Damon Mcknight
Rugby League is one of the most popular sports in Australia, with a rich history dating back to 1908. The National Rugby League (NRL) is the premier club competition, featuring teams from four states/territories and attracting millions of viewers. While the sport has experienced fluctuations in attendance and participation over the years, it continues to be a significant part of Australian culture, with over 1 million people playing nationwide. In recent years, the NRL has seen a growth in participation, particularly in states like Victoria and Queensland, and an increase in female players, with the total number of registered participants exceeding 200,000 in 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people playing NRL in Australia | Over 1 million |
| Number of registered participants in 2024 | 200,000 |
| Number of female participants | 44,546 |
| Number of participants in Queensland | 60,000+ |
| Number of participants in NSW | 117,282 |
| Number of participants in Victoria | 5,545 |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Number of teams from NSW | 10 |
| Number of teams from Queensland | 4 |
| Number of teams from Victoria | 1 |
| Number of teams from Australian Capital Territory | 1 |
| Number of viewers in 2022 | 137.3 million |
| Attendance at NRL Grand Final in 1999 | 107,999 |
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What You'll Learn
Popularity of NRL in Australia
Rugby league is the largest and most popular sport in New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory, constituting 55% of the population of Australia. In 2022, it was the most-watched sport on Australian television, with an aggregate audience of 137.3 million viewers. The premier club competition is the National Rugby League (NRL), which features teams from four states/territories: ten teams from New South Wales, four teams from Queensland, and one team each from Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.
The NRL Grand Final, held at Stadium Australia each year since 1999, has broken attendance records for Australian rugby league games. In 2007, the NRL celebrated 100 years since rugby league was introduced to Australia, and in 2020, it was one of the last major sports worldwide to continue playing games amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
While senior rugby league numbers have declined since the early 1990s, the sport is still played by over 1 million people nationwide, with over 200,000 players in organized leagues. The NRL has seen growth in female participation, with female registrations almost doubling from 24,163 to 44,546. The NRL's initiatives, such as the ARL Masters Carnival, aim to increase senior participation and combat the challenges of a physically demanding sport and sustaining semi-professional clubs.
The NRL is an integral part of local communities, bringing people together and fostering a sense of belonging. With plans to expand to 20 teams in the next decade, the NRL continues to be a significant aspect of Australia's sporting culture and community engagement.
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NRL viewership figures
The National Rugby League (NRL) is the premier club competition in Australia, featuring teams from four states/territories: ten teams from New South Wales, four from Queensland, and one each from Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.
The NRL has seen strong growth in viewership across all demographics. In 2024, the NRL's largest viewing audience was in the under-35 age group, with 2.1 million viewers, a slight increase from 2023. However, the overall increase in NRL TV viewership was driven by people aged 50-64 and 65+, with significant growth of 5.6% and 6.6% respectively. The NRL has also seen an increase in female viewership, with 3 million women watching in 2024, a 5.6% increase from the previous year.
In addition to domestic viewership, the NRL has successfully expanded its international audience. The 2025 season opener in Las Vegas attracted more than 3 million viewers in the US, Australia, and New Zealand. The NRL's venture into the US market has been particularly successful, with the 2025 NRL fixtures achieving a 285% increase in total US viewership compared to the previous year.
The NRL's growing viewership has had a positive impact on its financial performance. In 2023, the NRL generated over $700 million in revenue, a significant increase from the $363.7 million distributed to clubs and players in 2023. The NRL's record-high revenues have allowed for reinvestment in the game, with the league planning for further expansion and the development of the women's game.
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Female participation in NRL
Rugby league is a popular sport in Australia, with over 1 million people playing it nationwide. The National Rugby League (NRL) is the premier club competition, featuring teams from four states/territories. While the sport has traditionally been male-dominated, there has been a recent increase in female participation, with NRL clubs holding initiatives to foster greater female involvement.
Historically, the lack of female participation in Australian rugby league has been attributed to the sport's masculine culture, which discourages women from playing and offers little financial or cultural incentive. Despite this, a women's rugby league match in Sydney in 1921 attracted 30,000 spectators, demonstrating a long-standing interest in women's rugby. Additionally, females account for a large percentage of rugby league viewers, contributing to the sport's strong position in the Australian sporting landscape.
