Huge shock in list of Australia’s top sports as one of country’s biggest codes fails to make top 10

Soccer has once again maintained its status as the most popular sport in Australia when it comes to participation, followed by golf and tennis – but in a major shock, rugby league didn’t even make it into the top 10.

The Australian Sports Commission’s official AusPlay survey has shown that soccer is once again the most popular sport to play in the country. 

The ‘beautiful game’ has 1,154,153 participants, followed by golf (742,231), Aussie Rules (699,940) and tennis (648,210).

Netball came in at No.5 (645,261), followed by basketball (588,720), cricket (506,947), swimming (379,671), touch football (277,856) and running/athletics (256,639). 

Despite being one of the most-watched sports in the country with a super-rich broadcast rights deal, rugby league participation is down and it’s a crucial issue that NRL boss Peter V’landys has addressed in recent years.

Soccer has once again maintained it’s status as the most played sport in Australia

Tennis proved very popular, coming in fourth with 648,210 participants

‘To be totally transparent, we have spent tens of millions of dollars trying to increase participation,’ V’landys said in 2021.

‘The investment at this stage is not returning what it should. Of course, it’s a concern. That’s why the commission made it one of its number one priorities. 

‘I’m confident the strategies of the NSWRL, QRL and NRL will reverse the trend.

‘Talking to parents I’ve spoken to, they are concerned about their kids getting hurt. That’s why I want to stress to these parents that junior rugby league is safe.

‘People shouldn’t look at the NRL and consider it exactly the same. We’re going to educate people that junior rugby league is safe. Kids can get off their video machines and off their devices and start playing rugby league.’

Interestingly, the latest data from the Australian Sports Commission also confirms a huge rise in Aussies taking up lifestyle activities over organised sports.

Pursuits like yoga and pilates are booming and a spokeswoman from the Australian Sports Commission said Covid-19 accelerated the trend.

Despite being one of the most watched sports in the country, rugby league participation is down and the sport didn’t even crack the top 10 for participation in Australia 

Golf is extremely popular in Australia, coming in second after soccer with 742,231 players (pictured, Aussie British Open champion Cam Smith)

‘Australians aged 15 and up are participating in more activities like yoga that can be done flexibly or in a physically distanced way,’ she told the Herald. 

Overall, the data paints a worrying picture, with just 35 per cent of adults getting enough exercise – and more than half of Aussies being overweight and obese.