Fun Facts of Rugby League Ever Since Its Formation

1. Rugby league was founded in England in 1895 by 21 clubs who broke away from the Rugby Football Union over disagreements about player compensation and the laws of the game.
2. The first rugby league match was played on September 7, 1895, between the teams of Manningham and Bradford.
3. Rugby league quickly became popular in Australia, where it is now one of the most popular sports in the country.
4. The Rugby League World Cup was first held in 1954, and has since been held every four years, with Australia winning the most titles (11).
5. The Super League, which is the top professional league in Europe, was established in 1996 and has since expanded to include teams from France and Canada.
6. The State of Origin series, a best-of-three annual rugby league competition between the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland, has been held since 1980 and is one of the biggest events on the Australian sporting calendar.
7. Rugby league has also been played in North America, with the National Rugby League (NRL) playing a number of games in the United States and Canada in recent years.
8. The Rugby Football League in England has been experimenting with new rules in recent years, such as introducing a shot clock for scrums and reducing the number of interchanges allowed per game.
9. Some of the greatest rugby league players of all time include Australian Andrew Johns, New Zealander Stacey Jones, and British player Ellery Hanley.
10. Rugby league is known for its tough physical play, with players frequently colliding and tackling each other at high speeds. The sport has also been criticized for its high rate of injuries, particularly concussions.
11. The longest-ever rugby league match was played in 2015 between Hull FC and Castleford Tigers, lasting for 100 minutes due to two periods of extra time.
12. The Rugby League Hall of Fame was established in 1988 to recognize the achievements of the sport's greatest players, coaches, and administrators.
13. The highest-ever score in a rugby league match was 144-0, achieved by the Sydney Roosters against the now-defunct team, the Newtown Jets in 1935.
14. The 2021 Rugby League World Cup was scheduled to be held in England but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been rescheduled for 2022.
15. Rugby league has inspired numerous films and TV shows, including the 2015 movie "The Bromley Boys" and the popular Australian drama series "Underbelly: Chopper."
16. In Australia, rugby league is often referred to as simply "footy," while rugby union is called "rugby."
17. The first-ever rugby league test match was played in 1908 between Australia and New Zealand, with Australia winning 22-0.
18. Rugby league has a strong tradition of community involvement, with many clubs running programs to promote the sport among young people and disadvantaged communities.
19. The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) was established in Australia in 1979 to represent the interests of professional rugby league players.
20. The official ball used in rugby league matches is oval-shaped and is slightly larger and heavier than the ball used in rugby union.