This list shows each country which has a union affiliated to World Rugby, the international governing body for rugby union. It also shows the number of registered clubs playing in each country, official referees and the number of registered players broken down by gender and age group.
In 2023, the total number of registered players increased from 5.82 million to 8.4 million. South Africa has the most with 804,279. These numbers are all estimates and the correct number of registered players is likely higher. [1]
Country | No. of Clubs | Registered players | Referees | Under 13 boys | Under 13 girls | Teen males | Teen females | Senior (Adult) males | Senior (Adult) females | Total males | Total females | Total players |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Samoa[2] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Andorra[3] | 2 | 213 | 1 | 70 | 5 | 65 | 4 | 54 | 15 | 189 | 24 | 213 |
Argentina[4][5] | 420 | 152790 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 152543 | 247 | 152790 |
Armenia[6] | 3 | 250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 250 |
Australia[7][nb 1] | 767 | 170952 | 4900 | 26664 | 0 | 19239 | 0 | 39380 | 1669 | 85283 | 1669 | 170952 |
Austria[8] | 26 | 5676 | 18 | 80 | 35 | 190 | 42 | 1327 | 73 | 1597 | 150 | 5676 |
Azerbaijan[9] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bahamas[10] | 6 | 1635 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 150 | 15 | 400 | 50 | 1560 | 75 | 1635 |
Barbados[11] | 6 | 321 | 7 | 26 | 0 | 123 | 14 | 135 | 23 | 284 | 37 | 321 |
Belgium[12] | 58 | 35266 | 192 | 4564 | 857 | 3580 | 503 | 4121 | 641 | 33265 | 2001 | 35266 |
Bermuda[13] | 8 | 901 | 11 | 220 | 33 | 125 | 40 | 192 | 91 | 737 | 164 | 901 |
[14] | 9 | 911 | 23 | 292 | 54 | 186 | 71 | 245 | 63 | 723 | 188 | 911 |
Botswana[15] | 12 | 9395 | 20 | 260 | 70 | 2800 | 1500 | 630 | 135 | 7690 | 1705 | 9395 |
Brazil[16] | 230 | 69130 | 74 | 800 | 100 | 2915 | 150 | 5541 | 624 | 60256 | 8874 | 69130 |
British Virgin Islands[17] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bulgaria[18] | 36 | 3121 | 48 | 1225 | 182 | 1109 | 177 | 367 | 61 | 2701 | 420 | 3121 |
Burundi[19] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cambodia[20] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cameroon[21] | 32 | 3722 | 37 | 212 | 12 | 375 | 22 | 1049 | 52 | 1636 | 86 | 3722 |
Canada[22] | 309 | 47853 | 605 | 3337 | 411 | 5999 | 1997 | 9032 | 3077 | 18368 | 5485 | 47853 |
Cayman Islands[23] | 4 | 2200 | 30 | 388 | 182 | 961 | 251 | 305 | 113 | 1654 | 546 | 2200 |
Chile[24] | 26 | 42755 | 338 | 8049 | 127 | 5448 | 168 | 4830 | 133 | 38327 | 2428 | 42755 |
China[25] | 15 | 6430 | 70 | 70 | 60 | 600 | 200 | 3900 | 600 | 5570 | 7860 | 6430 |
Chinese Taipei[26] | 13 | 2800 | 101 | 200 | 0 | 500 | 0 | 1000 | 100 | 2700 | 100 | 2800 |
