When the Super League swept through town in the mid 1990s it was all quite sudden. There would have been a lot of planning involved and meetings behind close doors before they launched.
Professional sport is a business these days, so it would be naive to think that in a boardroom somewhere, some men and women in suits might be arguing over the benefits of bringing these two games back together again.
After all, it was money that split the two to begin with. So what’s to say it won’t be money that brings them back together again.
AFL and football are gaining market share with various programs, and if it continues, something may need to be done.
The question is, would you support it or turn your back on such a merger if it happened at the professional level?
I have made a special note of saying at “the professional level,” because I don’t believe that either game will ever disappear from the sporting landscape. But at the professional level, it might.
To start things off …
My name is Matt, I live in Victoria, but grew up in Canberra. I prefer rugby league to rugby union and I would watch and support a merged form of the game because the amount of talent involved would be spectacular.
Recommend this story.
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- NRL, Rugby League, Rugby Union
November 6th 2009 @ 7:26am
Mick from Giralang said | November 6th 2009 @ 7:26am | Report comment
This is a no-brainer. You’d have to support the merged code — otherwise you’d have to support soccer…or AFL…
November 6th 2009 @ 7:29am
Freud of Football said | November 6th 2009 @ 7:29am | Report comment
No you wouldn’t and what would be wrong with supporting “soccer” or AFL. You mightn’t have enjoyed some of your experiences watching Aussie Rules but thats not to say it isn’t an enjoyable sport and football is played the world over, I don’t think every country in the world just happened to pick a dull and boring sport.
November 6th 2009 @ 7:32am
mitzter said | November 6th 2009 @ 7:32am | Report comment
No they picked an easy to understand sport that can be played almost anywhere on any surface
November 6th 2009 @ 8:16am
MyGeneration said | November 6th 2009 @ 8:16am | Report comment
I see they’re biting today, Mick.
November 6th 2009 @ 8:18am
Pippinu said | November 6th 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment
No, no, no, no – our stadiums are already overflowing with supporters – we don’t want anymore – honestly!!!
November 6th 2009 @ 7:36am
Skip said | November 6th 2009 @ 7:36am | Report comment
I am a Rugby Tragic. I ahted Rugby League most of my life. Over the last 2 years I grown to like the game, I watch the odd NRL game and State of Origin.
A Good game of Rugby is the greatest game in the world bar none. A good game of Rugby League is great. An average game of Rugby is Terrible an avergae game of league is still good.
As a product League is consistent and can be spectacular Rugby is inconsitent and most the time to the layman boring with to many penalties and fat props stopping the game to get a trainer on to check thier shoe laces.
Matt I like the article however I think if anything the game should merge at a Junior level.
kids should play RL rules with an uncontested Line out and scrums until under 12 then the games seperate.
I speak from Experoence as a Rugby Coach and a father of a son who plays both Rugbies.
The benefits of this
1. The game is simpler, players benefit from more ball in hand and better tacklingtechnique.
2. Players get a appreciation of both codes.
3. Creates a greater talent pool for both codes. (Very few kids will play and support RL &U once they have been entrenched in AFL and Soccer)
4. A united code would be a markerters dream. Instead of the 2 Rugby codes Canabalising each others talent pool they
could take soccer and Afl head on.
These changes would be Australian centric and as another Roarer added a lot of ego’s would have to be deflated.
If I can cross the divide then most others can.
November 6th 2009 @ 8:26am
MyGeneration said | November 6th 2009 @ 8:26am | Report comment
You are a Rugby Renaissance Man, Skip. I agree with most of your viewpoint on the two rugbys (Union is the girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead – when she’s good, she’s very,very good; but when she’s bad, she’s horrid), although I’ve always had a leaning to League myself.
Out of interest (and not as a scientific proof of anything) – what is your son’s take on the two codes? Does he have a preference? I knew many growing up who played both without developing a strong preference either way – final destination was more often about opportunity than anything.
