With so many leagues and tournaments to keep up with, it’s clear that sport is taken seriously in the UK. People talk about it at their work, schools, and homes, and spend much of their time either watching or playing.
So, it begs the question – which sports are the nation’s favourites?
Rowing
Who hasn’t heard of the Royal Henley Regatta, or the fierce competition between Cambridge and Oxford? Rowing is one of the UK’s oldest traditions so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the country’s most popular sports.
With over 550 affiliated rowing clubs in the UK, many of the British public have spent their time enjoying this sport, whether watching it on television or participating on the water.
Football
Thousands of people a week attend football matches while millions tune in to watch them on TV, so football has the edge over other sports in the UK. The Premier League has worldwide prominence as popular teams such as Liverpool FC, and Manchester United have both local and international supporters.
Famous footballers that spring to mind are the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Diego Maradona.
Rugby
Rugby is a game that many people associate with Britain and is second in popularity only to football. Split into the Rugby Union and Rugby League, England has won the 2003 World Cup and competes in the Six Nations that takes place every year.
Looking to enjoy a match? With the Six Nations coming up soon, take a look at the 2023 fixtures and predictions to see if there’s a match near you.
Cricket
Cricket is the national sport of the UK and has been part of its history for over 400 years. To date, there are 18 professional county clubs and thousands of cricket teams across the country, and the England team has played in several high-profile international tournaments.
The national cricket team achieved some recent success when they won the World Cup final in 2019.
Tennis
The Wimbledon tournament is one of the UK’s most celebrated sporting events. Famous British tennis players such as Andy Murray come to mind when you think tennis, but the UK has also nabbed more than a few medals when playing at the Olympics. The most recent win for the UK in tennis was when Emma Raducanau made history and became the first woman in 44 years to win a Grand Slam title last year.
Badminton
Perhaps an unexpected addition for some but badminton is the most popular racket sport in UK history to date!
The Badminton Association of England was established in 1893 and since has been the overseeing body for the sport in the UK and is a founding member of the International Badminton Federation.
