Britain’s Most Popular Sports

Britain is a country of sports lovers. While not everyone partakes in a sporting activity, almost everyone has at least a passing interest in one or more competitions.

Of course, Britons’ love for athletic competition is not shared equally. Some sports are more popular than others, here are the ones that are the most-watched and most-played disciplines in the country.

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Football

England was the country that created and codified the rules for association football, so it’s only natural that it would grow into the most popular athletic endeavour in its homeland.

10% of the British population plays football with a further 46% watching it on TV. That figure rises dramatically during international tournaments when the country is doing well.

Not only is football the most-watched and most-played sport in the UK, but it’s also the most popular on sports betting sites with billions of pounds being wagered on the Premier League and other competitions each year.

Cricket

This is another sport that should raise too many eyebrows regarding its inclusion here. It, too, was invented in England and was later spread around the world by Brits as they explored the globe.

While it doesn’t have the same appeal as football, it is still one of the most loved competitions in the UK with 19% of people saying they’re interested in it.

Rugby Union

Rugby is a sport that’s named after the town of Rugby in England. Therefore, we shouldn’t be too surprised that the country has fallen in love with it.

21% of Brits watch rugby on TV with 27% saying they have an interest in it.

Rivalries among the home nations (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) makes rugby a popular source of banter among Brits from different parts of the country.

Tennis

Tennis wasn’t invented in the UK. In fact, the sport’s roots come from France, although England did quickly fall in love with it and began to codify the rules in the 19th century.

London is home to one of the four major Grand Slam tournaments, which is held in London’s Wimbledon each year.

This helps to boost British interest in the sport, with 23% of people saying they’re interested in it.

David Prior

David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.