November 6th 2009 @ 10:29am
Skip said | November 6th 2009 @ 10:29am | Report comment
MG,
All his mate play Rugby (his 8), I watch 5-6 games of Rugby a weekend and I coach Premier Rugby as well. So the poor litle bloke has been over exposed to one sport. One ofhis mates played RL and we went to watch. As a Rugby coach I thought it was fantastic. The players learn so much more as the have the ball in hand, the defence is back so they run straight, instaed of running backwards rto find space.
Walla Rugy up to u7 is a waste of time. It is touch, no offside and if they drop the ball or run out its play on.
It was so frustrating for the players and Dad’s.
Next year they play tackle I have watched some of the games and it is fast and free flowwing. less cynacism at the break down.
At the moment he prefers league to play but enjoys rugby especially his mates. Skills wise If he had to choose I would encourage him to play RL. He will keep playing both at the end of the day I just encourage to appreciate both codes and dont be Myopic like I was. As long as his happy he can go and do ballet (but not soccer)
Cheers
November 6th 2009 @ 10:39am
MyGeneration said | November 6th 2009 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Good attitude. Whichever he chooses, he’ll benefit from playing both growing up. Not sure about the skills transfer to ballet, though lifting one of those ballerinas should be a piece of cake after lifting a pig in a lineout.
November 6th 2009 @ 10:51am
Skip said | November 6th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
If looks like me he may need a good tackling technique just to get hold of a ballerina
November 6th 2009 @ 11:04am
Working Class Rugger said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:04am | Report comment
I agree especially at junior level. I did and they tend to go hand in hand. Their very different but very similar, so playing both is easy enough. League helped with fitness and Rugby helpede with physicality. Combined they give you some pretty useful skillsets. Though to be honest most of my skills came from hours of practice in the backyard and my experience playing two years up on my age grade.
November 6th 2009 @ 11:00am
Working Class Rugger said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Skip
In terms of skills I’d suggest you go a give your son’s Rugby coach a swift kick up the arse. Walla Rugby is no excuse, its up to the coach to use this program to develop the necessary skills. Even defence. My youngest brother started in Walla Rugby with a coach who emphasised skills. All skills. They even played tackle stratch matches. This season he played League (where we currently live their is no Rugby) and killed it thanks to the skills his coach worked on him his team. Not being cocky but in terms of skill he was head and shoulder’s above every kid he played this season. It not the game that’s the problem. It’s often the coaches committment. If they are committed to helping their player’s in good Rugby player’s they focus on developing all the fine skills, if not they just coach out of the handbook.
November 6th 2009 @ 11:24am
Bay35Pablo said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:24am | Report comment
WCR, keep in mind the most common complaint about junior rugby is those that end up doing the work often do because no one else will. So the coach may not necessarily be the best person, just the one willing to do it.
November 6th 2009 @ 11:29am
Working Class Rugger said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
Hmmm.. Yeah that is a factor. Unfortunately.
November 6th 2009 @ 12:22pm
Skip said | November 6th 2009 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
I am his coach. Whilst I am not robbie Deans I would say that I woulld have more experience, qualifications and skill as a coach than 99% of parents coaching similar teams. I hate to sound like a w#nker but with out revealing whom I coach at a senior level I cant articulate my experience.
Skils and space are my focus and the team is head and shoulders above the rest.
Undefeated last season and pass the ball more than any side. The end of the day it is under 7s they should just be having fun.
As a coach Jnr League is far better than union for developing skills ( i felt sick typing that but its true). The simple fact is that in RL you do the basics running, passing and tackling more often. There is more space that encourages the player to run forward.
November 6th 2009 @ 12:36pm
Working Class Rugger said | November 6th 2009 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Skip
Boy this is uncomfortable. Didn’t realise you were the coach when I told you to give him a swift kick. But anyway. Its good that you focus on the skills. But disagree with the League comment. Like I said my brother played League coming from Rugby and had a greater skillset and physciality than anyone he played in League. The problem is in League they do practice those skills more whilst many Rugby coaches focus too much on the contest elements of the game. It’s all about priorities. Currently in Rugby its about bashing the opposition instead of outplaying them.
