Massive shock in Australia’s list of top sports as one of the country’s biggest codes fails to even make the top 10 – and football emerges as the big winner
- Football is Australia’s most played sport
- Rugby league did not make the top 10
- Activities like yoga and Pilates are booming
Football has once again maintained its status as Australia’s most popular sport when it comes to participation, followed by golf and tennis – but in a major shock, rugby league didn’t even make the top 10.
The Australian Sports Commission’s official AusPlay survey has found that football is once again the most popular sport in the country.
The ‘beautiful game’ has 1,154,153 participants, followed by golf (742,231), Aussie Rules (699,940) and tennis (648,210).
Netball came in at number 5 (645,261), followed by basketball (588,720), cricket (506,947), swimming (379,671), touch football (277,856) and running/track (256,639).
Despite being one of the most watched sports in the country with a super-rich broadcasting rights deal, rugby league participation is on the decline and it’s a crucial issue that NRL boss Peter V’landys has been tackling in recent years.
Football has once again maintained its status as the most played sport in Australia
Tennis proved to be very popular, coming fourth with 648,210 participants
“To be completely transparent, we have spent tens of millions of dollars to increase participation,” V’landys said in 2021.
“The investment is not delivering what it should at this stage. Of course it is a concern. That is why the committee has made this one of its main priorities.
“I am convinced that the strategies of the NSWRL, QRL and NRL will reverse the trend.
“When I talk to parents I’ve spoken to, they worry about their kids getting hurt. That’s why I want to stress to these parents that junior rugby league is safe.
“People shouldn’t look at the NRL and think it’s exactly the same. We are going to teach people that junior rugby league is safe. Kids can get off their video machines and devices and start playing rugby league.”
Interestingly, the most recent data from the Australian Sports Commission also confirms a huge increase in the number of Aussies taking up lifestyle activities rather than organized sports.
Practices such as yoga and Pilates are booming and an Australian Sports Commission spokeswoman said Covid-19 has accelerated the trend.
Despite being one of the most watched sports in the country, rugby league participation has fallen and the sport failed to even make the top 10 for participation in Australia
Golf is hugely popular in Australia, coming in second to football with 742,231 players (pictured, Aussie British Open champion Cam Smith)
“Australians aged 15 and over are taking part in more activities such as yoga that can be done flexibly or physically distanced,” she told the Herald.
Overall, the data paints a worrying picture, with only 35 percent of adults getting enough exercise – and more than half of Aussies overweight and obese.