One of the metropolitan newspapers last weekend examined the rise of the netball participation among Australian men.
The traditionally female-dominated sport has seen an uptick in play by men in recent years according to a 2024 report by the Australian Sport Commission.
It got us thinking what other sports are favoured by blokes across the country and results might surprise you – especially in a league and rugby town like Gunnedah.
After football (soccer) in the most popular organised sports played by men in Australia rankings, basketball, cricket and Australian Rules are not too far behind – not all that surprising I hear you say! Some of the next highest ranked (team) sports include table tennis, badminton, volleyball and bowls – at least the latter of which rates a mention in Gunnedah.
Further down the in the participation rankings, after more individualistic activities of Pilates and ‘virtual based physical activity’, is rugby league.
Rugby union is even further back – after ten pin bowling, pickleball, underwater sports, canoe-kayaking and ski and snowboard which all have higher rates of participation by Australian men that than rugby union.
The good news, most of us are getting out there being active. In the previous 12 months, 85 per cent of Australians aged 15-years or over participated in some type of sport or physical activity at least once.
