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Sport in the United Kingdom

Commonly known as Great Britain or the UK, the United Kingdom is one of the most populated states in the world. Athletes from this region sometimes compete as the United Kingdom or Great Britain, and othertimes they represent their home country of England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

Rugby is played throughout the UKRugby is a popular sport throughout the UK

The United Kingdom is home to many sports like golf, cricket, rugby, boxing but none so as football. Jacques Rogge, IOC President was once quoted saying "This great, sports-loving country is widely recognized as the birthplace of modern sport. It was here that the concepts of sportsmanship and fair play were first codified into clear rules and regulations. It was here that sport was included as an educational tool in the school curriculum".

UK is recognized by many governing bodies, including FIFA, as the birthplace of modern football with rules dating back as far as 1863. The UK also is the home of the most watched football league in the whole world, the Premier League. They also participated in the first-ever international match where they played against Scotland on November 30, 1872.

Although football seems to run in every English vein, there are also a lot of sports that flourish in the UK. Rugby union is ranked as the second most popular sport in the UK. The first-ever international rugby match was also between England and Scotland which took place on March 27, 1871.

Cricket was actually invented in England with laws that were set way back in 1788 by the Marylebone Cricket Club. England was also the birthplace of modern day tennis. Understandably, the world's oldest tennis tournament, the Wimbledon championship, was first held in England in 1877. The "Sports of Kings", thoroughbred racing, also originated in England and many motorsport teams and drivers who compete in Formula One also call the UK home.



Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to the United Kingdom, including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. See also the list the most popular internet searches for "sports" in the UK.

For even more details see the individual pages for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Popular sports of the UK (see more)

Regional or Traditional Sports of the UK

UK Sporting Successes

Great athletes from the UK

the UK Sports trivia

the UK at major events

Past sporting events hosted in the UK

Upcoming sporting events in the UK

Annual sporting events held in the UK

Sporting Facilities in the UK

Other

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