By Gareth James
Football has overtaken rugby as the most popular sport in Wales, the Football Association of Wales have claimed.
The governing body have released a report which they say proves that football has swapped places with rugby as the sport most people in Wales are both interested in and participate in.
“Football interest has continued to increase since research in Wales was first conducted in 2016,” say the FAW in a statement.
“However, for the first time, football is now the number one interest sport in Wales and continues to
be the number one participation sport for children and adults.”
The research for the report was undertaken by Nielsen, a global audience research company.
They interviewed a sample audience of 1,000 people across Wales and claimed that football was followed by 47 per cent of the population, compared to rugby which was followed by only 45 per cent.
Next came boxing on 22 per cent, tennis on 20 per cent and motor sport on 18 per cent.
🏴 Football has been confirmed as the #1 sport in Wales following the publication of an independent report.
For all the details 👉 https://t.co/EJx6A9LUPK#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/MF5urg9zD2
— FA WALES (@FAWales) May 26, 2022
When it came to participation among children, football was again the most popular choice in Wales with 40 per cent claiming to play, with rugby back in sixth spot on 14 per cent.
It’s the first time since 2016, when the research began, that football interest has rated ahead of rugby and coincides with contrasting fortunes for the two sports in the past few years.
Whilst the senior men’s football team are on the threshold of qualifying for their first World Cup finals since 1958, their rugby equivalents finished fifth in this season’s Six Nations.
The women’s football team are also in contention to qualify for their World Cup after steady improvement, whilst their rugby counterparts have had mixed results after being beset by disputes and arguments over their levels of funding.
At club level, Cardiff City and Swansea City have both had recent spells in the Premier League and while both are now back in the Championship, their rugby counterparts have suffered a much bigger slide in recent seasons compared to where they once stood.
We are in the World Cup Final draw next week. Diolch 🏴 🏆 ⚽️
Special night ❤️ Special @Cymru Well done to everyone at @FAWales for the hard work behind the scenes … and well done to you the Red Wall 🏴 pic.twitter.com/fSq5OQzuAh— Noel Mooney (@NoelMooney13) March 24, 2022
The four regions failed to win a single game in European competition this season whilst the Ospreys were roundly mocked on social media for celebrating their ninth place in the United Rugby Championship by lifting the so-called “Welsh Shield” for finishing as the highest-placed Welsh team in the competition.
Noel Mooney, FAW chief executive, said: “On the whole this report is very positive and I’m incredibly pleased to see that the game which we are entrusted to run is now the number one interest sport in the country.
“This independent report is testament to hard work of FAW employees, area associations, leagues, clubs and volunteers right across the country who raise awareness, interest and perceptions of our wonderful game.
“In conjunction with our strategic aims for Welsh football, this research provides us with insights on where we can continue to grow and what areas we need to focus on for improvement.”
