What is the Spirit of the Game?

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Ok, I have the ultimate off-season thread. But for any RL history buffs, you might enjoy the discussion....

What is the "core" of the game that makes it unique (especially from RU)? The rules or the ethos? RL in Northern England actually split from Union twice; once in 1895 we professionalized and again in 1906 when we threw out their rule book and made our own game.

Which do you think is more important to the spirit of the Rugby League story?

I find it particularly interested because, depending on which you choose, it changes where RL came from to arrive in 1895/1906.

- If we focus on the egalitarianism aspects, we would say that RL came originally from Chartist political movement of the previous century (its not a coincidence that that Professional Rugby began in Yorkshire and Lancashire. This was the heart of England's Workers Rights movement). Chartism was all about workers being paid a fair wage particularly in public service jobs and workers having a voice in the direction of the country. Sound familiar? I think it is pretty cool to be the literal and direct embodiment of one of the greatest peaceful revolutions in history (this movement basically created modern British democracy).

- If, on the other hand, we focus on the rule changes, we would actually trace RLs root back to North America. American Football rules were created in 1883 and mostly taken on by the Canadians in 1903 (they took the rules for the clean ruck/snap-back, limited takes, reduced players, etc. Everything except the forward pass). That same year, the Canadian Rugby team toured England, including games in the North (I know StHelens played and some more that i dont remember). What do you know, 3 years later NU takes on almost identical rules (Its a f*cking tragedy that RFL never thought to tour in Canada and bring them into the RL family before they look on the AF forward pass in 1930s. Considering how popular the CFL is now, they could even be first ranked in RL above the Roos)

Anyway, sorry for the word vomit. I just think RL history is so interesting and i really think the game would benefit by drawing these links back and bringing them into the games "story".

 

[Vic Mackey]

Having a good lol@souffs

 

[Disinterested third party]

Your last para is spot on. The NRL has come to realise this belatedly. Probably because they were being told to do it for at least the last 5 years.

You really have to drop off this ‘rugby league started in 1906’ crap though. The game dates from 1895, end of. It’s highly disrespectful to the game’s pioneers to suggest otherwise.

 

[Life's Good]

Having a good lol@souffs

Is that to do with Inglis blowing DUI on account of drinking too many spirits?

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Your last para is spot on. The NRL has come to realise this belatedly. Probably because they were being told to do it for at least the last 5 years.

You really have to drop off this ‘rugby league started in 1906’ crap though. The game dates from 1895, end of. It’s highly disrespectful to the game’s pioneers to suggest otherwise.

Im not trying to take away from how brave the 1895 meeting was, but it is a fact that RL didnt really commit to drastically changing the rules until 1906. Before that, it was just small tweeks to clean shit up.

The question im asking is: was THAT the beginning of RL as the game we know today or just the RFL administrative body.

If you decide that the "essence" of the game is in the rules, you could easily argue that the game didnt begin until 1906 or even that it really began in Canada and NU just joined in (as Australia did in 1907/08)

 

[unforgiven]

Im not trying to take away from how brave the 1895 meeting was, but it is a fact that RL didnt really commit to drastically changing the rules until 1906. Before that, it was just small tweeks to clean shit up.

The question im asking is: was THAT the beginning of RL as the game we know today or just the RFL administrative body.

If you decide that the "essence" of the game is in the rules, you could easily argue that the game didnt begin until 1906 or even that it really began in Canada and NU just joined in (as Australia did in 1907/08)

1895

 

[Disinterested third party]

Im not trying to take away from how brave the 1895 meeting was, but it is a fact that RL didnt really commit to drastically changing the rules until 1906. Before that, it was just small tweeks to clean shit up.

The question im asking is: was THAT the beginning of RL as the game we know today or just the RFL administrative body.

If you decide that the "essence" of the game is in the rules, you could easily argue that the game didnt begin until 1906 or even that it really began in Canada and NU just joined in (as Australia did in 1907/08)

I know your argument; you’ve repeated it here innumerable times. And it’s not factual. The game changed considerably between 1895-1906.

 

[TheDalek079]

I know your argument; you’ve repeated it here innumerable times. And it’s not factual. The game changed considerably between 1895-1906.

i don't know much about the game's early days. What were some considerable changes that occurred in the game's infancy?

 

[MilkShark]

Watch a Storms game, the opposite of what they do.