November 6th 2009 @ 12:42pm
Working Class Rugger said | November 6th 2009 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
And I agree at such a young age they should be having fun, its very important. But by teaching them the necessary skills early on they tend to enjoy the game more. I currently reside in WA. As I have mentioned my youngest brother played League over here this year (U8′s). At the beginning of the season all bar three kids couldn’t complete a basic three man passing drill. At the end of the season that number increased to just 4. The rest were s bad as when they started. This was under the WARL development program. I’ll make no secret that my brother prefers Rugby. I didn’t push him into, it happened naturally. But diesn’t mind watching League on occasion. He came up to me and asked could he quit half way through the season because he was sick of losing. The problem was although my brother could pass either hand, step off both feet and ran strong aggressive lines the rest of the kids were cluess and ran sudeways or backwards. He wasn’t having fun.
November 6th 2009 @ 7:38am
Andrew Logan said | November 6th 2009 @ 7:38am | Report comment
Rules, talent, tribalism etc etc all come second to the commercial realities. This idea has been floated before by News Limited during the Super League days. They did extensive market research into the commercial possibilities of launching a hybrid game with the best players from both codes. It was found that instead of doubling the market (as most people had assumed would happen), the market for such a hybrid code would be halved, because most hard core union/league fans wouldn’t watch a hybrid game.
Given that the ARU/IRB and the ARL/IRL (or whatever it’s called) will never, ever, ever merge, the commercial reality seems to indicate that a hybrid game is a fantasy.
November 6th 2009 @ 8:08am
Pete said | November 6th 2009 @ 8:08am | Report comment
I don’t know the details of this, but I’m imagine the circumstances are different. That merger would have been seen as a hostile take over by a corporation displacing power from the ARU and ARL. If the ARL and ARL initiated a merger and brought the tribal elements of both codes through it would survive and thrive.
I see it as a meregr just in Oz, not internationally. Union rules would still be played by Australia on the international scene.
November 6th 2009 @ 11:26am
Bay35Pablo said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
Pete, why would either code volunteer to end up with what AFL and GAA have with international rules. A b’stard step child that satisfies neither?
November 6th 2009 @ 12:02pm
Pete said | November 6th 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
Bay,
I hope you mean no disrespect to any b’stard step children who may be reading this post
I see the International rules example as being quite different. I’d like to explain but I’m having trouble typing with one hand whilst eating a kabab. This post has taken me 20 mins…
November 6th 2009 @ 11:20am
sheek said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:20am | Report comment
Andrew,
Fancy believing what the fans said? They’re such emotional creatures…..
Of course, given choice both RL & RU fans would say, “no way will I watch a hybrid game”!
But offer them ONLY a hybrid rugby game & they will eventually fall into line to watch it.
More than anything else, RL & RU fans are sports fans. And their need to watch sport will override any resentment of having their beloved code diluted.
When WSC hit town in 1977, many cricket fans swore they would never follow cricket again….. but they did!
When Super League hit town in 1995, many RL fans swore they would never follow RL again….. but they did!
The fans will come back, because NOT watching sport is too much to bear.
And while the new market can’t be expected to be 50% + 50% = 100%, it would still be a significant market, in the region of 80-90% combined.
Gee, where did they get these whizz-bang marketeers? Probably paid a fortune for poor information & advice!
November 6th 2009 @ 7:50am
Redb said | November 6th 2009 @ 7:50am | Report comment
If rugby league and union merged it would only make Australian football (AFL) and soccer stronger.
2 + 2 rarely equals 4 in business mergers the same would happen if RL & RU merged as disenfranchised supporters from the diehards of each code to the club fans lost in any rationalisation would drift away.
