Comments on: David Gallop, it’s time to merge the codes

By: chris

chris — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:55:12 +0000

end of.

By: Dogs Of War

Dogs Of War — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:18:00 +0000

ZZZZZZzzzzzzz…..

By: chris

chris — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:15:38 +0000

There needs to be only 1 Rugby code in Australia and only 1 Rugby code in New Zealand.

By: M1tch

M1tch — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:14:56 +0000

France wont allow the codes to merge..why is this always brought up

By: Rin

Rin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:12:49 +0000

RE: Corey did you just try and claim League is played in more countries than Union…mmmm you must live in a bubble or shall we say your whole world comprises NSW and QLD. your a dumb dumb

By: Dean Pantio

Dean Pantio — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:50:00 +0000

By: Corey

Corey — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:07:12 +0000

Rugby League is a better product, and the world realises it as Rugby Union might have a stronger international game but Rugby League is being taken up in more countries than Union. Let’s just remember who Union who gets its international backs from. Check and Mate.

By: Dogs Of War

Dogs Of War — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:50:44 +0000

I always laugh at those sorts of figures of playing numbers, because both Rugby’s have many who don’t want to play full contact Rugby, and instead play either touch or oztag. These two sports have huge numbers of participants for that very reason.

By: Robbo

Robbo — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:34:10 +0000

One year later – NRL crowds are growing and A-League crowds are shrinking!

By: stillmissit

stillmissit — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:51:10 +0000

mcxd – I agree with you. I used to believe that merging the codes was almost a certainty at some point in the future but after being involved with rugby out west of sydney for the last 3 years where all the players are league first and rugby a distant second I dont think it will happen.

The 2 games are so far apart, the only connection is that we both pass backwards. Scrums,lineouts, breakdown, forwards jobs etc etc are all different. It takes a long time for these guys to learn union and some of them never will and it is most probably the same for union players moving to league.

This would be a 10-15 year rebuilding if it did happen.

By: mcxd

mcxd — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:23:12 +0000

ive come in the end of this debate. but another comment wont hurt…(well league v union debate could go on for another century..as much fun as banging your head against a brick wall)

i think we should merge union and league. its a great idea . while were there we should also merge sychronised swimming and polo. horses are great swimmers. ..maybe in merge american football with track and field and replace the ball with a javelin. bags not being the wide reciever… i could go on…and i will. merge cycling and boxing. nothing like a TKO at 80 km/h.

By: greginglis

greginglis — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:14:03 +0000

rugby league is pretty good.

By: macavity

macavity — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:16:29 +0000

this thread is a good chuckle

delusion usually is.

By: ilikedahoodoogurusingha

ilikedahoodoogurusingha — Wed, 13 May 2009 06:07:11 +0000

Quote ; an average first grader in League (Andrew Walker) is a world class test player in Union,what a joke.

I suppose that’s why Matt Rogers, and Wendell Sailor couldn’t hold down a starting spot in the Wallabies then!!

By: znotty

znotty — Mon, 04 May 2009 01:12:33 +0000

i have a rule for Rugby Union if theres a penalty in the first minute i turn it off,haven`t seen a game in years,a thoroughly crap game of endless set pieces & private school headmaster grandstanding refs,if a ref blew 40 penalties at win stadium he wouldn`t get out alive buts its the norm in that absolute crap game of rugby,an average first grader in League (Andrew Walker) is a world class test player in Union,what a joke.

By: Finno

Finno — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:14:28 +0000

Its an intersting point and the 2 codes probably need to take a long hard look at themselves, union has the international appeal as more than 3 countries play the sport in a serious manner, whilst the player numbers of union are slim. League internationally is a joke at best with the world cup a farce. AFL has a massive local following and is the Aussie game.

But there are more registered rugby players in the Pretorian Rugby Club than there are in all of Australia. Leagues heart lands are constantly getting smaller as the popularity of the AFL grows. Every time another leagueplayer gets arrested a whole swag of parents stop thier kids from playing and turning to AFL or Football.