Colombia[27] | 76 | 14214 | 88 | 450 | 0 | 1924 | 21 | 2784 | 235 | 11158 | 3111 | 14214 |
Cook Islands[28] | 21 | 4258 | 82 | 675 | 434 | 469 | 104 | 526 | 50 | 3670 | 588 | 4258 |
Croatia[29] | 21 | 6142 | 23 | 809 | 25 | 511 | 22 | 733 | 42 | 5053 | 189 | 6142 |
Czech Republic[30] | 22 | 13382 | 110 | 1843 | 201 | 1321 | 149 | 1697 | 171 | 12861 | 521 | 13282 |
Denmark[31] | 27 | 4606 | 74 | 203 | 52 | 296 | 56 | 1766 | 233 | 4265 | 341 | 4606 |
England[32] | 1809 | 382154 | 9207 | 694899 | 408072 | 602564 | 129121 | 131399 | 24933 | 1428862 | 562126 | 382154 |
Fiji[33] | 490 | 136030 | 309 | 22500 | 0 | 5200 | 60 | 8000 | 270 | 135700 | 330 | 136030 |
Finland[34] | 18 | 770 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 4 | 265 | 80 | 290 | 84 | 770 |
France[35] | 1798 | 670847 | 2095 | 165497 | 4444 | 57557 | 2360 | 124079 | 6910 | 597133 | 13714 | 670847 |
Georgia[36] | 46 | 65381 | 45 | 940 | 12 | 2332 | 5 | 878 | 14 | 65150 | 331 | 65381 |
Germany[37] | 108 | 45656 | 319 | 2083 | 333 | 3301 | 527 | 4639 | 773 | 43023 | 1633 | 45656 |
Ghana[38] | 5 | 1250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1250 | 0 | 1250 |
Greece[39] | 0 | 220 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 220 |
Guam[40] | 3 | 912 | 12 | 162 | 112 | 284 | 230 | 96 | 28 | 542 | 370 | 912 |
Guyana[41] | 3 | 1324 | 25 | 400 | 105 | 315 | 75 | 295 | 134 | 1010 | 314 | 1324 |
Hong Kong[42] | 59 | 10525 | 86 | 1998 | 1332 | 1270 | 500 | 1813 | 612 | 8081 | 2444 | 10525 |
Hungary[43] | 33 | 2207 | 34 | 181 | 21 | 865 | 59 | 1002 | 79 | 2048 | 159 | 2207 |
India[44] | 96 | 22282 | 98 | 2936 | 1367 | 9481 | 4806 | 2982 | 710 | 15399 | 6883 | 222282 |
Indonesia[45] | 16 | 830 | 6 | 40 | 3 | 291 | 72 | 402 | 22 | 733 | 97 | 830 |
Iran[46] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ireland[47] | 221 | 157080 | 2380 | 57409 | 6900 | 57867 | 2700 | 25440 | 2764 | 140716 | 17364 | 157080 |
Israel[48] | 12 | 755 | 15 | 60 | 0 | 300 | 20 | 300 | 75 | 660 | 95 | 755 |
Italy[49] | 784 | 168176 | 857 | 28364 | 3240 | 17220 | 488 | 15848 | 1016 | 161432 | 7744 | 168176 |
Ivory Coast[50] | 14 | 47383 | 45 | 1905 | 142 | 2645 | 201 | 470 | 20 | 45020 | 2363 | 47383 |
Jamaica[51] | 9 | 2090 | 30 | 484 | 117 | 1120 | 56 | 276 | 37 | 1880 | 210 | 2090 |
Japan[52] | 1522 | 270368 | 4545 | 31945 | 3937 | 37294 | 352 | 48470 | 370 | 254709 | 15659 | 270368 |
Kazakhstan[53] | 12 | 4650 | 21 | 525 | 380 | 588 | 470 | 344 | 343 | 3457 | 1193 | 4650 |
Kenya[54] | 60 | 65904 | 518 | 4446 | 2518 | 27930 | 580 | 6772 | 658 | 59148 | 5756 | 65904 |
Korea[55] | 5 | 12620 | 80 | 200 | 150 | 880 | 10 | 1300 | 80 | 10380 | 2500 | 12620 |
Kyrgyzstan[56] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Lao[57] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Latvia[58] | 16 | 995 | 21 | 50 | 13 | 290 | 52 | 372 | 18 | 912 | 83 | 995 |
