- A new analysis reveals that Wales prefers Rugby, but on a city basis, football comes out on top.
- 60% of cities in the country search for football classes more than rugby classes.
- Bangor and Cardiff buck the trend favouring rugby.
- Comments provided by experts at Harlow Leisurezone.
- Further data available upon request.
As the country prepares for a string of high-profile matches over the festive period, new research has crowned rugby as Wales’s top sport.
Search engine analysis by experts at Harlow Leisurezone uncovered the average number of monthly searches for keywords relating to football and rugby classes.
It revealed that, from a national standpoint, rugby classes led the way in Wales with an average of 1,750 searches a month, compared to only 1,400 for football.
| Average Monthly Searches | |||
| Location | Football Classes and 180 keywords | Rugby Classes and 180 keywords | Winning Sport |
| England | 16,040 | 7240 | Football |
| Scotland | 1,890 | 1640 | Football |
| Northern Ireland | 1,150 | 1030 | Football |
| Wales | 1,400 | 1750 | Rugby |
But when things are broken down locally, to a city-basis, it’s a different picture.
The data shows that 60% of cities searched for football training more than rugby training.
Wrexham, Newport, and Swansea all favoured football, with just Bangor and Cardiff bucking the trend, choosing Rugby.
| Average Monthly Searches | |||
| Location | Football Classes and 180 keywords | Rugby Classes and 180 keywords | Winning Sport |
| Wrexham | 400 | 330 | Football |
| Newport | 380 | 300 | Football |
| Swansea | 560 | 510 | Football |
| Bangor | 180 | 230 | Rugby |
| Cardiff | 640 | 670 | Rugby |
Health and Fitness Manager David Marrington, from Harlow Leisurezone, said, “The festive season sports fixtures are a pivotal part of Christmas for many households across the country. This is also a time when people plan their next health and fitness goals as they move into the new year.
“There are some interesting results in this data which demonstrate the importance of sport in people’s lives whether they enjoy football or rugby. It is encouraging to see so many people putting sports participation at the top of their fitness agendas in the coming year.”
“Whatever your personal preference, the traditional sports such as football and rugby offer a great opportunity to meet others and exercise as part of a community.”
| [donate]
| Help keep news FREE for our readersSupporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism,then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. |
It could be said that Wales has two national games. Rugby is the game of the Welsh Establishment,Football is the game of the Welsh People.