Union and League hate each other but AFL and Football aint going away. And both are ready and willing to accept those who stop watching, playing or supporting league or Rugby. Union and League must join to survive let alone succeed. Purest would rather the gaem die than combine and thats a fair point but a hybrid game must be developed or Rugby or League will fade in Australia.

Its all based on player numbers, and kids playing

2008
Soccer 697,400
AFL 455,800
Rugby League 209,800
Rugby Union 165,300

By: dumbbeatnix

dumbbeatnix — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:28:12 +0000

Wow you have created a swarm of interest. NOT!

By: Westy

Westy — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:14:49 +0000

True Tah …..thanks for the information. Hope you have safe trip. Look forward to any further info.

By: stillmissit

stillmissit — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:35:38 +0000

Sammy – this is very true. I have a friend who’s boy was a very good soccer player but he wasn’t getting any buzz out of soccer so he turned to union age 19 and loves it. He loves the physical contact and the opportunity to beat a player with more than foot skill.
I remember several good players from my time (70′s) who came from soccer and were great backs who could kick off both feet. Cant remember a forward coming from soccer but I am sure there are instances. We are of course referring to kids in their later teens or early 20′s not age 11-15 as all kids play soccer when they are young and I think its a great game for them.

League also has a strong place in kids minds particularly out West and although, as I have mentioned elsewhere, the kids are keen to play both League and Union these days, league is still their main game.

By: Sammy

Sammy — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:47:31 +0000

The stronger Football in Australia the better for RUgby Union. As in other countries when people want something different than football but still desire international standing and strong competition then Union drops in place. The egos that spend the money for there own club find the cost too much in football to achieve the ego ride so turn to union to achieve similar standing across a broad base.
I’m union through and through but support football in Aus also as it cleans up a messy football code market, football will take over in many of the traditional league schools and take its own ground elsewhere. Football already is the national (football) code, tv ratings and noise levels do not make another code the top spot. the players and the families involved do, politicians know this thats why they put money behind football whenever a decent business plan is put in front of them.

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:09:05 +0000

You have still missed my point … I am talking about the impact in Australia not the impact overseas.

By: True Tah

True Tah — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:03:50 +0000

Midfielder,

it hasnt hurt rugby in Argentina, England, France, Wales, where more people play futbol than rugby.

Maybe more Australians should consider visiting Africa following 2010 – I hope they do.

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:58:41 +0000

I was looking at the perception of many in Australia of SA rugby. When it becomes clear to all that in SA RU is the minor sport and that SA’s play football then I cannot see how that will not have an impact.

By: True Tah

True Tah — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:47:44 +0000

Westy/Midfielder,

I dont think the futbol WC will hurt the finances of SA Rugby as much as you guys reckon, quite a few rugby union stadiums are being used as venues – Loftus, Ellis Park, Free State Stadium – as it is now, many of the PSL clubs are in a far healthier financial position than the majority of provincial rugby unions, so its not like its anything new, and PSL has some very lucrative Pay TV deals.

Im due to fly to SA next weekend, so will be in a better position to comment then, but if South African rugby wants to improve, it wont be worried about futbol and the world cup, it would be worried about a) getting better funding for township rugby and b) fixing up the provincial system, so that teams outside the Big 5 have a chance of winning, Griquas in the northern cape can knock them off every now and then, but some of the scorelines are embarassing, with some sides conceding up to 90 points.

The whole “South Africa is a seen as a rugby nation” perception – one of the reasons why this is the case is due to the relative success of the Boks v Bafana Bafana. Lets ignore the fact the the futbol world has about 100 nations capable of knocking each other off, as opposed to 10-12 in rugby – the Boks have been winning a fair bit and more recently they are involving guys of black and coloured background (BTW Westy, rugby has a massive following amongst the coloureds, esp in the West Cape) – what has Bafana Bafana won? in past 10 years? No South African I have ever met has ever said rugby is the national game of SA.

Personally I hope Bafana Bafana do well in 2010, hope they beat some of those bloody Europeans, its a hell of a more interesting when the little blokes give the fat bullies a bloody nose!

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:26:01 +0000

Westy

Well said on the position of SA rugby and the potential impact of the world cup.

