The RLIF will support the Emerging Nations tournament ©RLIF

Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) chairman Nigel Wood has backed the organisation's decision to support the Emerging Nations World Championship with a financial grant.

The RLIF has awarded a grant of $100,000 (£80,000/€94,000) to support the 2018 tournament in Sydney.

The event in the Australian city will feature tier two and tier three countries and is viewed as a means to spread the reach of the sport.

Canada, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Niue, The Philippines, Thailand and Vanuatu have already been confirmed to compete.

Competition will be held over a two-week period in November next year.

"The 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship will feature more global teams than any previous rugby league competition," Wood said.

Tier two and three countries will take part in the tournament ©RLIF
Tier two and three countries will take part in the tournament ©RLIF

"It will put the spotlight on the fact that rugby league is played in more than 60 countries and give recognition to the many volunteer players and officials around the globe who do great things for this sport. 

"One of the Board's objectives in awarding the grant was to measure the event's success by creating a legacy of participants returning to their nation to spread the interest and growth in rugby league.

"People may not realise Canada has been competing internationally for 30 years, or that domestic leagues are now established in a wide range of countries, for example in Hungary, Chile and Hong Kong."