The results are in! These are Roar readers’ bucket list sporting events

Last week, I challenged Roar readers to nominate the events that are on their sporting bucket lists.

The task was relatively simple: choose ten international events on the form provided and thus determine the ones that readers most dreamed of attending, or perhaps have already ticked off their lists.

The results are in and they are fascinating, with a few surprises comfortably making their way into the top ten.

The full results are included at the bottom of this article, however without further ado, here are the top ten international bucket list sporting events, as voted by Roar readers.

10. British and Irish Lions tour
As compelling as a Lions tour to Australia might be, the votes in this poll clearly indicate a desire within many Australian rugby fans to travel with the British and Irish Lions on a tour of New Zealand or South Africa. It would be a gripping journey, blessed with the cream of the home nations’ talent and an opposition keen to defeat the best that the British Isles can throw at the southern hemisphere.

(AAP Image/ David Rowland)

9. Cricket World Cup final
Australia’s proud history of success in Cricket’s World Cup led to many dreaming of a trip to the subcontinent, Great Britain or perhaps the West Indies for what is still a thrilling and popular event despite the rise of the 20-over format.

8. Bledisloe Cup match in New Zealand
The thought of crossing the ditch to take on the most ever-present and dominant force in world rugby appears to be a hopeful dream or fond memory for many Roar fans, despite the All Blacks’ dominant 47-12 series winning record.

7. Summer Olympics
The greatest festival of sport on the globe came in at seven, with nearly one in three including it as an event on their bucket list. The romance of travel to an exotic land and the sheer weight of numbers in attendance added to the unparalleled appeal of one of the most watched sporting events on the calendar.

6. Premier League match in England
The lure of a trip to the Old Dart was too strong for over a third of respondents to resist. Many had dreams of Old Trafford, Anfield or Emirates Stadium in London, watching the team they have followed from afar for many years.

5. Wimbledon
This is a logical entry considering both the history of the event and Australia’s involvement in it. A warm English summer day, a glass of Pimm’s and an extremely expensive and small serving of strawberries and cream obviously continues to be something Australians long to experience.

4. Super Bowl
A surprising position for the colossus of American sports, further underlining just how globally appealing the NFL has managed to make its product over the last decade. I thought the big dance might nestle somewhere near the top ten yet Roar readers have clearly spoken on their intention to take a trip to the red, white and blue and view one of the biggest annual spectacles in world sport.

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

3. Rugby Union World Cup final
The top three begins with an event won twice by Australia’s Wallabies and three times by both the Springboks and All Blacks. Interestingly and representative of its popularity and appeal, England, New Zealand and Australia have contested the final on four occasions, with France and South Africa both competing in three deciders. Such parity has defied New Zealand’s perceived dominance and made the Rugby World Cup one of the best attended and most popular sporting events in the world.

2. FIFA World Cup
The world game’s World Cup comes in at number two on the list. The sheer magnitude and history of the tournament, as well as Australia’s consistent involvement in it since moving into the Asian Confederation, has done nothing but further grow domestic interest in the World Cup. A ratings bonanza right across the globe, the notion of gathering in a truly multi-cultural and eclectic setting obviously appeals to Roar readers. Hopefully Qatar 2022 takes place with fans in stadiums. It is potentially a great trip to watch the Socceroos, should they qualify.

1. Ashes series in England
Well folks, it was a landslide. The history and romance of an Ashes tour to conquer the English on home soil proved far and away the most chosen event on the list. More than half of respondents expressed an interest in traversing the motherland for a few months to follow the fortunes of the baggy greens. Such an experience is labelled unmatched by many who undertake it and with more and more tours being organised by ex-players and travel companies, there has never been a better time to drag the secret stash from under the mattress and take the trip of a lifetime.

(Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Here are the remainder of the results from the survey.

11. The Masters Tournament – Augusta, Georgia
12. El Clasico – Spain
13. Tour de France
14. NBA Finals
15. Australian rugby tour of the United Kingdom
16. Monaco Grand Prix
17. Major League Baseball World Series
18. La Liga match – Spain
19. America’s Cup sailing regatta
20. The Open Golf Championship – United Kingdom
21. Winter Olympics
22. Australian cricket tour of the sub-continent
23. Kangaroo tour of the United Kingdom
24. French Open tennis championships – Roland Garros
25. Gaelic football match
26. Kentucky Derby
27. NHL Finals
28. Highland Games – Scotland
29. WrestleMania
30. World title boxing bout
31. Bull fighting event – Spain
32. Indianapolis 500
33. Australian cricket tour of South Africa
34. World Darts Championship – United Kingdom
35. Belgian Grand Prix – Spa
36. British Grand Prix – Silverstone
37. NBA All-Star game
38. NFL Pro-Bowl game
39. Giro d’Italia
40. World Athletics Championships
41. World Surf League event
42. Daytona 500
43. US Open Golf Championship
44. Italian Grand Prix – Monza
45. Paralympics
46. Hawaii Iron Man
47. Epsom Derby – United Kingdom
48. New York City Marathon
49. World Snooker Championships – United Kingdom
50. World Rowing Championships
51. Major League Baseball All-Star game
52. Champions Trophy hockey tournament
53. Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – France
54. World Bodybuilding Championships
55. World Netball Championships
56. World Weightlifting Championships
57. British Open Squash Championships
58. FINA World Championships
59. MLB Home Run Derby