I think one of the major long term impacts, will be perception, Most people think SA is a rugby nation when as you said it is mainly a football nation. This will erode brand Wallaby as outside NZ, SA are considered a major force … that major force becomes a much harder sell when player numbers and the nations heart become better known.

By: stillmissit

stillmissit — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:52:19 +0000

Gabes – Interesting comment about new bodies springing up if the codes merged. Maybe it would all start again from a basis of true support and not just marketing mayhem and bullshit.

In my opinion this situation is at least 10 years away, unless someone really stuffs the finances. Based on history it will be union (without O’Neil) who will be in the shit. The ARU remind me of the Labour Party the old boys get control using politics and skullduggery.Then the coffers are opened and the largesse flows for a couple of years, reality hits them when the money is gone.

Westy hope Prarievale make it. I ref’d them once this year and I haven’t seen a more disciplined Islander team in my life.

By: gavin

gavin — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 11:21:05 +0000

yes westy true, it’s unfortunate though our forwards almost to a man come from private school resevoir and not the wider pool of talent. They are pussies I’m sorry to say. Thye old school tie still runs Oz rugby

By: Westy

Westy — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:50:00 +0000

The main long term danger to Australian rugby comes from the real possibility of a renegotiation of the Sanzar agreement. On any criteria especially TV coverage Australia gets a disproportionate share of the revenue. Much of the Australian ratings and coverage is also dependent on one team.
I cannot but remind everyone the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa will permanently expose the fault line in South African sport. ..rugby in South Africa is basically an ethnic game supported on the whole by a couple of million Dutch descendents and a handful of the dominant black population.The success of South African rugby is a testament to the ability skill and strength of this small segment of the population. It is embarrassing on this site to read as though it is otherwise. It is a downright falsehood to say it is the South African people’s game. The recent moves to move the Springbok emblem on the jersey is but one symptom.
The football world cup in South Africa will put immense financial strain on South African rugby finances both in terms of governmental and corporate support and will give them no choice to seek their proper share of the Sanzar agreement or worse still play in the Northern hemisphere in their own timezone to achieve commercial security.
This would be a development that would send shivers down the spine of Australian rugby . Look forward to Australian rugby hawking ( or the less kindly prostituting )AllBlack and Wallaby games around Asia all in the guise of development but obviously for the money. It is a reality we in Australian rugby meay have to accept.
I find the continual pushing aside by many on this site of the relative poor ratings showing of rugby on Australian television difficult to understand. It would appear some on this site live in an arificial universe.If its bad we just ignore it. I watch but not many of my fellow Australians do on a relative basis and god forbid if the Waratahs have a poor year. We only got 400000 for a live game in Hong Kong on free to air and a crowd of 5000 to our grand final. The GPS competition has about 3 good games a year and the Colts competition is a joke. The assumption that league will lose its best to European rugby is the best they have not even strarted on our rugby elite.
Gavin basically if league did not continue to operate we would lose a huge reservoir of RUGBY players. Outside elite private schools it is league that keeps the flag flying for heavy contact play for juniors across the eastern states alive. Do not check to closely what code many U/6 to U/10 rugby boys initially played.. It is mini and mod league.( Cross/Giteau)…scratch a little more and you find League junior rep players ( Smith and Elsom and a myriad of islander players) . I begin to despise, a strong word yes the platitudes of many in rugby who do not engage in the battle for juniors but rely on an elite private school system that is running out of steam with some fairly inept teams by the way). Whatever Parramatta EEls rugby league’s motive they have poured 7 million into rugby in Western Sydney in the last 7 years.The Panthers about 4 million.
By the way thankyou to all those who have contributed to Prarievale high school’s Japan rugby tour. They are nearly there. Any further donations will be gratefully accepted. They must not fail to represent Australian schools.

By: gavin

gavin — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:42:12 +0000

O’Neill and rugby should be supporting youth and looking at western Sydney

O’Neill and the rugby union bosses are too stupid to see an opportunity

By: gavin

gavin — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:24:28 +0000

league and union will never merge. League will fold, unless the new ELVs help league amalgamate