Lithuania[59] | 16 | 9544 | 22 | 112 | 0 | 670 | 18 | 730 | 14 | 8512 | 32 | 9544 |
Luxembourg[60] | 3 | 5437 | 7 | 721 | 402 | 625 | 276 | 348 | 65 | 4694 | 743 | 5437 |
Madagascar[61] | 410 | 42540 | 160 | 1080 | 170 | 3600 | 170 | 16750 | 770 | 41430 | 1110 | 42540 |
Malaysia[62] | 300 | 60030 | 702 | 15000 | 0 | 20000 | 0 | 25000 | 30 | 60000 | 30 | 60030 |
Mali[63] | 0 | 230 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 230 | 230 |
Malta[64] | 7 | 3785 | 8 | 69 | 0 | 135 | 8 | 292 | 81 | 3496 | 89 | 3785 |
Mauritania[65] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mauritius[66] | 7 | 910 | 9 | 50 | 0 | 160 | 30 | 155 | 15 | 865 | 45 | 910 |
Mexico[67] | 26 | 3454 | 54 | 665 | 476 | 831 | 350 | 968 | 164 | 2464 | 990 | 3454 |
Moldova[68] | 7 | 7610 | 55 | 490 | 242 | 1138 | 281 | 379 | 80 | 7007 | 603 | 7610 |
Monaco[69] | 2 | 165 | 4 | 52 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 52 | 2 | 163 | 2 | 165 |
Morocco[70] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Morocco[71] | 20 | 11331 | 80 | 748 | 30 | 2934 | 30 | 3489 | 100 | 10171 | 160 | 11331 |
Namibia[72] | 27 | 34226 | 26 | 8000 | 0 | 5000 | 18 | 1084 | 124 | 33084 | 142 | 34226 |
Netherlands[73] | 82 | 27869 | 260 | 1432 | 101 | 2202 | 155 | 4386 | 593 | 26020 | 849 | 27869 |
New Zealand[74] | 600 | 156893 | 2255 | 64794 | 9540 | 40390 | 3521 | 27726 | 922 | 132910 | 13983 | 156893 |
Nigeria[75] | 17 | 9198 | 10 | 915 | 572 | 3421 | 720 | 510 | 60 | 8846 | 1352 | 9196 |
Niue Islands[76] | 6 | 405 | 9 | 70 | 40 | 80 | 40 | 150 | 25 | 300 | 105 | 405 |
Norway[77] | 27 | 1502 | 24 | 168 | 47 | 369 | 120 | 612 | 186 | 1149 | 353 | 1502 |
Pakistan[78] | 49 | 4012 | 21 | 300 | 0 | 1810 | 25 | 1859 | 18 | 3969 | 43 | 4012 |
Papua New Guinea[79] | 72 | 7200 | 52 | 150 | 50 | 400 | 100 | 2290 | 210 | 6840 | 360 | 7200 |
Paraguay[80] | 21 | 22568 | 39 | 200 | 0 | 1820 | 80 | 1420 | 48 | 31440 | 128 | 22568 |
Peru[81] | 11 | 950 | 15 | 150 | 10 | 220 | 0 | 500 | 70 | 870 | 80 | 950 |
Philippines[82][83] | 17 | 4300 | 11 | 300 | 75 | 200 | 75 | 500 | 150 | 4000 | 300 | 4300 |
Poland[84] | 58 | 28963 | 59 | 1075 | 59 | 1541 | 48 | 3143 | 97 | 27559 | 804 | 28963 |
Portugal[85] | 46 | 52270 | 52 | 1152 | 0 | 2749 | 0 | 1040 | 329 | 49541 | 3329 | 52270 |
Romania[86] | 83 | 40512 | 199 | 4915 | 320 | 3067 | 150 | 1048 | 112 | 40030 | 382 | 40512 |
Russia[87] | 105 | 42519 | 89 | 2878 | 0 | 6853 | 835 | 3633 | 320 | 41364 | 1155 | 42519 |
Rwanda[88] | 0 | 380 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 380 | 380 |
Samoa[89] | 140 | 53372 | 600 | 9279 | 4149 | 1792 | 212 | 7690 | 250 | 48761 | 4611 | 53372 |
Scotland[90] | 251 | 62500 | 360 | 9541 | 324 | 15009 | 1297 | 11687 | 642 | 60237 | 2263 | 62500 |
