Sport in Saudi Arabia Championship and has also attracted NBA-players such as Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. Rugby union in Saudi Arabia is a minor but growing sport, which has been played for several decades in the Kingdom. Many of the local rugby clubs date back to the late 1970s. Ice hockey is also a minor sport but it has not been popular in Saudi Arabia, which has been played its first game in 2010 during the Gulf Ice Hockey Championship. Professional wrestling has been a recognizable minor sport in Saudi Arabia. The country has hosted one event by the U.S.-based promotion, WWE in Jeddah dubbed the
Sport in England more prominent. There are four sports in England which operate high-profile professional leagues. Association football is by far the most popular sport and is played from August to May. Rugby union is also a winter sport. Cricket is played in the Summer, from April to September. Rugby league is traditionally a winter sport, but since the late 1990s the elite competition has been played in the summer to appeal to the family market, and take advantage of the faster pitches. Big Four' The most popular sport in the UK, association football was first codified in 1863 in London. It is