Recognising the importance of female engagement, many NRL clubs have taken steps to encourage female participation and support related causes. For example, in 2005, the Canterbury Bulldogs hosted a luncheon for 300 corporate women in Sydney to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and promote skills development for school girls in the Canterbury-Bankstown district. This initiative reflected the increasing number of female members on the boards of the National Rugby League and its clubs.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in female registrations for rugby league in Australia. In 2024, the sport reached a milestone of 200,000 registered participants for the first time, with a notable rise in female players. Female registrations in the NRL almost doubled from 24,163 three years prior to 44,546 in 2024. This growth in female participation is particularly evident in states like Victoria, which saw an increase from 3,345 registered female players in 2021 to 5,545 in 2024.
The National Women's Rugby League (NRLW) has also been established to promote and showcase the talent of female rugby players. Launched in 2023, the NRLW features international women's teams playing across the Pacific and provides a clear pathway for aspiring female athletes. With women's rugby league being the fastest-growing area of the sport, the NRL is committed to fostering this growth and providing opportunities for females of all ages to participate in local and grassroots competitions.
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NRL club expansion
Rugby league is a popular sport in Australia, with over 1 million people playing it nationwide. The National Rugby League (NRL) is the premier club competition, featuring teams from four states/territories. The NRL has gone through several expansions and mergers since its formation in 1998.
In 1999, the Adelaide Rams were shut down, and the Gold Coast Chargers and South Queensland Crushers were removed from the competition. The St. George Dragons and Illawarra Steelers merged to form the St. George Illawarra Dragons, while the Balmain and Western Suburbs clubs formed the Wests Tigers.
In 2000, there was a further reduction in clubs, with the South Sydney Rabbitohs being removed from the competition. This decision was highly controversial, with around 80,000 people protesting the Rabbitohs' exclusion.
In 2001, Telstra became the naming rights sponsor of the NRL, and the competition started to gain more popularity. The 2003 season was considered the most successful since the NRL's inception.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the NRL experienced a decrease in player registrations, but the numbers have been on the rise since. In 2024, rugby league reached a milestone of 200,000 registered participants in Australia for the first time.
The NRL is currently in the midst of its biggest expansion project yet, with plans to increase to 20 teams within the next decade. Perth is expected to gain a team in 2027, and a team from Papua New Guinea will join the NRL in 2028 with $600 million in funding from the Australian government. There is also a potential for a third Brisbane-based club and a fifth Queensland-based franchise.
The expansion of the NRL will strengthen rivalries between clubs and provide more opportunities for players and fans across Australia and the Pacific region.
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NRL during the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia. On 22 March 2020, the NRL became one of the last major sports globally to continue playing games despite the imposition of the first COVID-19 restrictions. The decision sparked widespread criticism from the public, including notable Australian figures and sports personalities.
The following day, after Queensland closed its borders, the NRL announced an indefinite suspension of the season. This decision was made due to concerns over the safety of players and in adherence to updated medical advice. The financial implications of the suspension were also recognised, with fears that some teams might not survive without match-day income.
During the initial stages of the pandemic in 2020, the NRL experienced a decrease in player registrations, with numbers dropping to 145,000. However, the league has since seen a recovery in participation rates, particularly in states like Victoria, which has witnessed a notable increase in registered club players.
The pandemic also caused disruptions to the NRL Grand Final, traditionally held at Sydney's Stadium Australia. In 2021, the event was relocated to Brisbane's Lang Park due to the pandemic. The NRL introduced rule changes to prioritise player welfare, such as the six-again rule for ruck infringements instead of penalties. Additionally, the number of referees per game was reduced from two to one.
The pandemic also impacted other rugby leagues worldwide, including the Super League, which experienced suspensions and games played behind closed doors. The Rugby Football League (RFL) in the UK also suspended competitions at all levels for a period before resuming with a limited number of grounds and no spectators. The World Cup tournaments were deferred to 2022 due to concerns over the emergence of new COVID-19 variants and rising case numbers in host countries.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2024, there were 200,000 registered rugby league players in Australia, a record number.
In 2023, there were over 60,000 registered players in Queensland, an increase of 12% from the previous year.
In 2022, the NRL was the most-watched sport on Australian television, with 137.3 million viewers.
In 1999, 107,999 spectators watched the Melbourne Storm defeat the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL Grand Final at Stadium Australia.
Yes, the number of registered participants in NRL has been increasing in recent years, with the exception of a decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic.
