Rugby League

Rugby League is a variation of Rugby that was invented independently in both England and Australia at about the same time that Australian Rules football was invented but unlike Australian Rules football it is played to a reasonably serious level in other countries, namely New Zealand, France, Fiji, Papua New Guinae and England, although only New Zealand, England, France and New Zealand contest the Rugby League Four Nations. A World Cup is contested, though it is not taken as seriously as the Rugby Union World Cup. Rugby League is most professional and popular in Australia, though New Zealand are the current World Cup holders. Typically, the most important and well-watched Rugby League match is the State of Origin match played between Queensland and New South Wales, which is similar in Australia to the Super Bowl in the United States. Touch football in turn based on Rugby League, and has very similar rules.

Differences from Rugby Union

• There are 6 tackles before possession is changed over.
• Scoring for tries and field goals are different.
• As soon as you tackle someone, bringing them to the ground for a count of 3, you must start over, instead of just continuing on until the ball spills free.
• After a tackle, the opposition must go back 10 metres (unless near the try line).

Generally speaking, Rugby League is a less violent game than Rugby Union, with a lot less injuries and a more free-flowing game. It also has a lot of stops and starts, mainly through the tackles, while Rugby Union in comparison just keeps going no matter what and has a lot more group tackles and scrums.

The main reason that Rugby League was invented was because of a fear of injuries in Rugby Union.

Popularity of Rugby League

Rugby League is most popular in Queensland, Australia, where it is the most popular sport, just ahead of cricket. Rugby League is also popular in New South Wales, though Rugby Union is also very popular in New South Wales and cricket is much more popular in New South Wales than either version of Rugby. As a result, the two sides play State of Origin matches, playing a series of matches typically once per year, which have a similar following, at least in Queensland and New South Wales, as the Super Bowl does in the United States of America. No other sporting event in Australia has the same level of feeling as the State of Origin matches.

While New Zealand does play Rugby League, they do not have anywhere near the level of popularity that it does in Australia, and it is not nearly as close to as popular as Rugby Union is. New Zealand has a team in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition in Australia, Australia's elite Rugby League competition, as well as their own national competition, though it is not as popular as Rugby Union.

Rugby League is also played to some degree in France and England, though it is not as professional or as well developed as the National Rugby League competition is in Australia, and they prefer to play Rugby Union more. France, England and New Zealand do occasionally beat Australia in international competitions, competing in the "Four Nations Tournament", although Australia has been, throughout most of Rugby League's history, the best team in the world by a margin and win the vast majority of their international matches. Currently, however, New Zealand are the World Cup holders.

While Papua New Guinea is not considered to be one of the "main 4" Rugby League countries, it is actually Papua New Guinea's national sport.