LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Rugby league's global appeal was on full display as NRL and Super League matches shattered crowd records, with over 300,000 fans attending games during the code's biggest weekend.
The NRL saw its largest regular season crowd of 65,305 at Accor Stadium for the Bulldogs-Rabbitohs clash, making Round 7 the most attended in premiership history.
At the same time, the Super League attracted its highest aggregate crowds since switching to summer in 1996.
The two competitions combined drew 304,913 fans, demonstrating the sport's popularity across different regions.
The record-breaking attendance numbers set the stage for anticipated sell-out events, including Friday's ANZAC Day clashes in Sydney, Melbourne, and Christchurch, as well as next week's Magic Round in Brisbane.
Additionally, the upcoming end-of-season Ashes series between Australia and England is expected to surpass the viewership of the 1994 series, with the second and third Tests at Liverpool and Leeds already sold out.
Overall, rugby league's fan base is expanding, with growing interest and enthusiasm for the sport both in Australia and the UK.
The significance of the global league's success was highlighted by NRL CEO Todd Greenberg, who emphasized the importance of providing entertaining and competitive matches for fans.
Greenberg stated, "We have the best players in the toughest competition in world rugby league, and these record crowds are a reflection of the high-quality performances on field that fans are flocking to see." The record-breaking attendance numbers not only showcase the growing popularity of rugby league but also underline the sport's ability to attract and engage fans on a global scale.
With sell-out events and anticipated high viewership for upcoming matches, rugby league's momentum shows no signs of slowing down.