The Betfred Super League has announced another attendance record for 2025, with league-wide numbers anticipated to grow further next month.
The league revealed that an aggregate of 86,080 fans attended the six fixtures during the Easter Weekend, marking a new record for a single six-match round since the Super League’s launch. This surpasses the previous high of 83,357, set over Easter two years ago.
Rhodri Jones, Managing Director of Rugby League Commercial, said: “Not for the first time this season, we congratulate the Betfred Super League clubs – this time for a record-breaking Rivals Round, and possibly the best Easter weekend in the 30 seasons of Super League.”
Jones isn’t far off in his assessment. The round now ranks as the second highest attended in league history since its inception in 1996, just behind a seven-match round in 2012, when the competition had 14 teams, which drew a total of 88,455.
He also highlighted how local rivalries played a key role in driving strong attendance numbers, with Wigan facing St Helens and Leigh squaring off against Warrington.
Jones added: “We’ve worked with the clubs to focus on these big games and attract attendances which are historically significant for Rugby League.”
Back in February, the league also recorded a historic opening round. Leigh Leopards secured an away win against Wigan Warriors in front of 21,748 fans, setting a new Round One attendance record. This surpassed the previous best of 21,693, set during Wigan’s 2007 opener against Warrington Wolves.
It’s been an impressive season so far. Cumulative attendance for the 2025 Betfred Super League has already surpassed the 500,000 mark after just eight rounds.
The total of 537,193 now represents an average gate of 11,191 per match, up 21% from the 2024 season average of 9,221.
Jones expects this momentum to continue, noting that historically high-attendance events are just around the corner.
He continued: “The big weekends keep coming with Magic and the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi Finals in May, followed by the Finals of the Men’s and Women’s Challenge Cups and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup at Wembley in June – and with everything building to the ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes in the autumn.”
Growth of rugby league
This success isn’t limited to the top flight. The derby between Halifax Panthers and Bradford Bulls at The Shay drew a crowd of 4,887 — the highest attendance for a Betfred Championship fixture in England this season.
Meanwhile, 2,310 fans turned out for the West Cumbrian derby between Workington Town and Whitehaven, setting a new attendance high for Betfred League One in 2025.
Across all three divisions, more than 106,000 fans attended Rugby League matches during the first half of the Easter weekend. This growth reflects the strong efforts by clubs, which have recently stepped up their fan engagement and expansion initiatives.
One of the most high-profile examples was the league fixture between Wigan and Warrington held in Las Vegas this March, described as a “bigger, bolder and better festival of Rugby League.”
Jones concluded: “And congratulations also go to the Championship and League One clubs who have also had a bumper weekend.
“This success has maintained the momentum that’s been building throughout the 2025 season, from the record opening night for Wigan versus Leigh back in February, through the historic Round Three fixture between Wigan and Warrington in Las Vegas in March, and now with the 500,000 milestone reached in record time, and with a best-ever average attendance for Super League of over 14,000.”
