SPORT CANTERBURY REPORT REVEALS RUGBY LEAGUE AS 2024’S TOP GROWTH SPORT

Sport Canterbury’s annual Sport Report has uncovered an outstanding result for rugby league in the region, revealing our game as the biggest growth sport in Canterbury in 2024.

Canterbury Rugby League’s clubs’ memberships increased by 631 participants last year – a rise of 21.5 percent.

Rugby league topped the Sport Report’s growth figures, ahead of swimming (+206, 20%), dragon boating (+84, 19%), canoe racing (+77, 12.8%) and football (+1,031, 6.7%).

Canterbury Rugby League CEO Malcolm Humm praised the efforts of local clubs and their volunteers for the significant boost in numbers.

“This is fantastic news for rugby league in the Canterbury region and much of the kudos must go to our member clubs,” CRL CEO Malcolm Humm says.

“We recognise that the successes of the Warriors in the NRL, and the Kiwis and the Kiwi Ferns on the international stage, have certainly contributed to growth in numbers over the past three years.

“However it is the clubs that need to manage this growth in terms of securing coaches, managers, trainers and the like; and they have done exceptional mahi in this area.

“The key now for us now is to ensure we retain the quality of existing competitions and programmes whilst experiencing this growth.”

Meanwhile, the report also mentioned rugby league among several sports that had enjoyed notable positive changes in female participation in 2024.