The site, accessible here, has additional features including an updated membership page providing contact details for more than 60 national rugby league organisations and access to a portal which supports coaching and match official education.

The site is also said to demonstrate the immense and rich history of the sport and features footage dating back to the very early days of international rugby league.

"We believe that the new RLIF website will better serve the needs of our growing membership and will allow simpler access to the sport for anyone who has an interest in it, wherever they may live," said RLIF chief executive David Collier.

The RLIF Board previously set out its vision for the global development of rugby league in a strategic plan entitled "Global Conversion", which can be viewed here.

The plan covers the period 2018 to 2025, accounting for the next two World Cup cycles after next year’s competition.

"As our new initiative, 'Global Conversion' attracts even more interest, the website will be an increasingly valuable part of our communication strategy," added Collier.

In April, Collier revealed his frustration that the RLIF's SportAccord membership was not approved at the organisation's Convention in Lausanne.

The sport, along with arm wrestling and poker, was among those proposed for membership in working documents sent out to all SportAccord members in March.

They would have also joined the Association of Independent Members of Sport.

It was decided at a SportAccord Council meeting to defer the application until problems in the selection process were resolved and the organisation was able to stabilise under its newly-elected President Patrick Baumann.

The decision was approved at the same General Assembly where Baumann was elected.

There were concerns as to how thorough the selection process was and whether it sufficiently considered elements like anti-doping.

A letter was also sent by World Rugby to SportAccord asking for "clarification about the process".

They had previously been accused of attempting to block the RLIF.

Rugby league originated in England in 1895 following a split from the Rugby Football Union over the issue of payments to players

The RLIF claims to have fulfilled all the necessary criteria and has targeted the International Federations Forum in November, where an Extraordinary General Meeting could be held to discuss the issue.