The popular and favourite sport of Nauru is Australian rules football. A 12-team senior league operates in the country, see Australian rules football in Nauru and it is a popular spectator sport. Nauru has competed internationally in Australian rules football at the Arafura Games, Australian Football International Cup and Barassi International Youth Tournament. The national team, the "Chiefs", ranked 8th in the International Cup in 2002 and gold medal at the Arafura Games.
Nauruans also participate in soccer and softball. A Nauru national soccer team exists, however the federation is not yet recognised by the OFC or FIFA.
Tennis, sailing as well as swimming and golf are also practised on the island. There are some sports pitches in Nauru. The only stadium is in Yaren, but it is obsolete and fails to meet international standards. A larger and more modern sports stadium is being built in Meneng, however lack of money has caused the project to stall. The current stadia are:
Aida Oval
Denig Stadium in Denigomodu
Linkbelt Oval in Aiwo
Menen Stadium in Meneng
National Stadium in Yaren
A traditional 'sport' is catching birds when they return from foraging at sea to the island towards sunset. The men then stand on the beach ready to throw their lasso. The Nauruan lasso is supple rope with a weight at the end. When a bird comes over they throw their lasso up, it hits and or drapes itself over the bird, which then falls down and is seized and are roosted as pets.
Weightlifting is one of the more traditional sports in Nauru.