Hey, legends,
After the last episode, I figured we’d just keep the sports theme going and chat today about what are probably the most popular sports in Australia.
Of the three sports mentioned, I’m probably most familiar with rugby. Ever since I’ve been living on the Sunshine Coast (that is, since May 2024), I’ve been immersed in rugby, since my roommate Flynn—with whom my Canadian buddy Ryland and I moved in—plays rugby professionally. He plays here for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Q-Cup league, which is one tier below the professional league, the National Rugby League (NRL).
And yes, because of that, I’ve been deeply involved with rugby right from the start—I’ve already seen a few games live and even trained with the guys once during the off-season. That was a really cool experience and a lot of fun. But I also had to do some real research for the blog and bug all my Australian friends with questions, because there are two different types of rugby alone: Rugby League and Rugby Union.
So that you’ll be better informed right away when you get here, let’s take a closer look at the whole thing.
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Rugby League vs. Rugby Union
As I mentioned in the introduction, there isn’t just one type of rugby in Australia—there are two: Rugby League and Rugby Union. And yes, I had to figure that out for myself, too, when Flynn first explained it to me!
General Facts
Rugby League and Rugby Union both evolved from traditional rugby but have developed into two distinct sports over time. Rugby League has 13 players per team on the field, while Rugby Union is played with 15 players. Both sports are played on a rectangular grass field with H-shaped goals at both ends—you might recognize this from American football, but it’s not quite the same!
The most important league in Rugby League is the National Rugby League (NRL), which dominates primarily in New South Wales and Queensland. My roommate Flynn plays for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Q-Cup, which is a league directly below the NRL—essentially the second Bundesliga, if you compare it to Germany. Rugby Union, on the other hand, is a bit better known internationally; the Australian national team is called the Wallabies and is one of the most famous rugby union teams in the world.
How do you score points?
In both sports, there are several ways to score points, which makes the game very dynamic.
In rugby league, the options are as follows:
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Try (4 points): A player grounds the ball behind the opponent’s goal line
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Conversion (2 points): After a try, a free kick is taken at the H-goal
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Penalty Goal (2 points): A penalty kick at the goal after a foul
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Drop goal (1 point): The ball is kicked through the goal posts during open play
In Rugby Union, the scoring works similarly, but with minor differences:
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Try (5 points): Same as in League, but worth more points
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Conversion (2 points): Identical to Rugby League
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Penalty Goal (3 points): This is worth more points than in League
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Drop Goal (3 points): Also worth more than in League
So the biggest difference is that in Rugby Union, individual plays generally yield more points, which often makes the final score look higher.
What are the main similarities between the two versions?
Even though Rugby League and Rugby Union are two distinct sports, they naturally share a common origin and therefore have some fundamental similarities.
In both sports, the goal is to carry the oval ball across the opponent’s goal line or to kick it through the H-shaped goalposts. Both sports are played on a grass field, are physically very intense, and rely heavily on tackling—that is, the opponent stopping the ball carrier. In both versions, passes may only be thrown sideways or backward, never forward. Furthermore, in both sports, each team aims to gain ground through strategic plays and ultimately score a try.
How do the rules of the two sports differ fundamentally?
This is where it gets a bit more complicated, but I’ll try to explain it as simply as possible.
Probably the biggest difference lies in the number of players and how tackles are handled. In Rugby League, each team has 13 players, and after a tackle, the attacking team has a total of 6 attempts—known as “sets”—to move forward. If they fail to do so, possession changes hands. In Rugby Union, on the other hand, there are 15 players per team, and after a tackle, a so-called “ruck” or “maul” forms, in which both teams battle for possession of the ball. This makes Rugby Union somewhat more complex tactically.
Another important difference is the scrum. Both sports feature the scrum—a formation in which players from both teams interlock and battle for the ball. In Rugby Union, however, the scrum is significantly more important and physically intense than in Rugby League, where it plays a lesser role.
In summary, one could say: Rugby League is somewhat more straightforward and faster, while Rugby Union is more tactically diverse and complex.
Which is more popular where in Australia?
As is so often the case in Australia, the answer depends heavily on which state you’re in. Rugby League is the clearly dominant sport in New South Wales and Queensland—that is, the east and northeast of the country. So it’s no wonder that on the Sunshine Coast—which is, of course, in Queensland—I was immediately exposed to rugby league. The NRL is everywhere here, and the rivalry between the teams from Sydney and Queensland is legendary. People of all ages simply love it!
Rugby Union, on the other hand, is less deeply rooted in everyday culture but holds great national significance, primarily thanks to the Wallabies, the Australian national team. Internationally, Rugby Union is generally better known—for example, through the Rugby World Cup—while Rugby League is more of an Australian-British affair.
Incidentally, in states like Victoria, South Australia, or Western Australia, neither rugby league nor rugby union plays the biggest role—Australian football reigns supreme there, but we’ll get to that in a moment.
Australian Football
Now let’s turn to Australian Football, or as the locals simply call it: “Footy.” This sport is essentially an Australian invention and shares only its name with American football or European soccer.
General Facts
Australian Football, officially known as Australian Rules Football, was invented in Melbourne in 1858, making it one of the oldest organized team sports in the world. It is played with 18 players per team on an oval grass field that is significantly larger than a soccer field. The most important league is the AFL, the Australian Football League, which originated in Victoria and is now played nationwide. The championship game, known as the AFL Grand Final, is one of Australia’s most-watched sporting events and draws over 100,000 spectators to the Melbourne Cricket Ground every year.
How do you score points?
Here, too, there are two ways to score points:
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Goal (6 points): The ball is kicked between the two center posts
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Behind (1 point): The ball hits one of the outer posts or goes just wide
Unlike in rugby, the ball is scored exclusively by kicking it into the goal, which gives the game a character all its own.
What are the most important rules?
Australian Football has several rules that clearly distinguish it from other sports. The ball may be passed by hand, but only with a deliberate punch, not a normal throw. If a player is running with the ball, he must let it bounce briefly every 15 meters. Tackles are allowed, but only between the shoulders and hips. What makes the game particularly spectacular is the so-called “mark”: If a player catches a kicked ball in midair before it touches the ground, he may continue playing unchallenged or take a free kick. These plays, in which players sometimes jump over their teammates to catch the ball, are called “Specky” and are absolute highlight moments in Australian football.
Where is Australian football more popular compared to rugby?
While Rugby League and Rugby Union are primarily at home in Queensland and New South Wales, Australian football clearly dominates in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. Melbourne is the absolute heart of the sport; there, footy isn’t just a sport, but a part of the cultural identity. In Queensland and New South Wales, on the other hand, the AFL tends to be more of a niche sport, as rugby league has captured the hearts of the people there.
I was actually planning to move on to cricket now, but since this episode is already so long, we’ll save that for next time. Stay tuned!
Have fun experiencing it live—it’s a must-do!
Safe travels
Cheers
Jesko
