Which is more popular in England, Rugby Union or Rugby League?

Question

Which is more popular in England, Rugby Union or Rugby League?

Answer 1

England have substantially more rugby union players than any other country in the world.

Country               Rugby Union Players        

England              716,505  

South Africa       464,477    

New Zealand     141,726    

France                212,519  

Ireland                100,974

Australia              66,395

Italy                       45,376  

Fiji                        45,300  

Wales                  42,000

Scotland              24,905

Samoa                 21,995

In 2004 the Rugby Football League (Rugby League UK) reported 62,463 registered players (this is a UK-wide figure).

So Rugby Union blows away rugby League for popularity in England and the world wide figures would be even worse for League except in Australia where it is more popular for some reason.

Answer 2

Rugby League

Answer 3

i depends were your from, Yorkshire, and Leeds, places in northern part of England our more rugby league places and in the south or the more upper-class spots of england are for rugby union.

Answer 4

league players are stronger, fitter and know how to take a thrashing, and union players are the left over men who couldnt get into ballet

Answer 5

union, by far

just look at the coverage on the TV

its much much more popular, and for gd reason.

Answer 6

I'd say it's pretty much a North South divide, League in the North and Union in the South.

Answer 7

up north its more league but down south its more union apart from in Twickenham

Answer 8

on m62 corridor it is league but rest of england it is union, although i play for a local team in leeds and there are 14 others within 10 miles of us so union is becoing more popular