NSWRL is celebrating its fourth consecutive season for record participation numbers with the total number of registered players across the state surpassing 125,000 for the first time in the game’s history.
Overall, there was a 2.57 per cent rise for total participants with 126,084 signing up to play the Game for All in 2026 (122,920 in 2025), male participants cleared 90,000 for the first time (90,422), while female participation was up 6.6 per cent to 35,662 (33,306 in 2025).
“The participation numbers in NSW continue to impress which is testament to the hard work being done by everyone around the state, including NSWRL staff and volunteers in community Rugby League, as well as the NRL,” NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said.
“It has been a great season for NSWRL, after capturing the Ampol State of Origin Shields for both the Westpac NSW Blues and Westpac NSW Blues Women, and hopefully this success will help drive even more participants to get involved with our great game.
“Rugby League is a great way to make friends both on and off the field, as well as learning new skills including teamwork, and I thank the community for their support in 2026.”
The past four years have seen a surge in participants playing Rugby League with 112,767 in 2023, 117,557 in 2024, 122,920 in 2025, and 126,084 this season.
Over the corresponding time male participation has gone from 86,580 in 2023, 87,592 in 2024, 89,124 in 2025 and 90,422 this season, while female participation has been strong with 26,187 in 2023, 29,965 in 2024, 33,306 in 2025 and 35,662 in 2026.
The healthy state Rugby League is also reflected this weekend (1-2 August) with the 81st edition of the Riverina Carnival at Junee, with 160 teams participating from across the Riverina, Canberra and Southern parts of Western NSW.
The carnival is steeped in history having been played for the first time in 1943 (only two years have been missed due to the COVID pandemic).
The growth of women’s participation has seen the event expand to two days in recent years with the schoolboys’ component being played yesterday (Saturday 1 August) with some 2000 plus boys participating in 147 teams across 18 playing fields. Today (Sunday 2 August) there will be both League Tag and Tackle events played involving 67 girls’ teams.
Teams and referees from Canberra, Groups 9, 10 and 20 will participate in the carnival in games ranging from Under 6 to Under 16s with Laurie Daley Oval the centrepiece for the event.
Development teams receive a participation certificate while older age groups are awarded a pennant.