Redb
November 6th 2009 @ 8:15am
Pete said | November 6th 2009 @ 8:15am | Report comment
“2 + 2 rarely equals 4 in business mergers”, often it equals 10 or even 20. Look at the banking industry or the pharmaceutical industry. If handled correctly mergers (with input from all stakeholders) can bring in market dominance without upsetting the applecart.
November 6th 2009 @ 9:20am
Redb said | November 6th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Peter,
Look at the accounting or legal profession – mergers often end up in a bigger entity but rarely do all the clients stay. 2 + 2 usually equals 3.
Factoring a total sum equation without any loss of support given the nature of mergers and the rationalisation that ensues coupled with the passion of fans for their club and it is likely to be a smaller pie than the ‘potential’.
Whilst the two unlikely partners take years to sort through their differences and finally establish a clear direction beyond the infighting and agendas, the other codes in AFL and soccer would have been steadily building without such distractions.
It could never happen and most people know it.
It is far more likely that one rugby code will become stronger in Australia, eventually the juniors and fans will follow.
Redb
November 6th 2009 @ 12:18pm
Pete said | November 6th 2009 @ 12:18pm | Report comment
Redb,
Fair points, but the accounting analogy works because the consumer has choice (i.e. clients switched to another firm with near identical offering). AFL and Soccer are not an identical offering to the Rugbies. I don’t believe a RL or Union supporter will switch to AFL or Soccer/Football, they’ll enjoy them but they won’t switch.
The Rugbies provide a different offering that is intrinsically different and that is what attracts people to them (and visa versa for the other codes). As Sheek said above, faced with only one option to follow ‘a Rugby’, the Australian supporters will follow.
I agree that a merger appears improbable looking at the world through ’2009 eyes’. But I honestly believe that technological advances that will fundamentally change the business models of media/entertainment will force rationalisation in sport.
November 6th 2009 @ 12:30pm
Redb said | November 6th 2009 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
Pete,
I’m not suggesting a full switch, some will just drift.
Of course if what you are saying is true then it is a complete fallacy that the Swans benefited from Superleague.
Redb
November 6th 2009 @ 12:39pm
Pete said | November 6th 2009 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
.. drift yes… but with the tides of time.. they drift back (Swans games attendance isn’t what is use to be post Super League
lets keep this up, I want to see how far this page will indent with all our replies.
November 6th 2009 @ 12:41pm
Redb said | November 6th 2009 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
only goes about 6 deep, then they drop underneath each other.
Swans crowds have drifted with success – this is normal.
Redb
November 6th 2009 @ 8:32am
Paul J said | November 6th 2009 @ 8:32am | Report comment
This again?
When the idea of merging League and Rugby comes up i usually assume it’s from an AFL or football fan – not necessarily with evil intent though. Amazingly it does sometimes get put up by a fan of League or Rugby!!??
Would it work or is it even remotely possible? Imagine if the AFL declared that from 2010 all games will be played under a new hybrid laws combining Aussie Rules and Gaelic.
mcxd..Your suggestions sum it up very well indeed.
November 6th 2009 @ 8:46am
Cam said | November 6th 2009 @ 8:46am | Report comment
IS THIS A JOKE?
These league and rugby should merge debates are usually started by people who have no idea about rugby outside Austraila. Rugby is an international sport played around the world. Yes it’s quite popular even in Asian countries like Japan, Korea, Thaiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, etc. On the other hand league is jsut a tiny sport confined to NSW/QLD, Auckland and North England. Do you think IRB (rugby’s governing body) which runs the 3rd biggest sporting event (Rugby world cup) even care about little league? I highly doubt it. There’s just no way Rugby would want to change it’s rules to accomdate a few leaguies.
Get over it leaguies.
