Watching Rugby League Live For The First Time
17th August 2025 - New Experience Number 12.
Despite having two top flight teams in my home city of York, I’d never been to a match. I decided that watching rugby league live for the first time would be a great experience to tick off as part of my goal to try 52 new things this year.
I’ve stood on the sidelines cheering on my stepson when he played rugby many years ago, but I’d never watched a professional match in person before.
I was looking forward to sitting in the stands and soaking up the action of a professional game.
Here’s what I thought of the experience, and some recommendations if you decide to give it a go too.
I’m Embarrassed By My Prior Lack Of Rugby League Knowledge
It’s a sport that’s been around since 1895, but one I’d not paid much attention to in my lifetime. Even though I used to watch my stepson play, I never really understood the game. I know the general gist, but have never grasped how the scoring or the rules worked.
My Other Half is a rugby fan. He doesn’t avidly watch all of the matches, but he is interested in keeping up with the scores.
My God-daughter plays rugby union. She’s been playing for several years, and she is absolutely awesome. I’ve never been to see her play, but I love hearing how well her team is doing.
But the main reason I’m ashamed to admit my lack of knowledge about the game, is because my Other Half’s Dad played rugby league professionally. He had a 3 year stint as a hooker for the Leeds Rhinos, and even played on the hallowed turf of Wembley! You’d think I’d have had a bit more interest in it wouldn’t you?!
So not only was I excited to watch my first live rugby league match, I was also keen to finally get to grips with the rules and understand the game better
Rugby League in York
We’ve got two professional Rugby League teams in York:
- The York Knights – the men’s team who play in the second tier at Championship level.
- York Valkyrie – the women’s team who are in the top tier playing in the Betfred Women’s Super League.
It’s safe to say that they’re both performing incredibly well. Seeing either of them would be a fantastic introduction to the game for anyone.
A Sporting Sunday Afternoon
It was eerily quiet as we arrived. Alongside the LNER Community Stadium is a leisure complex, a selection of restaurants, and several retail units. Yet despite the high profile teams, and all of the facilities and things to do, there wasn’t any real hustle or bustle on the day we went along.
It was only as we turned the corner to the entrance that we caught the faint ripple of applause from inside the ground.
We didn’t have to queue to get in, and after a quick bag search from the friendly staff, we were through the turnstiles.
Finding a space in the stands wasn’t difficult, as just a handful of people had turned out for the first match of the day.
A Double Day - Watching Rugby League Live For The First Time
Our tickets included the women’s and the men’s games as they were both playing at home.
There wasn’t an option to buy tickets for one or the other, which was brilliant for me as it meant I’d get an opportunity to be fully immersed in the game by watching two matches.
It seemed such a shame, then, that there weren’t more people in attendance for the women’s game. The stand was sparsely populated with supporters, but those of us there did our best to cheer on the local ladies.
Perhaps it was because it was in the height of the summer holidays that the crowd was small. Maybe it’s because the women’s team played first, and sadly, they’re not as well supported as the men’s team – yet! It’s also a big commitment of time to watch two back-to-back matches.
The applause may not have been deafening, but the enthusiasm from the spectators most certainly wasn’t lacking as we cheered on the York players.
York Valkyries Victory
Kicking off at 12 noon, the women’s match was fantastic to watch as they absolutely thrashed Warrington Wolves. That’s not to say that it was a walk in the park and that there wasn’t any defence from the opposition. It was a well won match, but it was clear that York had much better form and strategy.
These girls played hard. Running at the opposition with determination. Not a flinch on their faces as they collided into the tackles with full force. Deftly weaving through the defence and leaving them for dust on a couple of tries, and seamlessly converting several goals.
It was a slick game that played out well to a phenomenal final score of 86-0. What a first match to watch! It had been exhilirating!
York Knights - Watching Rugby League Live For The First Time
By 3pm, the crowd had easily tripled in size. The men’s match was about to kick off. The stadium still wasn’t even half full, but it did mean there was a bit more of an atmosphere for this match.
Applauses were slightly more thunderous, and the fan response to a controversial referee decision roared through the East stand. I can only imagine how electrifying the atmosphere must be when it’s a full crowd.
The play was tight and the passing was quick, but the London Broncos weren’t taking it lying down. Contact was fierce as the players ran into each other. Tackles often a blur of legs as two, three, and sometimes 4 players wrestled to bring their opponent to the floor.
Nimbly passing the ball, and swiftly alternating between offence and defence as the game progressed, it was a great match to watch. The result was 42-16 to York, who retained their top of the table position.
The men’s match felt slightly edgier to watch, probably due to a little bit of tension between two players early on. However, the respect for the game from everyone on the pitch, and in the stands, was clear to see throughout.
Understanding The Game
If you’re going to watch a sport for the first time, it’s probably a good idea to get even the briefest understanding of how the game works.
I was lucky that The Other Half explained what was going on as it played out. He gave me the lowdown on the rules, telling me what was happening and why, and answering my many, many questions.
I definitely don’t understand all of the nuances, but I gained enough understanding to know what was going on and to really get into both of the matches.
Amazing Atmosphere - Watching Rugby League Live For The First Time
Although the stadium was far from full, the spectators were enthusiastic.
There were less chants than I’ve heard at football matches, but a steady drumbeat further along in the stand generated some energy. There was plenty of encouragement for the home teams.
The atmosphere was friendly, with a real mix of supporters. Many families had come along, some with tiny kids cheering on their team. Groups of friends were out enjoying a pint in the sun for the afternoon games, and several people had come along on their own. Everybody seemed to be both welcomed, and welcoming.
