For several years from around 2005 there were sporadic efforts to establish rugby league in Denmark. These efforts gradually became more and more organised and eventually a Denmark x111 team started playing fixtures. With a kit generously donated by rugby league club The London Skolars, and Copenhagen pub "Den Glade Gris" pitching in with the cost of a bus trip to Sweden, this collection of ex-pats, union converts and curious Danes were starting to resemble a proper rugby league team.

This first phase in our development culminated with the Danish Lions winning the inaugural Nordic Cup competition with victories over Sweden and Norway in 2011. Building on this initial success the DRLF was established in November of that year and has continued to organise and build the sport of rugby league in Denmark.

Denmark is recognised by the Rugby League International Federation as a "second-tier member nation" and as an "observer member" of the Rugby League European Federation.