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The game is dominant on the eastern seaboard of Australia in its NRL National Rugby League competition. It currently includes fifteen teams who are located as far apart as the north of Queensland, to Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra and to Melbourne. This rugby league competition also boasts a team from the neighbouring country of New Zealand. Both nations have strong rugby league traditions dating back nearly 100 years when they first played each other. The game though originated in the north of England in 1895 when the rugby game in that country divided in two. The Northern Union game (later to be called rugby league around the world) was initially no different to Rugby Union. However, before long it changed rules and reduced team player numbers to make the "rugby" game more exciting. The game is strong in England, being the most popularly supported sport behind soccer (football). It is now called the Super Rugby League and features many clubs that began their lives in the 1860s alongside more recent entrants from London. Rugby League is the national game of Papua New Guinea and is also played strongly in France and New Zealand. Fledgling competitions can be found in the UK, USA, South Africa, Morrocco, Spain, Russia, Fiji, Samoa and many other countries. Rugby League - it is the greatest game! Rugby
League |
Rugby
League is the greatest game. Few sports in the world can rival Rugby
League for the excitement of its play, the tradition of its clubs,
the physical strength and stamina of its players and the fanatical
tribal support of its fans.