International rugby league officials have expressed their frustration after their bid to join SportAccord was apparently blocked by a rival rugby union body.

The London-based Rugby League International Federation had hoped to gain admission at Friday's meeting of the general assembly in Lausanne but PA Sport understands the application was not accepted after a letter was sent to SportAccord by World Rugby calling for the RLIF not to be added.

The RLIF say it has received an assurance from World Rugby that its concern is with SportAccord - the umbrella union for world sport federations - and not with the RLIF, which now hopes its membership will go through at a meeting in November.

RLIF chief executive David Collier said: "RLIF is frustrated by the delay in our membership application but we continue to work with SportAccord to bring this process to a successful conclusion in November.

"RLIF has received a written assurance from World Rugby that the concern which World Rugby has raised is with SportAccord and not with the RLIF application and, therefore, there is no reason for the RLIF application not to be approved at the November meeting.

"Sadly, the delay creates additional cost and hardship to sport but we look forward to a successful outcome at the latest by the November meeting."

RLIF say it has has sent its congratulations to Patrick Baumann, secretary general of the International Basketball Federation, on his election as the new president of SportAccord and looks forward to working with him.