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It’s no secret that there is an uneasiness between rugby and league followers that has existed since the infamous schism back in 1895.
But wouldn’t it be nice if we could put that aside for once and embrace the differences between each code instead of insulting each other with immature insults such as ‘mungoes’ and ‘rah rahs’.
It’s no secret rugby union has a greater footprint internationally, something us league followers are jealous about.
In an ideal world it be awesome to see rugby sevens and rugby-league nines take off globally.
The fast pace, non-stop code of rugby sevens is the perfect introduction to rugby union for new followers.
Rugby league nines, league’s shorter version of the game, can be used as a introduction to league.
The same goes for rugby 10s, 13s rugby league and 15s rugby union.
This is an ideal world because realistically it will never ever happen. There is a lack of vision in rugby league circles, along with the incompetent administration rugby league has been through over the past 100 years.
As far I’m concerned the world is big enough for both, if this situation were to occur.
I’m sick of the merger talks, so let’s embrace the different codes and stop thrashing each other for once.
Variety is the spice of life and more sport is never enough.
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- Rugby League, Rugby sevens, Rugby Union
May 18th 2012 @ 6:30am
Boomshanka said | May 18th 2012 @ 6:30am | Report comment
Nice article.
Both games have moved on and developed differently since 1895 and I’m also sick of hearing about a hybrid game or merger talks.
I could see a new spirit of co-operation such as occurs in smaller towns with football and netball clubs, but we need to get rid of the stuffy blazer wearers before that’ll happen and I doubt this would occur in our lifetime.
May 18th 2012 @ 7:40pm
Lazy Ted Failyou said | May 18th 2012 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
Too much bad blood now has gone under the bridge.
How can RL expect forgiveness for stealing all that talent over a century?
Time for retribution.
May 18th 2012 @ 9:16pm
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | May 18th 2012 @ 9:16pm | Report comment
Rugby union fans are in no position to play the victim. The only reason rugby union has an interntional profile is because it was exported around the world by the British military. They were given the privilege because they conned the military into believing rugby union was a poor little amateur sport that was picked on by the RFL. Throughout the process the RFU went on to reward its players with under-the-table payments (shamaterurism). In any other walk of life that would be called fraud.
Rugby league wasn’t accepted into the British military until the mid 1990s.
Thank the British military for exporting rugby union across many countries of the commonwealth (South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa) and many other European nations during WWI and WWII. The IRB and RFU didn’t contribute a cent to the game’s expansion. Lucky them.
Rugby league’s development in Europe has been paid for by the RLEF, RLIF and RFL. Rugby league fans can walk around with pride, knowing that their leaders have never stolen or cheated anyone out of their money. Rugby union fans should be ashamed of their sport’s criminal history. If the IRB and RFU had any decency then they would compensate the RFL.
May 19th 2012 @ 12:20am
JP said | May 19th 2012 @ 12:20am | Report comment
Rugby League didn’t steal any union talent
May 19th 2012 @ 11:34am
code 13 said | May 19th 2012 @ 11:34am | Report comment
If Rugby Union was still amateur how many current superstars would be willing to play for nothing? You’d keep those that other sports were uninterested in but the rest would go elsewhere because they have to think about their families and their future, not what some toffs in Ireland demand.
It’s hypocritical to blame those players (giving them life bans) and also to blame rugby league when rugby union is now employing the same system.
The only organisation that should be blamed for Rugby Union dragging its heels on professionalism is the IRB. If anybody has a problem with that, grab a box of tissues and have a good old cry.
May 18th 2012 @ 7:36am
Vincent said | May 18th 2012 @ 7:36am | Report comment
‘There is a lack of vision in rugby circles’ regarding the development of 7s? Do you have any idea how much effort and money has been invested by the IRB since 1994 when the strategic decision was made to reintroduce Rugby [7s] to the Olympics?
The growth of the IRB 7s circuit as well as regional 7s tournaments including GPEs USA pro7s circuit has been carefully planned and managed. ‘Lack of vision’ is hardly the way to describe the way the IRB has worked to achieve this.
May 18th 2012 @ 7:48am
Vincent said | May 18th 2012 @ 7:48am | Report comment
The IRB made the decision to pursue Olympic inclusion in 1994 but in the short form of the game. The IOC announced it’s decision to re-admit Rugby in 2009.
