Merging League and Union. Impossible but sensible.

[Valheru]

Over time the truth may come out and rugby league will be the dominant rugby code of the world.
It will take time due to rugby unions decietfull and despicable tactics against rugby league. But it should happen one day!

I highly doubt it will ever happen. There are exactly two countries in the world where league is more popular than Union, Australia and PNG.

Once a sporting culture is ingrained into a country it is very difficult to change it. Rugby League being more popular in South Africa than Union is about as likely as the reverse here or either league or Union being more popular in USA than NFL.

Soccer has gone into untraditional markets and made particular progress in recent years in place like Australia and USA on the back of the world cup and a sense of national pride. Rugby Union offers that to some extent but unfortunately league does not offer it at all.

 

[Springs]

And Lebanon, Valheru, can't forget Lebanon.

 

[Pig Champion]

Give it a go. I'd call it Top Ball. Has that name been used?

 

[the bondi spy]

Perhaps League should look at trying to break into the private school monopoly held by yawnion. Not that we need more juniors, it would just weaken their game even more and strengthen ours...

 

[gUt]

champions wearing elbow patches.

Oooh I found another word filter.

 

[Expansion]

Greg Martin said on the backpage that dropping 2 players from the field will make the game better.

 

[docbrown]

Greg Martin said on the backpage that dropping 2 players from the field will make the game better.

Rather than change it from a 13 player game to an 11 player game by having the 40-20 expanded to a general 40 metre kick advantage you get an attacking 13 on a defensive 11 or 12, which would do the same thing without ruining the game. It also gives attacking team a lot more options and variety within the game itself.

 

[BranVan3000]

I was hoping the Rugby Olympics comp would be a mix of the two codes but it's all union from my understanding. Very disappointing

 

[bottle]

Oooh I found another word filter.

Why, what did you originally have before it substituted 'elbow patches'?

 

[gul15]

I highly doubt it will ever happen. There are exactly two countries in the world where league is more popular than Union, Australia and PNG.

Once a sporting culture is ingrained into a country it is very difficult to change it. Rugby League being more popular in South Africa than Union is about as likely as the reverse here or either league or Union being more popular in USA than NFL.

Soccer has gone into untraditional markets and made particular progress in recent years in place like Australia and USA on the back of the world cup and a sense of national pride. Rugby Union offers that to some extent but unfortunately league does not offer it at all.

Totally agree, RL is a better product but RU actually has stranglehold on the game globally, and now rugby 7?s has been added to the Olympics I cannot see RL getting close for number of generations if ever. Only thing international RU has to gain from any merger would be a few small cities in Northern England and two states in Australia. (Which in all fairness Rugby Union is still popular).
Personally I don?t even see the need for International League, form me SOO is the Pinnacle of the game, internationals just seem second rate.
And let?s not kid ourselves into thinking a North American team of Australian expats vs Australian team of (insert European country where Grandparents were born) Heritage constitutes any form international RL growth. I have seen examples of a few games were players treat it as a weekend away with the boys more than anything else.

 

[gUt]

Why, what did you originally have before it substituted 'elbow patches'?

It substituted 'champion' for:

which just goes to show the shocking left wing communist loving bias on this forum.

 

[carcharias]

Watching Rugby Union is like trying to squeeze out a massive rock hard turd that has bloked your arse for a month.

Slow and painful.

The only relief is when it's finally over.

 

[taste2taste]

I was hoping the Rugby Olympics comp would be a mix of the two codes but it's all union from my understanding. Very disappointing

There was a bit of fuss about this a few months back.

There is no reason that Slater, Ingles..etc couldnt be selected to play for Australia in the Olympics.

 

[taste2taste]

Perhaps League should look at trying to break into the private school monopoly held by yawnion. Not that we need more juniors, it would just weaken their game even more and strengthen ours...

If league broke into the private schools (particularly the GPS) it wouldnt weaken rugby ...it would kill it off completely.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Personally I don?t even see the need for International League, form me SOO is the Pinnacle of the game, internationals just seem second rate.

You've never actually watched an international have you?

Some of the most memorable and highest intensity games I've ever seen have been Aus vs NZ and Aus vs Eng/GB matches.

 

[gul15]

You've never actually watched an international have you?

Some of the most memorable and highest intensity games I've ever seen have been Aus vs NZ and Aus vs Eng/GB matches.

I tried to watch one at a pub the other week, but everyone around was more interested in the A-League on another screen!

I know in the past internationals have produced some great games of footy, but I feel at the moment SOO is miles a head in media hype, intensity and quality.
What would you rather watch?

 

[gUt]

I'd rather watch the A-League on another screen!

 

[Fire]

mungo

 

[Bobby DIGital]

You may as well merge baseball & softball, basketball & netball, tennis & squash and every single running event at the olympics as well.

 

[LJC]

Amazing comments fellas!

If rugby league was given an even playing field in all those places you say the RU "dominates" I guarantee RL would takeover as the most popular form of rugby!

The devious tactics of RU as evidenced in France in 1941 is a good example and there are other examples around the world if you want to look into it!

RU is an outdated and inferior form of rugby whereas RL is the best the rugby product can get due to its faster and more democratic rules!