Melbourne tram in 2009 featuring Melbourne Storm advertising livery
Governing body
Victorian Rugby League
Representative team
Victoria
First played
1914, Melbourne
Registered players
9,023 (2022)[1] 16,000+ (including variants)[2]
Clubs
25[3]
Club competitions
Victorian Rugby League (Melbourne Rugby League) Limestone Coast Rugby League Murray Cup Sunraysia-Riverlands Rugby League Central Highlands Rugby League (defunct)
Audience records
Single match
91,513 (2015). State of Origin – Queensland v New South Wales (MCG, Melbourne)
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Rugby league football has been played and watched by people in the Australian state of Victoria since the early 20th century. While for most of its history there the game's popularity has been marginal due to the dominance of Australian rules football in Victoria, rugby league's popularity has rapidly increased in recent years in the state's capital of Melbourne,[4] due mainly to the introduction of a professional Melbourne-based team in the national competition.[5]
Professional teams visited Melbourne as early as 1914 and occasional exhibition matches were held by clubs from New South Wales, however it was not until 1998 that the first professional club formed in Victoria, the Melbourne Storm, an expansion club to join the National Rugby League premiership.[6]
The Australian Rugby League reports that over $23 million has been invested by the Melbourne Storm and its partners in promoting and developing rugby league in Victoria since 2005 and the club has visited more than 550 schools across the state. Participation has grown significantly since 2006, with 13 amateur clubs playing in the state in 2008, according to the Victorian Rugby League[7] before further expansion prior to the 2009 season saw the competition expand into a divisional league during the 2010s.[8]
^Ausplay Sports Report 2022 - Soccer, Australian Football, Rugby League & Rugby Union
^"Annual report 2021-2022" (PDF). touchfootball.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
^NRL Victoria clubs
^"World class stadium for Storm a reality". sportsaustralia.com. SportsAustralia. 5 March 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
^Heming, Wayne (30 October 2009). "Brisbane Broncos voted Australia's most popular football team". foxsports.com.au. AAP. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
^"More Clubs added to the Victoria Rugby League Comp in 2009 - The Front Row Forum :: Rugby League". Forums.leagueunlimited.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
^"More Clubs added to the Victoria Rugby League Comp in 2009 - Page 4 - The Front Row Forum :: Rugby League". Forums.leagueunlimited.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
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