May 18th 2012 @ 8:13am
turbodewd said | May 18th 2012 @ 8:13am | Report comment
Im all for a single rugby code. Each side would have to make concessions. It would happen in Australia and NZ, we dont need the rest of the world’s permission at all.
14 men per team – easy
5 pt try, 1 pt conversion – easy
Then the negotiations get tricky. Do fans of either code really care about scrums? Theyre dangerous, visually they are difficult to follow if youre at the game.
Are the 2 balls even the same shape?
May 18th 2012 @ 8:37am
allblackfan said | May 18th 2012 @ 8:37am | Report comment
turbo, rugby crowds care about scrums; we just don’t care to see endless resets. The sight of watching the opposition scrum being taken apart in the scrum and concede a tighthead (losing possession in the scrum) is a sweet, sweet sight. It’s a celebration of power!!
Given the debate over contested scrums in RL posts on this site, I’d say RL fans also care about (contested) scrums.
And Aust/NZ can’t afford to ignore the rest of the world. That’s where the real money is.
May 18th 2012 @ 8:55am
Frank said | May 18th 2012 @ 8:55am | Report comment
Turbodewd all this would do would creat a 3rd rugby code and that is the last thing we need. Ideally it would be great if there was just one rugby code so we could see all the top players playing against each other but that is not going to happen.
I think both codes compliment each other. Rugby has a great international game and league has fantastic club competitions the NRL and English super league.
May 18th 2012 @ 1:03pm
The Great G Nepia said | May 18th 2012 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
I agree, I watch both codes, they both have their negatives and positives. But what I love the most about rugby union is the scrum. I love the resets too. There is no greater or tougher phase of play in international sport. To play in the front row of an international Union scrum requires the greatest amount of courage and strength in world sport. You put Hulk Hogan, or Muhammed Ali, or even Mike Tyson in the middle of the front row in an All Black / Springbols game and watch the fear come into their eyes, then their backs and necks buckle as if they were made of cardboard.
May 18th 2012 @ 6:50pm
jeznez said | May 18th 2012 @ 6:50pm | Report comment
turbo, I love union scrums and nearly cry whenever I see a league one.
May 18th 2012 @ 7:58pm
p.Tah said | May 18th 2012 @ 7:58pm | Report comment
I never really appreciated a Union scrum unil recently. Now I love them. I don’t want a whole game of them, but they are part of the fabric of the game. Interested to see how the new ‘crouch, touch, set’ call goes.
May 18th 2012 @ 9:06pm
jeznez said | May 18th 2012 @ 9:06pm | Report comment
am super happy they have finally done away with the word pause when I don’t think they intended to put a word in there in the first place.
May 19th 2012 @ 11:36am
code 13 said | May 19th 2012 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Any new hybrid code would require a balance between the two.
Neither scrum style is the answer.
May 19th 2012 @ 3:43pm
jeznez said | May 19th 2012 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
code13, I’m with the no-hybrid lets keep them as two sports brigade. I see no need to merge them. Think there is room enough for both. I am a died in the fold union man but will certainly be watching Origin on Wednesday night.
May 18th 2012 @ 8:22am
Manu said | May 18th 2012 @ 8:22am | Report comment
Why would NZ be involved they have less of a rugby league following than England?
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May 18th 2012 @ 8:44am
Go warriors said | May 18th 2012 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Good article and both sports should be treated as different sports. Just like basketball and netball and baseball and softball are different. I never hear basketball or netball fans bag each other.
The problem is both rugby codes are class related and will have a stigma against it.
May 18th 2012 @ 8:56am
Brendon said | May 18th 2012 @ 8:56am | Report comment
But without scrum u get 14 men of the same body shape with basically the same skills. That’s one thing league doesn’t often understand.. Union is specific for players. A prop can’t play back row or backs or second row. Noone can play front row bar the props and hookers.. It means the tall, the short fat, the quick and the skilled kids can all play. That’s why scrums are important.. It creates a contest and allows different types of players to be involved
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May 18th 2012 @ 12:33pm
Ken said | May 18th 2012 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
So a scrum is simply an artificial construct to ensure that fatty’s have somewhere to play? I’m just kidding of course but that was a valid (if unnecessarily sarcastic) summation of your argument.
Your basic premise is flawed though, League players aren’t all the same size and shape, in fact, while both sports have good variety, I would say Union players (considering the benefits of height in that game) are actually more similar to each other than League players. While there’s probably less ’round’ shaped players in League due to the faster pace and wider spaces, I think there’s fewer genuine small men in Union.
