List of Top 10 Most Popular Sports in South Africa

Top 10 Most Popular Sports in South Africa: Soccer is the top and most popular sport played in South Africa by the people living there. South Africa is immensely popular for its diverse cultural activities, beautiful environmental landscapes, and a great craving for sports. The top three sports played in South Africa are soccer, cricket, and rugby.

South Africa has also hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1995 and the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003. The country also hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

This article provides the list of the top 10 most popular sports in South Africa and the year in which they started.

Table of Top 10 Most Popular Sports in South Africa

The table given below shows the top 10 most popular sports in South Africa:

S. No.	Sport Name	Estimated Start Year
1	Soccer	1860s
2	Rugby	1860s
3	Cricket	1800s
4	Athletics	1800s
5	Swimming	1900s
6	Hockey	1800s
7	Netball	1900s
8	Tennis	1800s
9	Golf	1900s
10	Basketball	1900s

Top 10 Most Popular Sports in South Africa

Let us discuss most popular sports played in South Africa in detail:

Tenth Top Most Popular Sport in South Africa: Basketball

The tenth top most popular sport in South Africa is Basketball. This sport attracts most of the youth in South Africa. BNL (Basketball National League) is organized by the government of South Africa and is considered to be the most professional competition to occur in the country. 

• The estimated introduction year of basketball in South Africa is in the early 1900s. 
• There are around three to four lakh basketball players in South Africa.
• The most famous basketball player of South Africa is Gideon Khobane. 

Ninth Top Most Popular Sport in South Africa: Golf

The top ninth most popular sport played in South Africa is Golf. Many new players play in the Sunshine Tour organized by the government, through which many new bright players come up and then get trained by professionals for big competitions. 

• It was the time of the beginning of the twentieth century, when this game was first played by the people of South Africa. 
• South Africa is home to 4 lakh golfers.
• In South Africa, Gary Player is the most well-known golfer. 

Eighth Top Most Popular Sport in South Africa: Tennis

The eighth top most popular sport is Tennis. The country is rich with the number of excellent players of tennis. South Africa organizes numerous tournaments and competitions related to this sport including SA Open and others. 

• The estimated year of the introduction of tennis is in the late 1800s.
• There are around five lakh people, who play tennis in South Africa.
• The most famous tennis player of tennis is Kelvin Anderson. 

Seventh Top Most Popular Sport in South Africa: Netball

The seventh most popular sport played in South Africa is Netball. Mostly this sport is played by women and girls of South Africa. Schools mostly promote netball, as small children are more interested in this game. 

• The game was introduced in the early twentieth century in South Africa. 
• There are more than millions of people who are interested in the netball game. 
• Karla Pretorius is the most popular netball player. 

Sixth Top Most Popular Sport in South Africa: Hockey

The sixth top popular sport in South Africa is Hockey. There are indoor and outdoor versions of this sport. Many players are selected through the PHL which means Premier Hockey League conducted by the government for the upper level matches. 

• The 1800s was the time when this sport came into existence in South Africa. 
• There are not many hockey players in South Africa.
• Pietie Coetzee is the most popular hockey player in South Africa. 

Fifth Top Most Popular Sport in South Africa: Swimming

Swimming is the fifth most popular sport. There are many pools built for swimming for the people living there. There are beaches and good weather which attracts people more towards swimming. 

• The game was first played in the 1900s. 
• In South Africa there are many people who do swimming.
• South Africa’s top swimmer, represented the nation at various levels whose name is Chad le Clos. 

Fourth Top Most Popular Sport in South Africa: Athletics

The fourth top most popular sport is considered to be Athletics. South Africa produces many excellent athletes which show their amazing skills on the world stage. Comrades and Two Ocean Marathon are organized every year in South Africa. 

• It is believed that the sport was first introduced in the late 1800s. 
• In South Africa, there are about two million athletes.
• Caster Semenya is the most well-known athlete from South Africa.

Third Top Most Popular Sport in South Africa: Cricket

In South Africa, cricket is the third most popular sport. The South African cricket team plays under the name Proteas. South Africa also organizes cricket competitions like the T20 Ram Slam and the One-Day Cup.

• The 1800s is the time for the introduction of the game in South Africa. 
• In South Africa, there are about two lakh cricket player’s.
• The most famous cricketer of the team is AB de Villiers, he is a very well-known batsman of the team. 

Second Top Most Popular Sport in South Africa: Rugby

The second most popular sport to be played is Rugby. Because it strengthens a team, unites the country, and fosters unity among its players, sports are like an emotion for the people. The national team of South Africa, rugby is very famous and the name of the team is Springboks. 

• During the 1860s,  the game was first played in South Africa.
• This sport is played by about six lakh people throughout the nation.
• The most famous and renowned player of rugby in South Africa is Nelson Mandela.  

First Top Most Popular Sport in South Africa: Soccer

The first top most popular sport played in South Africa is Soccer or football. The biggest tournament which takes place in South Africa is the PSL in which so many people participate.

• In South Africa, soccer was first played in 1859. 
• There are more than three million people who play football. 
• Steven Pienaar, is considered to be the most consistent and most popular player of this game. 

People Also Read:

• Top 10 Most Popular Sports In The World [Ranked]
• List of Countries and their National Games
• 10 Most Popular Sports in United States
• List of Top 10 Most Popular Sports in Japan

Conclusion – Top 10 Most Popular Sports in South Africa

Football is the most famous game played by South Africans. Sport is like a soul for the South Africans. People enjoy playing sports and often practice them in the hopes of becoming good players. Playing sports is an important part of life. While several sports are performed in South Africa, football is the most popular and cricket is thought to be the growing sport in South Africa.

FAQs on Top 10 Most Popular Sports in the South Africa

Write top 5 most popular sports in South Africa. 

The top 5 most popular sports in Germany are mentioned below:

• Soccer
• Rugby
• Cricket
• Athletics
• Swimming

What is the national sport in South Africa?

The National Sport of South Africa is Rugby Union.

What is the most popular sport in South Africa?

Football is the most popular sport in South Africa.

What is South Africa’s football team nickname?

Bafana Bafana is the nickname for South Africa’s men’s national football team.

Why is sport so important in South Africa?

Sports can be perceived as one of the most significant supporters of the regime, but also as a public communicator for hope.