On the eve of its 15th World Cup, rugby league has suffered the humiliation of missing out to pole dancing, foot golf, dodgeball and kettlebell lifting in its bid to be recognised internationally as a sport.

The embarrassment comes just days after league's top official, Rugby League International Federation CEO David Collier, announced he was stepping down from the post.

World game: The Rugby League World Cup is about to start, but it's not recognised internationally as a sport. Credit:AAP

The RLIF has been repeatedly frustrated in its bid to be recognised as a distinct sport from rugby union, which would allow it access to government funding and insurance for players in many countries where this is denied. In the United Arab Emirates self-administered rugby league is illegal, in South Africa it has been told it must be run by rugby union authorities and Morocco police have shut down matches.

The Global Association of International Sports Federations (formerly SportAccord) general assembly in Aarhus, Denmark, has announced it had accepted arm wrestling, dodgeball, foot golf, kettlebell lifting, poker, pole sports and table soccer as observers.