Rugby League

Question
Sir,

thanks for your reply on the League vs. Union question. It has answered nearly all my questions on that topic.
In Germany we don't seem to have anything like Rugby League. So what I'd like to know is:
Where is it played and are there countries where it can compete with Rugby Union in terms of popularity. Thank you for your answer, stefan

Answer
Stefan,

Realize that as a Rugby union player and coach, I am a bit biased.

I noticed that in Queensland, and I suspect much of Australia that Rugby League holds its own against Rugby Union.  It may be a bit of heresy, but in Brisbane, it actually appeared that Rugby League was more popular (more stores with League jerseys, more references to League in media and advertising, and this was during RWC!)

This impression appears to be borne out by TV ratings that show League is more popular than Union in Australia.  According to NRL chief executive David Gallop, "There's no doubt rugby league is the market leader in NSW and Queensland by a long way; Even if you go back a couple of years to what most would accept as the code's rock bottom and what were at the same time unprecedented high points for our competitors, we remained a long way out in front as the most watched sport in NSW and Queensland, as well as expanding into New Zealand and Melbourne."  

In non cable TV ratings a recent league Test match between Great Britain was ranked 47th in terms of viewers, while the comparable Union fixture, the Bledsoe cup between Australia and New Zealand was ranked 61st.

The reality, as I have discovered doing research for your question, is that the definition of popularity is not consistent.  

-is it more players?
-is it more spectators?
-is it amount of media exposure (also depends on media source)?
-is it advertising dollars?

In the United States and Canada, the image of rugby is generally that of Rugby Union.  It is far more popular than Rugby League.  It appears that in England that there is a very large and vocal rugby league community that suggests that league may be on par or more popular than Union.  I do not have the data to back up that assertion and could be wrong.  Rugby League appears to hold its own against Union in New Zealand, South Arfrica,and Wales.  While playing in Germany, I never heard of League there.    

It would require more research than I am able to do at this time to fully answer your question.  I hope that I have given you enough to point you in the right direction.

Deane Shephard
OPSU