Team sports are very popular in this country. Various national and international tournaments and championships are held, which gather thousands of fans in stadiums and in front of TV sets.
Soccer
The kingdom has one of the strongest leagues in the world, the Premier League, in which the top 20 clubs in the country play. The league season lasts from the last month of summer to the last month of spring, and every year the winner of the FA Cup is determined. The most famous clubs in this league are Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham.
Rugby
It is another popular sport that has two varieties: rugby union and also rugby league. The former is played by 15 players in each team, while rugby league is played by 13 players. In both types, the aim of the game is to get the ball over the opponent's line or to score it through the upright posts. The kingdom has several professional leagues for these varieties of rugby, as well as a national team that participates in international tournaments such as the Six Nations Tournament, the Rugby World Cup and the Four Nations Tournament.
Cricket
It is a traditional sport in the country. It is played by two teams of 11 players who take turns hitting and catching the ball thrown by the opponent. The aim of the game is to score more points than the opponent for a certain number of throws. There are several formats of cricket in the kingdom such as test matches, matches played on one day only and twenty minute matches. England hosts various cricket competitions such as the County Championship and the FA Cup. The country also boasts of a national cricket team that participates in international tournaments.
Hockey
It is another team sport that is popular in England. There are several hockey leagues and cups, as well as national teams of men and women who participate in international competitions.
Netball
It is a team sport that is similar to basketball but with some differences. It is played by two teams of 7 players who have to pass the ball to each other and throw it into the opponent's ring. In this game there is no board behind the basket like in basketball, and it is also forbidden to run with the ball or hold it for more than three seconds. Netball is one of the most popular sports among women in England. There are several netball leagues and cups, as well as a national women's team that competes in international tournaments.
Seasonal events
One of the most famous seasonal sporting events in England is the Boot Race, which is held every year in late March or early April on the River Thames in London. It is a rowing race between students from the country's two oldest universities, Oxford and Cambridge. The race lasts about 20 minutes and follows a 6.8 kilometre course from Putney to Mortlake. The Boot Race has been held since 1829 and is one of the most prestigious and spectacular sporting events in England.
Another popular seasonal sporting event in the Kingdom is Cheese Rolling, which takes place every year on the last Monday in May at Coopers Hill in Gloucestershire. It is a competition in which participants chase a rolling cheese down a steep hill. The winnings go to whoever reaches the finish line first or catches the cheese. Cheese rolling has been held since the 15th century and is one of the most unusual and dangerous sporting events in England.
There is also the Stair Run, which takes place every year in October in the capital city. It is a competition in which participants must run up the stairs from the first floor to the top floor of one of the city's tallest buildings, The Shard. This building has 95 floors and is 306 meters high. The Stair Run has been running since 2013 and is one of the toughest and most extreme sporting events in the United Kingdom.
There is also a very amusing sporting event in the country - the World Shoe Throwing Championship, which is held every year in September in Somerset County. It is a competition in which participants have to throw a overshoe as far as possible along a special track. It has been held since 1974.
Conclusion
In this article, you have learned about the most popular and interesting sporting events and activities that take place in the country. These events reflect the diversity and richness of England's sporting life, as well as its history and culture. If you love sports and want to visit the United Kingdom, you are sure to find something exciting to do here.