Best Attended UK Clubs : 1981 - 2024 (Summary Including Catalan & Huddersfield)

For a sport that mainly straddles the M62 motorway across the north of England, the attendances are acceptably good. Little was done top spread the word but the game found its way to NZ and Australia, the France, PNG and islands of the Pacific. Some tried to stop the game, usually Rugby Union sympathisers that often viewed Rugby League the same as Catholics viewed Protestants, rebels that should return to the fold.

The game has also lacked a governing body tasked with the job of spreading the word. Two professional competitions basically have run the game and have focused on their own success rather than the game's greater good internationally. Some moves are afoot to change that but unless an international board has reasonable finance, it is stymied in its efforts.

So this series has looked at the best attended clubs in the UK, all professional and part of the top division of the sport. It took a fair bit of time to put together but I think it was worth it, seeing as there is little in the way of attendance data available on the Internet. I have presented it in a way I thought best and attendance statistics can be accessed by clicking on labels to the right with the word attendance.

Finally, I thought I would add two clubs that are presently Super League clubs that didn't meet the criteria I set for the series.

Catalan Dragons. Average 8,451.

The side from the south of France has held on to top flight status for 17 seasons now. It has at times been a struggle but has always found a way. The attendances over the years have been consistent. They were joined by another French side in 2021 so a local derby was be enjoyed. That lasted one year.

Huddersfield Giants. Average 5,691.

Rugby League came into existence at a meeting held in this town in 1895. Success for the club at the highest level has been elusive, but it is now enjoying its 20th consecutive season in the top division. The past three decades have seen crowd growth although the last few seasons have been disappointing. A planned move to a more suitable stadium may be a catalyst for growth in attendance.

Covid didn't allow the years 2020 and 2021 to be included.

Others in the series can be seen by clicking on the following rankings:

1st & 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 5th & 6th, 7th & 8th, 9th & 10th, 11th & 12th.