The first ever independent study of Rugby League’s value to New South Wales has found the game contributes more than $310 million to the state economy each year, alongside measurable lifelong health benefits and significantly stronger social connections for those who are involved in the game.
The report into the Community Impact of Rugby League in NSW was launched today at NSW Parliament House by the Minister for Health, The Hon. Ryan Park MP in front of Members of Parliament, NSWRL Chair Carolyn Campbell and NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden, and community Rugby League participants.
Minister Park said: “Rugby League is part of the fabric of communities right across NSW, and this report puts real numbers behind the contribution the game makes to the health and wellbeing of our state.
“Good health is more than what happens when you walk into a hospital or GP, it is also about prevention, staying active and having strong connections with the people around you which is exactly what Rugby League fosters.”
Campbell said: “The study is the most comprehensive assessment of the game’s contribution to the state ever undertaken.
“For generations, Rugby League people have known the impact this game has in local communities. We see it every weekend through the volunteers who give their time, the young people who find confidence and connection, and the clubs that bring people together through good times and difficult times.
“What this report does, for the first time, is put evidence behind what our game has always known - that Rugby League is more than a sport. It is community infrastructure, delivering economic, health and social value across NSW.”
Trodden thanked the thousands of participants, as well as the clubs and district associations, for their time in completing the survey that underpins the study.
“The findings of the Community Impact Study confirm what our Rugby League community has long understood: that this game delivers far more than what happens on the field,’’ he said.
“The evidence presented here will inform how we advocate for investment in our facilities and programs, how we engage with government and partners, and how we continue to grow a game that delivers for every community it touches.”
The study examines the game not only as a sport, but also as a driver of economic activity, a contributor to public health and a platform for social connection, inclusion and community development.
The findings included:
• an annual economic contribution of $311,558,749 from Rugby League to the NSW economy every season, which includes $143.1 million direct expenditure from community clubs
• an annual saving on health care expenditure through Rugby League participation of $1.7 million which equates to a lifetime community health benefit of almost $30 million on the health system
• Rugby League participants are six times less likely to feel socially isolated compared with the general population, and four times more likely to be actively engaged in their community through volunteer work
NSWRL celebrated a fourth consecutive season for record participation numbers in 2026, 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 increase 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).
Click here for the report into the Community Impact of Rugby League in NSW