Anyways, on scrums, I’m predominately a League fan so that almost certainly biases me but I have some memory of contested scrums and watch a fair bit of Union as well and I find them to be messy time-wasters. If you’re a Union fan you’re probably biased the other way and that’s cool. I do though sometimes think that Union fans protest too much simply because contested scrums differentiate them from League, the same as the mythical concept of the 100% contested possession.
May 18th 2012 @ 6:52pm
jeznez said | May 18th 2012 @ 6:52pm | Report comment
Ken, I’ve got a huge passion for scrums and scrummaging and it has nothing to do with differentiating the games. Here a couple of my posts on this part of the game which might deliver some insight into what a keen scrummager is into:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/01/why-more-understanding-of-scrums-is-needed/
http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/06/going-back-to-the-rugby-basics-the-scrum/
http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/29/dark-arts-exposed/
http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/05/18/selecting-the-wallaby-front-row/
May 18th 2012 @ 9:19pm
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | May 18th 2012 @ 9:19pm | Report comment
I didn’t know that Matty Bowen was the same height and weight as Dane Tilse…
May 19th 2012 @ 12:24pm
warren said | May 19th 2012 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
So if it is a contest how many scrums are won against the head and feed? Doubt very few. It is like many other things in this world. We get use to them and think they are an acceptable norm or indeed superior. Harley Davidson motorcycles are the greatest pick of junk but somehow they make them out to be superior than the equivalent Japanese brands. Formula one racing is the most boring of the motorsports but commands the biggest attendences and money. Why? For no other reason than no one is prepared to take off their blinkers and accept the alternatives.
May 19th 2012 @ 3:47pm
jeznez said | May 19th 2012 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
Warren, you clearly haven’t been watching the Wallabies much in the last ten years. In almost every top level encounter we’ve had since 2003 the scrum has been an achilles heel for the side and has cost us crucial games. Not just giving up tightheads but giving away penalties, tries and yellow cards.
Thankfully Aussie rugby has woken up and is developing some scrummaging strength again.
May 18th 2012 @ 9:03am
Crosscoder said | May 18th 2012 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Leave as is ,they are independent in rules and going in their chosen growth directions,and I might say succeeding in varying degrees.
Ru with its World cup,Ops and 7s circuit.Rugby league with its growing yet small intnl base,SOO,9s and accpetance as a stage 3 sport in the Commonwealth Games.
Just a small example of co-operation between the two rugby codes,(Wales):-
http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=43691
Here we have a situation where the incumbent ru club,wants to become a dual code club,and approached a rl player to set a rl team up.Ground sharing is common place especuially in Wales..
Lets call the two rugby policy the ideal two pronged attack for growth in the world.
May 18th 2012 @ 10:13am
Vincent said | May 18th 2012 @ 10:13am | Report comment
A rather curious thing is this category 3 sport CG inclusion for Rugby League, there is no official record of this. The only references I can find to this are press release written by Rugby League reporters, nothing on the official lists of CG sports.
May 18th 2012 @ 3:13pm
Crosscoder said | May 18th 2012 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
Maybe I should have made my post a lttle clearer Vincent.Stage 3 acceptance by the CG committee is not automatic entry,but the first step in the ladder to entry.
The reason the code was able to get to this stageis due to their impressive work in Commonwealth countries.
As to only rugby league reporters being the only ones providing press releases,how about looking at RL governing bodie’websites.It’s hardly curious
http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/149/rugby-league-secures-commonwealth-games
It’s been mentioned on the RLIF site and even the NRL.,hardly the spin of rl journos.
There has also been official recognition by Govts for the code such as Ukraine,plus funding coming through from the Euro Spots Commission.
May 21st 2012 @ 10:41am
Vincent said | May 21st 2012 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Crosscoder, the thing I couldn’t find is any mention on the official CG site of Rugby Leagues status. Cat 3 (or recognized sports) lists do not include RL, prove me wrong by finding evidence that is not on a Rugby League site.
Their application has been received. Doesn’t mean they are cat 3 yet, there is a lengthy process to work through.
May 21st 2012 @ 10:32pm
Crosscoder said | May 21st 2012 @ 10:32pm | Report comment
Vincent.
The decison was made at a meeting of the CG body at a meeting in Singapore.Neither the RLIF/RLEF/NRL is going to put out a statement ,sayng that the code has been accepted as a Cat 3 sport(the first stage to acceptance,not the final stage,if there was no such acceptance).
