The United Kingdom is a country with a deep passion for sports. From football to horse racing, the British certainly love a good competition. But, the question we want to answer today is what are the most popular sports in the United Kingdom.
Before we get into the nitty gritty, we do have certain caveats for this list. Namely, football is off the table. As is the case in most of the world, football is also the number one most watched and beloved sport in the United Kingdom.
Whether it be online casinos like Novibet, where you can place bets as well as play your favorite games, or land-based sportsbooks, football takes up the number one spot as the most bet on sport. So, in this article, we are taking football off the table, and looking at the sports that dominate the United Kingdom.
England – Cricket
The first country we are looking at is England. And certainly it will come as no surprise to find that cricket is one of the most popular sports. After all, much like football, cricket originates in England, and is the country’s national sport. The English national cricket teams also hold some of the top rankings in the three dominant cricket categories today, and the English are proud to have produced some of the most legendary batsmen in the sport’s history.
Apart from cricket, the English also enjoy rugby, golf, horse racing, and boxing (which is the most popular combat sport in England). However, it is football and cricket that stand at the top of the English sports fandom.
Scotland – Golf
Again, another unsurprising entry. The history of golf is certainly murky, but most agree that its origins can be traced back to the Scottish Highlands. So, it isn’t at all surprising that the Scottish love the game. The natural beauty of Scotland lends itself perfectly to some of the greatest golf courses in the world. On top of that, Scotland is also home to some of the best golfers in history, like Bernard Gallacher, Sandy Lyle, and Sam Torrance.
Apart from golf, the Scottish also enjoy rugby, tennis, and basketball. All three of these sports are played and watched by Scots from all over the country. A lot of matches from these sports also are extremely popular to bet on as well.
Wales – Rugby
Unlike the aforementioned two, Rugby Union is actually more popular in Wales than football. The sport is intricately linked to Welsh society and culture, and the most popular sports team in the country is a rugby club. The Welsh national rugby union team is also quite successful, having played uninterrupted in the Six Nations Championship, and having won the tournament 28 times outright.
Apart from rugby, cricket is also hugely popular in Wales. In fact, in rural areas, cricket’s popularity might even exceed rugby’s. Though, overall, rugby certainly dominates. Apart from these two, the Welsh also enjoy watching and playing hockey, football, and tennis.
Article submitted by Alex Larsens.