There were moments in both matches that looked brutal. Some of the tackles made me wince as players were pulled to the grass with an almighty thud.
It is a tough sport and the will, determination and grit of the players is incredibly admirable. Watching them bounce back after a grapple on the grass, without any ill-will to the opponent who brought them down, and getting straight back into play, makes it great viewing.
Respect To The Ref
It is such a fast paced game that I struggled to understand some of the decisions. At times it was hard to actually see what was going on amidst the flailing limbs.
Absolute kudos to the referee and the linesmen who seemed to have eyes in the back of their heads and kept the games fair and flowing.
Watching a match on TV will provide close up footage to help explain some of the decisions, but I really enjoyed watching the game live to have an overview of how it plays out on the pitch.
Passionate Players
Considering the force behind some of the tackles in the game, and how players generally just pick themselves up, dust themselves off and continue to get stuck in, I have so much respect for them!
I’m sure plenty of tackles in a football match warrant some attention, and I’m not suggesting that footballers are overly dramatic, but compared to a rugby player, they do seem to take a little longer to get going again.
There’s no escaping the fact that as a rugby player, you’re going to get barged into. You’re also guaranteed to be pulled onto the floor at some point. If you shy away from any of the physical contact, it’s unlikely you’ll be playing the game for very long. I’m far too much of a wimp to voluntarily throw myself into situations like that. I’d at least want elbow and knee pads!
I’ve tried my hand at try tag rugby, and I think that’s probably the closest I am happy to get in terms of playing rugby. The fact I dislocated my thumb in the warm up of the low-contact version of the game just put me off even more!
Discovering Why A Try Is Called A Try
I’d often wondered why putting the ball down over the line is awarded points, yet is called a try. In my mind, they haven’t ‘tried’ to score points, they have actually succeeded.
I asked the Other Half and he didn’t know why it was called a Try either, so I did a little research. It stems back to how the game originally used to be scored.
Touching the ball on the ground behind the goal never used to result in any points. Instead, it gave the team an opportunity to ‘try’ to score a point by kicking the ball at the goal. Well, now that makes sense.
As the game has evolved, points are now awarded for touching the ball to the ground in the goal area, but the name of ‘try’ has stayed the same.
I Loved Watching Rugby League Live For The First Time
I mean, at times it’s tough to watch. It’s unfathomable how players get up uninjured after spectacularly physical clashes. I’d half expected to see nosebleeds and grazes from the sheer force of some of the falls.
The games were amazingly slick. There’s no need for the referee to intervene after every tackle as the players generally self-govern the moves and play to the rules. It makes it a fantastically fast and frenetic game to watch.
It’s a shame there wasn’t a bigger turn out, especially for the ladies game. Both teams are doing exceptionally well in their leagues and are something we can be proud of in my home city. Maybe we just went on a particularly quiet day.
It’s an action packed game that never seems to stall or slow down, and it’s brilliant to watch live. I’ll definitely be going back!
If you’ve never been to a rugby league match, I’d definitely recommend giving it a go. You might come away as surprised—and impressed—as I was!
Want To Try It Yourself?
- If you’re in York, check out York Rugby League Football Club for details of both the Valkyries and the Knights and their matches.
- RugbyLeague.com is a great website where you can find details about the different competitions and teams across the UK. You’ll be able to find the team nearest to you.
Cost Of Experience
- Using a voucher from York Mix, I paid £22 for two tickets which included both the men’s and women’s games.
- Tickets are usually £22 per person for the two matches. I think that’s pretty reasonable, especially compared to some of the eye-watering prices that can be paid for a football ticket.
- The cost of the ticket will depend on the team and venue where you are going to watch the match.
Recommendations For Watching Rugby League Live For The First Time
- Check the forecast. Coats can be cumbersome, so it’s handy to know in advance if you need to take it with you.
- Drinks and snacks are usually available to buy. Don’t forget to take some method of payment with you.
- Dress Accordingly. It can get chilly when you’re sitting out in the elements, and it can get hot when the sun comes out. Take layers so you can easily adjust your temperature. Many people wear the colours of the team they support.
- Don’t forget the sun cream. Even on a cloudy day it’s still wise to apply some level of SPF.
- Get an overview before you go. You’ll pick a lot up when you’re there, but it can be helpful to have some knowledge of the game. For a brilliant overview of rugby league, take a look at this video – The rules of rugby league explained, on YouTube.
- Don’t forget your camera. Take some action shots, and let me know how you get on if you give it a go!
Challenge 52 is a great idea. Watching rugby, or any outdoor sport, always seems a great idea unless the weather is rubbish, then I go off the idea, some great recommendations on what to bring so that you enjoy the game.
Thank you so much for reading, and taking the time to comment – I really appreciate it. We were lucky with the weather – it was a cloudy start but the sun came out later on, so perfect for being a spectator. I agree, it’s not quite so appealing when it’s bad weather!
Sally :o)
I haven’t watched rugby live at the grounds in such a long time, I would love to do it again. It’s so great you got to experience this as it’s something that can be so enjoyable. Great post!
Thanks so much Molly! I can’t believe this was the first match I’ve been to! I feel as though I’ve been missing out! Is rugby much of a thing where you are? I hope you get to go again at some point.
Thanks as always for taking the time to read and comment.
Sally :o)
Great photos! It looks like an incredible time. I’d love to go someday!
Thank you! I hope you get to go along, it was such a fantastic atmosphere and incredible to watch the force of the players.
Thank you for reading, and for commenting too. I really appreciate it.
Sally :o)