How to watch London Broncos at Ebbsfleet – UK Rugby League Guide

If you like Rugby League in the south of England then your only professional option is the London Broncos, who have famously been not just the torch bearer for the sport in the south, but also somewhat the nomads.

This has seen them play everywhere from Craven Cottage to Harlequins, with a whole heap of places in between. Well, their current home is the non-league stadium of Ebbsfleet United in Gravesend, Kent, a move which has coincided with them becoming a powerhouse.

So, what is it like watching the London Broncos at Ebbsfleet United?

What are the London Broncos?

If you have gotten this far already, I will ensure that you at least know what Rugby League is and, better still, the Broncos. In case you don’t, I will give the following summary.

Rugby League is a 13-a-side version of rugby that is built around speed, physicality and six tackles before possession changes hands. While the sport is massive in places like northern England, Australia and Papua New Guinea, it has always struggled to gain much of a foothold in London.

The London Broncos are the capital’s main Rugby League club and were founded in 1980. Over the years they have become famous for constantly moving grounds, playing everywhere from football stadiums to their current home at Ebbsfleet. Despite the struggles, they remain the only professional Rugby League option in London.

Step 1 – Getting a Ticket for London Broncos

Getting a ticket for the Broncos is easier than, say, getting one for Beijing Guoan as you do not both online and at the stadium, oh, and you do not have to worry about 60,000 fans turning up. And they are pretty damned cheap overall, with it costing $15, or so, on this occasion against Hunslet.

Not heard of Hunslet? Well, this helps on ticket price as the worse the game, the cheaper the ticket.

Next week when the club play against Doncaster, who are a relative powerhouse when it comes to lower league Rugby League, tickets will cost about $5 more. There seems to be no tiers here, and certainly nothing resembling a VIP box.

Step 2 – Getting a Hot Dog at Ebbsfleet Stadium

There’s a massive food truck at the stadium that is absolutely fucking epic – not cheap too, understand, but epic. It has a huge selection, or rather variations, of burgers, hot dogs and chips/French fries.

The burgers were OK, the chips not great at all, but the “Dirty Dog”, a hot dog with onions, cheese and a big bratwurst, was top notch.

Proper English street food, proper football food and $12 a go. England might be expensive now for everything, but as my dad put it, worth the journey itself.

Click to read about being a Digital Nomad in Pyongyang.

Step 3 – Getting a Beer at London Broncos

Until I went to watch football in Japan I had not realised that it was pretty much only at English football where you could no longer have a beer at the match. Alas, this was because back in the 80’s our hooligans ruined it for everyone.

Rugby League never went through this, so not only can you buy a jug of beer, but you can drink it while watching the match.

Again, not particularly cheap, but like watching a monkey ride a bicycle, impressive to be able to see it done at all! And sadly, like they say, “Football is a sport for gentlemen played by thugs” and Rugby, well, is “the opposite”. This was the clincher for me and another great reason for them making League a summer sport.

Watching the London Broncos at Ebbsfleet

After being freshly fed and watered you head to the seating area, which basically takes up one side of the stadium. This shows you what a minority sport this is as at best there are maybe 2,000 people here and you can sit where you want – with your beer!

Having pseudo-Americanised, you then get a bizarre cheerleader show performed by teenage girls, before the match starts. Viewing-wise you are watching side-on of the players, very close to the front, and it’s basically an OK view if you know enough about League to see what is going on.

And what is going on? Well, London Broncos have brought all the best players and are now 16 wins out of 16 as they aim to be “elected” back into Super League. You see, there is no promotion and relegation anymore.

Sadly, unless you are really into Rugby League, or the London Broncos, then this makes it more like watching sponsored bullying than just a team that are a bit dominant. Still, I liked it overall and it really is a cheap day out alternative to watching football.

Where’s Ebbsfleet Stadium?

The London Broncos play at:

Kuflink Stadium
Stonebridge Road
Northfleet
Gravesend
Kent
DA11 9GN

By car, the stadium is close to the A2 and M25, making it relatively easy to reach from London and Kent. Parking is available around the stadium.

By train, the closest major station is Ebbsfleet International, which has fast services from London St Pancras. From there it is around a 20-minute walk to the stadium. Northfleet station is also nearby and is served by local trains.