Sports in Sydney

Australian's take their sports seriously. And they give you a lot to choose from. Rugby is arguably the most popular sport in Sydney, but cricket and football are not far behind. Sydney also features Australian Rules Football, a sport unique to Australia. Having so many teams in Sydney and so many sports to choose from means that whenever you choose to visit, there is sure to be a great sporting event to watch.

Rugby

Rugby is one of Australia's most popular sports. The National Rugby League is where you will find professional teams in Australia. In addition to the professionals, there are rugby clubs for youth, women, and college students. Australia also plays rugby internationally, and Sydney was the host of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. If you want to take in a match while in Sydney check out the Sydney Roosters, or the South Sydney Rabbitons and see if there is a home game. The Sydney Roosters are the team of Brad Fittler, a hall of fame player turned coach.

Cricket

Cricket, a sport not commonly found in the United States, is very popular in Australia. When visiting Sydney you can find people playing cricket from a junior level up to a professional level. Cricket Australia, formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board has been regulating the sport since 1892. At a high level, cricket is played internationally. Australia's two most common rivals are New Zealand and India. If you want to check out a game when you are in Sydney, check out the local teams, the Sydney 6ers or the Sydney Thunder. Many Australian teams feature both Australian native and foreign born players. These two intercity rivals are part of the Big Bash league of Australian teams.

Soccer

In Australia, as with most of the world, they call soccer football. Generally American football is not played in Australia, although they have hosted games in Sydney Olympic Park. Football in Australia can be played internationally or teams within the county. The Football Federation of Australia is the league that the Sydney Sky Blues or Sydney FC play in. The Sydney FC has only been around since 2004, but they gained success heard around the world when they beat the LA Galaxy and David Beckham on their home turf.

Australian Rules

A sport that is unique to Australia is Australian Rules Football, also known as Aussie Rules Footy. This sport resembles soccer, but use of hands is allowed. The game is played on an oval shaped pitch, rather than a rectangle. Aussie Rules Footy, even at the highest level is still considered a club sport. Sydney's home team, the Sydney Swans originated in Melbourne but made the transition to Sydney in the 1980s. While Aussie Rules Footy is not as popular as rugby and other sports, it hold a distinctly Australian flavor and is worth checking out on a visit to Sydney.

Stadiums

The Sydney Cricket Grounds and Sydney Football Stadium date back to 1886. Despite its name as the Sydney Cricket Ground, this stadium has hosted many different sports including cricket, football, tennis and rugby. The grounds are located within the city, making it a popular destination. The grounds also feature a cricket museum, which may be useful to learn a thing or two about cricket before watching a match. Another popular stadium in Sydney is ANZ Stadium. This stadium, located just outside Sydney in Olympic Park is home to the Sydney Swans, Sydney Thunder, and South Sydney Rabbitons. The modern stadium, built in 1999 has been home to some of Australia's biggest sporting events, as well as the 2000 Summer Olympics.

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