5 Most Popular Sports in Australia
Australia has a very rich history of playing and watching sport, but which of the most popular sports are the biggest in Australia?
With some truly incredible players and teams originating from the country, fans of different sports in Australia have been treated to some truly nail biting and pulsating moments and matches. How do you settle an argument of which sport is the biggest? We’ve done it for you.
Cricket
The game of cricket provides players with the ability to choose their speciality through batting or bowling and, unfairly so, Australia have chosen to be exceptional at both and boast some of the best talent the world has ever seen.
The game itself has grown in popularity thanks to the success of the national team and the constantly evolving state of the game.
The Australian Test, 50 over and 20 over teams have enjoyed huge success over the years, being heralded as the best team in the three different formats at different times.
Alongside this, the prominence of the Big Bash League, which is Australia’s premier T20 competition, has only fuelled the future of cricket Down Under.
Horse Racing
When it comes to betting, there are few sports that are more popular worldwide than horse racing – and Australia is no different.
The sheer excitement that a day at the races brings along with the ability to wager money and possibly make a big profit is what keeps the worldwide audience for the sport so healthy, and this is also true of Australia.
The big races in Australia include the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup and the Golden Slipper among many others. These events see the interest of the Australian people in horse racing peaked, with these races providing the perfect opportunities for punters to use the Neds bonus offer to win big.
Rugby League (NRL)
Rugby league is a sport that has grown massively in popularity and it is probably at its peak in Australia. The sport of rugby league is absolutely massive in Australia, with stadiums filled and audiences at home watching on with bated breath.
The State of Origin series (played out between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons) is incredibly popular, while the NRL Grand Final is one of the most well-attended events in the world of sport.
While rugby union may get more publicity across the world, rugby league is thriving in Australia, with bone-jangling hits, twinkling feet and moments of magic and madness making rugby league supremely entertaining.
Australian Rules Football (AFL)
Australian Rules Football (also known as Aussie Rules) is a very popular sport that has captured the imagination of the Australian people.
The sport itself can be traced back to Melbourne in 1858, with Aussie Rules reportedly having the highest spectator attendance and viewership through television of any sport in Australia.
The AFL Grand Final is usually held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and provides an all-thrills event that will get the blood pumping and see you begging for more Aussie Rules action.
Rugby Union
The popularity of rugby union may have dwindled slightly in recent years, but there is still a strong following of the club and national teams right the way across the country.
The Australian team have struggled of late, with their national outfit finding it tough to replicate the success of years gone by.
Things seem to be looking up of late though, with the Aussies rising up to seventh in the world rankings.
The prominence of the game is not solely based on the success of the national team though, and the popularity of rugby union is something that will keep the game alive and well in Australia for years to come.
