Rugby League and Super League resulted in the establishment of the National Rugby League in Australia in 1998, the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) was formed in the same year.  John McDonald, Chairman of the Australian Rugby League, became Chairman of the RLIF. 

The RLIF has continued to grow in membership since its formation in 1998, and currently has 15 Member Countries; Australia, the Cook Islands, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Lebanon, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Scotland, Serbia, South Africa, Tonga, and Wales.