 

[roofromoz]

'Not his go'

 

[carcharias]

The spirit of the game Is...
Being a bunch of nice guys and never winning.

Glad my team finally joined the rest of the comp and become a pack of merkins.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Spirit of the game - spending 80 minutes belting the hell out of each other and then shaking hands at the end of it.

 

[grouch]

Bundy Rum have the gig I believe

 

[Willie Ray]

To me...it's the toughest front on game there is,nowhere to hide out there...
and you stick up for a team mate no matter what...

 

[unforgiven]

i don't know much about the game's early days. What were some considerable changes that occurred in the game's infancy?

Really the biggest change was players about payment to players, that is the Spirit of the Game the Doctor is talking about, that was why Rugby League was formed. It is nonsense to try and claim the game started in 1906. I have put bellow all the changes to Rugby League rules between 1895 and 1906. There were lots of changes between 1895 and 1904 that distance it from Rugby Union but the reason the Doctor pushes 1906 is that the ball the ball was introduced and and the number of players were reduced from 15 to 13 bringing in the rules that provide the significant difference from Union; however the rules are not the mystical "spirit of Rugby League" professionalism is!

1895

NRFU Implemented: 1895–96 Northern Rugby Football Union season.

• During the inaugural season of rugby league, the rules were changed to require the scrum-half to retire behind a scrum until the ball was out. The scrum-half would now be deemed offside if they moved past their team's forwards while the ball was in the opposing pack. Before this a scrum-half had been permitted to follow the ball as it progressed through the packed forwards of their opponents half of the scrum.

1896
NRFU Implemented: 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season.

• If a team committed a deliberate knock-on a free kick would now be awarded to the opposing team. Previously a scrum would have been formed in such an event.
• The scrum-half feeding the ball into the scrum was required to do so from the same side of the scrum as the referee was positioned.

1897
NRFU Implemented: 1897–98 Northern Rugby Football Union season.

• The options presented to a team as a means to restart play after the ball had been kicked into touch were changed. The line-out was abolished and replace with the punt-out. The team would now be able to choose whether to have a scrum or a punt-out (also known as a "kick-in"), where previously the options had been to have a scrum or a line-out. A punt-out was taken from the touch-line by a player who could kick the ball back into play, in any direction.
• In order to promote the scoring of tries
  • The value of a drop goal was reduced from four points to two points.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_rugby_league#1971
  • The value of a penalty goal was reduced from three points to two points.
  • The value of a goal from mark was reduced from four points to two points.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_rugby_league#1922
  • The value of a field goal was reduced from four points to two points.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_rugby_league#1922

1899
NRFU Implemented: 1899–1900 Northern Rugby Football Union season.

• The location of the restart after a try had been scored, either a place-kick if the try had been converted or a drop-kick if the try-scoring team was unable to convert, was moved from the 25-yard line of the non-scoring team to the halfway line.
• After a player had been tackled a loose scrum was now ordered formed to allow the ball to be brought back into play.

1900s
1900
NRFU Implemented: 1900–01 Northern Rugby Football Union season.

• Defenders were banned from charging players attempting a place-kick at goal.
• The location at which a penalty was awarded against a defender that had obstructed a kicker after the ball had been kicked was changed from where the incident took place to where the ball had landed.

1901
NRFU Implemented: 1901–02 Northern Rugby Football Union season.

• Should a player go into touch while in possession of the ball, play would now be restarted with a scrum rather than a punt-out. The punt-out was retained for those times when the ball was kicked into touch.
• The knocking-on rule was altered. While trying to catch the ball, a player would now be permitted to "juggle" it, i.e. the ball could be re-gathered if it had not been caught cleanly in the first attempt to take possession. Previously a "clean catch" had been required, except in instances when the ball moved backwards after touching the hands or arms, because a knock to the ball causing forward movement was classed a knock-on.
• Another change to the knock-on rule meant, provided that the ball did not touch the ground, play would continue uninterrupted if a player dropped the ball into the hands of a player on the opposing team.

1902
NRFU Implemented: 1902–03 Northern Rugby Football Union season.

• The punt-out, or kick-in, was abolished. In the event of the ball being kicked into touch, play would restart with a scrum 10 yards infield.

1903
NRFU Implemented: 1903–04 Northern Rugby Football Union season.

• Kicking the ball into touch on the full, i.e. without the ball bouncing inside the field of play before going into touch, was no longer allowed for any kick except a penalty kick.

