Sports in England have a rich legacy, with numerous games having deep historical roots in the country. In fact, did you know that England invented sports like football, rugby, and cricket? Whether you're a passionate fan or simply looking to stay active, here's a glimpse of what you should remember.
The sports scene in England
Sports are part of the country's fabric. Most UK citizens are passionate about sports, either practising, watching or simply talking about it.
Various sports are popular in the country, including cricket, football, rugby, tennis, cycling, horse racing and water sports such as sailing, surfing, kite surfing, and jet skiing. England also enjoys a large variety of sports facilities and clubs for both amateurs and professionals.
Many expats and tourists are also attracted to regular sports events, whose costs vary widely, depending on the team's league.
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London has hosted the modern Olympic Games three times (in 1908, 1948, 2012) and is the first city to have hosted three Olympiads. In the most recent Olympic Games in Paris (2024), Team GB comprised 327 athletes and finished with 65 medals, beating their total from Tokyo in 2020 by one.
Football in England
Football remains one of the country's most popular sports. In fact, ever since the sport arose in England in the middle of the 19th century, it has nurtured some of the most influential football teams in the world—including teams like Manchester City, Liverpool FC, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Leeds United.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own national football team in the (aka the Euros, last held in 2024) and the (next in 2026). Then, each country within the UK also has its own league.
England is home to over 100 teams, of which the top 20 are in the Premier League. The country's football is governed by , which was founded in 1863 and is one of the oldest governing bodies globally. The most famous football championships in England are the annual , the oldest national football competition in the world.
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Manchester United is the football team to have won the Premier League the most number of times (13).
Rugby in England
If you are not a football fan, you may be a rugby fan in England. The game was invented during the 17th century in the English town of Rugby.
There are two types of rugby: Rugby Union and Rugby League, which are two different games with different rules and numbers of players.
There are various rugby unions and leagues in England, with the Six Nations tournament being the most important of the year. Participating countries of the Six Nations are England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy. England also participates in the Rugby World Cup.
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England is the most successful country in the Six Nations, with 39 championships (29 of which were outright wins and 10 shared). The team is also the most successful in the championship's current iteration, having claimed seven Six Nations titles, two of which were Grand Slams (i.e., they won every game in that year's championship).
Cricket in England
Cricket remains very popular in England, even though the game is known to be as old as 800 years old. The sport was invented in the south of England, and it became prevalent in the 17th century. The game traveled to many British colonies along with the British Empire. Hence, the sport is now considered Australia's and India's national sport.
More than 3,000 cricket clubs exist in England and Wales for male and female players. However, there are 18 professional clubs, and they are named after the counties they represent.
The earliest inter-county match was played in 1709. Every summer, the 18 county clubs participate in the County Championship.
Women's cricket has also thrived in England, with the achieving international success.
Tennis in England
Tennis has long been a traditional favorite sport in England.
Every summer, London hosts Wimbledon, one of the most important tennis championships in the world, which has been held annually since 1877. Other major Grand Slam events include the Australian Open, the US Open, and the French Open.
Wimbledon is usually held in June and involves many international tennis players. England has several top tennis players, such as Scottish-born Sir Andrew Murray.
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It is tradition to have strawberries and cream when watching tennis at Wimbledon. The tradition was adopted in 19th-century London when seasonal strawberries were a luxury, and eating them in public was a sign of prosperity.
Other sports in England
Other sports—such as boxing, golf, table tennis, badminton, squash, cycling and swimming—are also widely popular in England.
Martial arts have also gained popularity due to England's participation in events such as the Ultimate Fighter, MMA, and the Olympics.
Professional cycling and track running are also becoming popular, earning England international acclaim in major championships.
Traditionally considered an upper-class sport, horse racing is regularly held throughout the year. The most famous races of the year are the Royal Ascot—an event attended by the British Royal Family—and the Grand National.
Good to know:
The Gold Cup, one of the key races at Royal Ascot, dates back to 1807, making it one of the oldest horse races in the world.
Sports clubs in England
England offers numerous sports clubs catering to all backgrounds, levels, and abilities.
For those who wish to join a club while living in England, there are many to choose from, including council-run sports facilities, amateur sports clubs, professional clubs, and social networking websites arranging sports activities.
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We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
