A study by the U.K's government found that cheerleading, yoga and circus skills such as juggling and trampolining are replacing competitive sports, with less than a third of students now playing team games.

Team games such as rugby union and hockey, according to a report in The Independent, are declining in popularity as students turn to 'fun' sports such as juggling, trampolining, skateboarding and angling, a major Government survey has shown.

According to the study, 72% of students are failing to play regularly in competitive sporting fixtures at school; and 81% do not regularly compete against students from other schools.

Some schools have no choice but to offer alternative sports because they lack playing fields and other facilities for competitive games, education watchdog Ofsted found.

The survey, commissioned by Ed Balls's Department for Children Schools and Families, shows that 58% of secondary schools  –  and 32 per cent of schools overall  –  now offer cheerleading as a sport.

More than one in five offer trampolining, 21% yoga and 18% 'circus skills.' But the proportion of schools offering rugby has dropped from 74% in 2006 to 66%.

Nick Gibb, Tory schools spokesman, told the Daily Mail that the figures were 'disappointingly low' with the London 2012 Olympics approaching, adding: “Competitive sport is crucial not just for exercise but also for developing team spirit and co-ordination skills.

“There is also evidence it helps children's academic work. We need a complete revival of competitive sports in all state schools.”

The survey also found that just 50% of students got three hours a week of PE and after-school  school sport, which Ofsted said was not making a dent on 'frightening' childhood obesity rates.

Children’s Minister Iain Wright said in a statement: “Thanks to our national PE and Sport Strategy for Young People and world-class investment, school and youth sport has never been so well-funded or enjoyed by young people.”

Latest figures show about One third of children under 16 in England are thought to be overweight or obese.