1904
NRFU Implemented: 1904–05 Northern Rugby Football Union season.

• A team could no longer position more than three players in the front row of a scrum.[26] Previously there had been no restrictions on how many members of a team could join the front row.
• The knocking-on rule was adjusted so that in the event the non-offending team picked up the ball after their opponents had knocked-on, and even if it had touched the ground, play would continue.

As you can see there were many changes in the rules before 1906. The reason the doctor likes to falsely claim 1906 as the start of Rugby League is the fact this fundamental changes happened in 1906

1906

NRFU Implemented: 1906–07 Northern Rugby Football Union season.

• The play-the-ball rule was introduced. Previously after each tackle had been completed or a player had been "held" the rules mandated that a scrum be ordered by the referee. These scrums had taken up a significant portion of game time and it was felt that the ball was hidden from spectators too often as a result, diminishing the game's entertainment value. The play-the-ball restored the early rugby football principle that play does not carry on when the player is no longer standing, but that a tackle is complete when a player is "held" on the ground or while on their feet.
• The number of players on each team was reduced from fifteen to thirteen.
• If a ball was kicked out of play on the full, a scrum back where it had been kicked from would now be formed.

 

[madunit]

You need to look at why RL formed to start with.

Inconsistency, shady deals, unfairness etc in RU.

RL was all about a fair go and complete transparency. Fairness for all. It was that simple.

 

[madunit]

Really the biggest change was players about payment to players, that is the Spirit of the Game the Doctor is talking about, that was why Rugby League was formed. It is nonsense to try and claim the game started in 1906. I have put bellow all the changes to Rugby League rules between 1895 and 1906. There were lots of changes between 1895 and 1904 that distance it from Rugby Union but the reason the Doctor pushes 1906 is that the ball the ball was introduced and and the number of players were reduced from 15 to 13 bringing in the rules that provide the significant difference from Union; however the rules are not the mystical "spirit of Rugby League" professionalism is!

As you can see there were many changes in the rules before 1906. The reason the doctor likes to falsely claim 1906 as the start of Rugby League is the fact this fundamental changes happened in 1906

Correct.

And in 1895 it wasn't so much about making players professionals, but more about giving them some of the gate takings from each game to cover for time lost, injuries, travel etc, as it was fair and just.

Shamatueurism was growing in RU ranks, where some star players would get secret payments or benefits. This was a similar situation in Australia, New Zealand and France.

If I recall correctly too, in England, the Northern Union sides were drawing the biggest crowds, thus generating the lion's share of revenue for the games governing body, but the administrators were largely from Southern England and they got paid handsomely.

It was very much a class war as well there.

RL had always been about fairness for the working class. Hence why in Australia it was passionately supported by the Labor party, with several politicians being involved in getting it set up. Henry Hoyle was the first president and a Labor politician who came from workers unions (check out my article on him here: https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/01/07...itical-to-birth-of-rugby-league-in-australia/ )

Future Prime Minister Billy Hughes was the ambassador for the Glebe club in 1908.

James Joynton-Smith - Rugby League's financier in 1909 and future president of the game was a Labor man, as was the game's third president in 1909, Edward O'Sullivan.

Edward Larkin (who I wrote about here: https://leagueunlimited.com/news/edward-larkin-a-leader-of-men/ ) was the game's first full-time secretary and also a Labor politician.

When you have so many people coming from socialist backgrounds, standing up for the working class and for what's right, it creates in essence, a game built on fairness for everyone.

Which is why breaking rules and exploiting loopholes in the games laws is generally looked down upon by the fan base, as they have remained largely working class.

 

[The Book of Steeden]

Spirit of the game - spending 80 minutes belting the hell out of each other and then shaking hands at the end of it.

This. I loathe Rugby Union as a spectacle, but I cannot deny that the spirit of their game became the spirit of ours (well, we tweaked our sport to include competent tackling).

To me, the rules of a sport are the antithetical of what its, “spirit” is.

 

[Reflector]

I can't exactly explain what the spirit of the game is. But I'd say that it's best summed up by everything Cameron Smith does. He would never do anything that's not in the spirit of the game. It's not his go.

 

[Disinterested third party]

You need to look at why RL formed to start with.

Inconsistency, shady deals, unfairness etc in RU.

RL was all about a fair go and complete transparency. Fairness for all. It was that simple.

In the case of France (albeit in the 30s), player deaths in union were also a factor.