November 6th 2009 @ 9:18pm
Jeff Baxter said | November 6th 2009 @ 9:18pm | Report comment
3rd? so lets see.
world cup
olympics
nfl
mlb
football: euro champs
south american champs
asian champs
champions league
world athletics
probably tonne more
please tell me abou the 3 billion audience again?
it always struck me as bizzaare that such an undeniably successful sport like rugby union needs to bullshit on such a regular basis.
November 6th 2009 @ 8:58am
Brett McKay said | November 6th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
no, no, no no no…..
There’d be more chance of merging tennis and badminton….
November 6th 2009 @ 11:32am
sheek said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:32am | Report comment
Brett,
Just 12 months ago, I might have said a merger between RL & RU was impossible. But I’ve changed my view…..
RU appears incapable of solving the breakdown, while RL thirsts for a greater world stage.
Andrew Logan offered ‘commercial reality’ as a reason why the codes won’t merge. I offer ‘commercial reality’ as the reason why they might eventually merge.
Some suggestions:
1. Play the ball will replace maul. Ruck has been killed off anyway (at present).
2. Six tackle rule will also replace maul. However, points1 & 2 might be only concessions to RL.
3. Competitive scrums & lineouts will remain.
4. 15 players aside will remain.
5. Might introduce forward pass/offside position on first tackle (a la American football) just to jazz things up a bit!
Of course, much is dependent on RU solving the breakdown. It’s a sore that will become infected & poisonous unless its treated properly.
November 6th 2009 @ 11:40am
mitzter said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:40am | Report comment
argh god sheek you must be joking
November 6th 2009 @ 11:47am
sheek said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
Mitzter,
You know me….. I never joke!?&#@*?!
I’m pretending to be von Krupp today….. just dropping the odd bomb here & there, to stir the natives up…..
November 6th 2009 @ 11:54am
oikee said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Sheek please, i normally like your posts, but listen closely, Rugby League got rid of the rubbish to produce a spectator sport for the masses. They have finally acheived this, now where to for Union, your guess is as good as mine. Try Helmets and Larger pads. Well you surgested forward passes.
November 6th 2009 @ 9:06am
oikee said | November 6th 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment
To be honest, there is no reason to merge. Both codes are strong in their own right, union is growing world-wide, league is also growing world-wide. Rugby union has had a clear run over the last 100 years to gain a foothold over rugby league because of all the bans placed on rugby league. France, Sth Africa, and never had the services of the Armed Forces pushing the game into other countries,.
That now has all changed. Russian, England and the Australian armed forces are all now taken to the game as a fitness sport for the troops. The game has a better oppotuntiy now than ever before to grow the code. Why would the game want to merge in the 1st place, it has taken 100 years to make the game perfect, and you would want to destroy that.?
Rugby league is doing fine, we have 2 massive comps, NRL Super League, both are growing nicely, and they are both in the possition of massive growth.
Our international game might not be as big as union, (understandable) but what we are seeing is a program which has risen from basically nothing (world cup, 4 nations) to involve many more nations who all know how to play rugby league.
The only possitive about rugby union is their world game, big crowds, back at club level their game is ordinary at best, if you want to follow union, do so, but rugby league is played at a higher standard even at club level. And more entertaining.
Now, no more merge blogs, its becoming tedious.
November 6th 2009 @ 11:28am
Bay35Pablo said | November 6th 2009 @ 11:28am | Report comment
oikee, “The only positive about rugby union is their world game, big crowds, back at club level their game is ordinary at best”
Yeah, that Heineken Cup, woeful ….
November 6th 2009 @ 9:16am
jus de couchon said | November 6th 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
Time the NRL came clean . Talk of mergers is irrelevant . Aus R.L is run by and bankrolled by gambling. Any change in the status quo would be resisted by the self interest of parties who have established a mutual cash cow with the N.R.L.
November 6th 2009 @ 9:26am
Forgetmenot said | November 6th 2009 @ 9:26am | Report comment
If it happened, all you would do is create a third rugby code. There is no way that you will get all the countries who play either sport to accept it.