| Highest governing body | International Rugby League |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Nines, Football, Footy, League |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Full |
| Team members | 15 (9 on field + 6 interchange) |
| Mixed-sex | Single |
| Type | Outdoor |
| Equipment | Rugby League ball |
| Venue | Rugby league playing field |
Rugby league nines (or simply nines) is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be completed in a day or over a single weekend.
In July 2021, International Rugby League (IRL) chair Troy Grant stated that the organization was considering a bid for rugby league nines to be played at the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane. Rugby sevens, a similarly-condensed version of rugby union, has been a core Olympic event since 2016.[1]