Senegal[91] | 13 | 8350 | 19 | 1400 | 50 | 1000 | 110 | 720 | 70 | 8120 | 230 | 8350 |
Serbia[92] | 12 | 5352 | 25 | 273 | 72 | 360 | 19 | 605 | 23 | 5238 | 114 | 5352 |
Singapore[93] | 24 | 9690 | 90 | 2448 | 918 | 3366 | 1428 | 1020 | 510 | 6834 | 2856 | 9690 |
Slovenia[94] | 7 | 480 | 5 | 140 | 10 | 30 | 10 | 260 | 30 | 430 | 50 | 480 |
Solomon Islands[95] | 48 | 3158 | 75 | 324 | 20 | 766 | 108 | 1800 | 140 | 2890 | 268 | 3150 |
South Africa[96] | 1526 | 804279 | 3460 | 320842 | 4522 | 199213 | 4906 | 113174 | 8489 | 733229 | 17917 | 804279 |
Spain[97] | 210 | 60016 | 311 | 1812 | 129 | 7426 | 354 | 9588 | 707 | 49826 | 1190 | 60016 |
Sri Lanka[98] | 98 | 153325 | 396 | 35200 | 14110 | 48552 | 958 | 3850 | 655 | 138602 | 15723 | 153325 |
[99] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
[100] | 6 | 1036 | 3 | 205 | 109 | 415 | 127 | 140 | 40 | 760 | 276 | 1036 |
Eswatini[101] | 14 | 18920 | 43 | 4700 | 5100 | 4850 | 3100 | 740 | 430 | 10290 | 8630 | 18920 |
Sweden[102] | 41 | 3507 | 63 | 350 | 110 | 850 | 244 | 1452 | 501 | 2652 | 855 | 3507 |
Switzerland[103] | 30 | 18384 | 52 | 456 | 28 | 484 | 18 | 1274 | 124 | 1814 | 170 | 18384 |
Tahiti[104] | 18 | 4617 | 14 | 492 | 216 | 328 | 96 | 403 | 82 | 4223 | 394 | 4617 |
Tanzania[105] | 5 | 1120 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1120 | 1120 |
Thailand[106] | 169 | 17732 | 104 | 2541 | 385 | 5522 | 1663 | 5716 | 1905 | 13779 | 3953 | 17732 |
Tonga[107] | 82 | 17891 | 8 | 370 | 0 | 3472 | 0 | 3049 | 0 | 17891 | 0 | 17891 |
[108] | 14 | 5060 | 58 | 1038 | 422 | 1798 | 341 | 1336 | 125 | 4172 | 888 | 5060 |
Tunisia[109] | 74 | 26218 | 93 | 4489 | 1304 | 5622 | 1958 | 1919 | 926 | 22030 | 4188 | 26218 |
Uganda[110] | 17 | 35110 | 114 | 4900 | 2200 | 5900 | 400 | 560 | 150 | 32360 | 2750 | 35110 |
Ukraine[111] | 44 | 8880 | 68 | 800 | 50 | 1100 | 30 | 800 | 100 | 8700 | 180 | 8880 |
Uruguay[112] | 23 | 30065 | 64 | 2896 | 10 | 1803 | 98 | 1219 | 39 | 29918 | 147 | 30065 |
United States[113] | 2588 | 126151 | 2061 | 178819 | 150267 | 47323 | 19594 | 50211 | 11769 | 126353 | 181630 | 126983 |
Uzbekistan[114] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vanuatu[115] | 12 | 2520 | 22 | 500 | 50 | 720 | 60 | 1100 | 90 | 2320 | 200 | 2520 |
Venezuela[116] | 34 | 4415 | 30 | 60 | 20 | 380 | 25 | 1650 | 280 | 4090 | 325 | 4415 |
Wales[117][118] | 250 | 160557 | 12053 | 112318 | 1100 | 114500 | 1492 | 122408 | 1739 | 159226 | 11331 | 160557 |
Zambia[119] | 20 | 20200 | 40 | 4100 | 400 | 3600 | 300 | 1600 | 200 | 19300 | 900 | 20200 |
Zimbabwe[120] | 17 | 47541 | 44 | 7900 | 0 | 12975 | 425 | 768 | 95 | 47541 | 520 | 47541 |
Totals[nb 2] | 148,633 | 8,404,445 | 182,972 | 4,552,495 | 976,498 | 4,337,930 | 581,589 | 972,443 | 190,443 | 6,965,411 | 1,338,034 | 8,404,445 |