England has quite a few very important sports, and some of those sports that are quite popular were even invented in England. Scotland always has to compete with England, and Australia is usually England’s main competitor in international sports. Many sports in England are as popular as those mentioned here, but some other popular sports are also. There is a good chance that you will be able to participate in a particular sport in England if you have a specific interest in that sport.
Listed below are some of the popular Traditional and Modern English sports
Rugby
Besides rugby leagues, rugby unions are also part of the rugby sphere. There is one thing you need to know about this, which is that historically, there has been a lot of animosity between the two kinds of Rugby. In terms of the origins of Rugby as a whole, it comes from an English school calling itself Rugby School. There, the sport evolved from running about with a ball, something so popular. Then it turned into a formally recognized game with a set of rules. In the years that have passed, the game has grown and become more and more popular around the globe – and of course, the English are still very passionate about their game.
Football
English football is often referred to as soccer in other countries. The sport has a long history in England, and the country is often credited with being the origin of this sport. This game has been documented dating back to 1314, so there is no doubt that it’s been there for a long time. There have been soccer competitions in England and a football league in the country. Today’s number of English football clubs is thousands, and the top football leagues in England are among the richest leagues in the world.
Cricket
It’s not surprising that there are disagreements about the real origins of cricket, but all agree on England’s place as the country where the sport was born and that the sport has a very important place in the country. A strong English team also plays quite well; it often wins international competitions. Currently, Australia is the biggest competitor of the English team. Cricket is one of the oldest sports, having been around since 1550 or even earlier; the first time cricket was mentioned was in 1598. Although some people think the game had been played before 1550 AD, the most likely interpretation is that it was a children’s game.
Horse racing
The rich and beautiful are quite fond of horse racing, as horse races allow them to dress up and go on a stroll, eating and socializing with other wealthy people. Horse racing is a popular sport, but also some more “normal” people enjoy it, and betting is very important similar to betting on NetBet when it comes to this sport.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is amongst the most popular sports in England, but the central place to find information is the Internet. However, there is no doubt that the more important games are also broadcast on paid TV channels.
Image Source: Ice Hockey
Badminton
In England, Badminton is one of the most popular sports, perhaps even more popular than tennis. There may be a reason for this, and it may very well be that Badminton is more accessible than tennis, and even beginners still stand a chance of becoming successful in one or both of those sports. Therefore, Badminton may not be very surprising to most people familiar with England despite being created in England but rather in British India.
Athletics
England has hosted the Summer Olympics three times throughout its history, but the United Kingdom does not have a national football team. Instead, all English athletes are part of a general team consisting of athletes from all over the country. While the athletic culture in England may be interested in some individual sports, team sports generally have a much greater following in the country.
Golf
Golf was indeed invented in Scotland, but this does not mean that it is any less popular in England. On the contrary, golf has also played an important role throughout English history. In England, you can find a wide range of golf courses that will please any player.
Motorsports
In the United Kingdom, there are numerous Formula One teams based in England, and these teams are incredibly passionate about motorsports. Some names like Lewis Hamilton or Richard Burns might come to mind when thinking of motor racing. However, motorbike racing has also gained popularity in the past few years. Car races have always been popular, but motorbike racing has grown increasingly popular.
Tennis
Tennis is one of the most popular and competitive sports in the United Kingdom. This is because Wimbledon is one of the biggest tournaments in the country. England is also regarded as the place where tennis originated. Amateur players are in great abundance, but there are not a lot of professional players.