The number of registered Rugby League participants in England has broken the 100,000 mark according to the latest official RFL statistics. This 100,000 total is comprised of players involved in full contact club Rugby League as well as those that have played Touch Rugby League, Wheelchair Rugby League and Masters Rugby League since 2009. RFL Director of Participation, David Gent said: “We are obviously delighted to have broken the 100,000 milestone. With the new playing calendar in place providing opportunities for teams and players at all levels of the game we are confident that this number will continue to increase. We have a robust data collection system so it’s possible to break the figures down to see exactly where people are playing and once again credit needs to go to the development officers who work hard to introduce our great game to a wider audience across the country.”

This total figure also includes some of the students involved in the Champion Schools competition as well as students that have received coaching in Primary or Secondary Schools or had professional club training. There are just under 2,000 players included in the total who are professional or academy players. Open age club Rugby League currently has in excess of 20,000 players across the country with the North West and Yorkshire accounting for 16,000 and the other 4,000 spread through the other regions. Open Age Higher Education and Further Education participation runs at over 70 universities and 130 colleges with strong bases in the Midlands who have 20 per cent of Higher Education participation, in fact students account for 3,000 of the players.

The Armed Forces currently have in excess of 40 teams which accounts for nearly 1,000 players. There are nearly 30,000 people aged over 16 who have played Touch, Tag, Masters and Wheelchair Rugby League. Junior club contact Rugby League accounts for 21,000 players with the North West and Yorkshire accounting for 17,000 of these. Over 23,000 students also compete in the Carnegie Champion Schools competition.