They are not in the CG,they are on the first rung of acceptance,that is all.geez.They can’t compete yet and may not for years.
Look I am not going to play the he says, he says game.If you think it is BS,then dispute the wording of the offcial rl bodies.I have given you the RLEF reference FFS.
I understand the very thought of the code, even look like getting into the CG would be unpalatable for some.
You guys from ru at times,leave me cold.We are expected to accept IRB announcements,but if it is another code (rl in particular) then it is somehow spin,or plucked out of the air.
.
May 21st 2012 @ 11:18pm
Crosscoder said | May 21st 2012 @ 11:18pm | Report comment
Just for Vincent’s edification:-
One points it was Kualar Lumpur not Singapore.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/rugby–league–given-green-light-to-make-commonwealth-games-debut-by-2018-event/story-e6fr3ou-1226053797995
http://www.rlif.com/about-rlif/commonwealth_games
18/5/11 by Lauren Brown Sport England News
http://sportenglandnews.wordpress.com/page/page/2/
Page 5
Asian Press
issuu.com/abpl/docs/av_21may11
even Wiki FWIW
http://en.rugbyleaguewiki.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Commission
Now I will provide furtther reference if need bes,so prove all these citataions are rubbish.
May 21st 2012 @ 11:36pm
Crosscoder said | May 21st 2012 @ 11:36pm | Report comment
Have to correct two references Vincent
http://issuu.com/abpl/docs/av_21may11
and Sport England
http://sportenglandnews.wordpress.com/2011/05/
Now unless I am able to introduce you to the CG committee who made the decision I am sorry.
May 18th 2012 @ 1:03pm
warren said | May 18th 2012 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
This works as RL has moved their competitions to summer in the UK. Not going to happen in the Souther Hemisphere. There can be a hybrid code but unfortunately RU really does have anything to offer that would make a hybrid code more attractive & for this reason both codes will never get toghether. In saying this I believe when played right RU is a more attractive game to watch than RL but the rules ruin most games. Line outs are a non contest, scrums in RU may be a contest but take too long with this stupid touch, pause, engage policy, there is no use getting a ball out past the 5/8 in RU because you need to release the ball immediately that increases the chances of losing possession which leads to far too much kicking. RL has its boring games as well but at least they get on with it in most cases. Scrums are now just a way of reintroducing the ball back in play, you can get the ball outside the 5/8 as you will not lose possession as easily. The 40/20 has added some differences but the wrestling and last tackle kicking needs to be looked at to improve the game no end. Lastly still in Australia RU is used as a class divide. Look at the Sydney GPS schools who now offer Aussie Rules to students but wont allow RL which has been the most popular spectator sport in the state for over 100 years. Mungoes maybe but snobs we are not.
May 18th 2012 @ 1:58pm
p.Tah said | May 18th 2012 @ 1:58pm | Report comment
“Look at the Sydney GPS schools who now offer Aussie Rules to students but wont allow RL ” not entirely correct Warren. It was tried in 2003, but was dropped after a couple of years because of lack of numbers.
“Rugby league scores a try in a GPS college
Some will call it sacrilege, others a win for the working-class.
St Ignatius, Riverview, a GPS school steeped in 110 years of rugby union tradition, is allowing that “other game” – rugby league – to be played at the school.
St Ignatius’ co-curriculum director, Chris Kitching, jokingly says “he hasn’t received any hate mail yet”.
The school will field an open-age rugby league team to play in an NRL knockout competition to be hosted by St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown, on May 31 and June 1.
While some noses have been put out of joint, Mr Kitching says the move to play rugby league offers more variety to the school’s 1530 students.
He points out that St Ignatius is the only GPS school playing all four codes – rugby union, rugby league, soccer and Australian Rules.
It offers 20 different sports to its students, with golf and volleyball set to be introduced in the coming months.
“I think this shows to the parents that the school is offering a variety of different sports to cater for the different interests of the students,” says Mr Kitching.
“We have a lot of boys who come from country areas who are interested in playing rugby league, so I think it’s only fair to give them a chance to play the game.
“From next year, some of the boys will be able to play rugby union on Saturday and rugby league on Sunday.
The NRL has offered to help St Ignatius get its rugby league program off the ground, as have former league stars Steve Roach, Steve Gearin and Paul Langmack (now coach of Souths), who have sons at the school.”
May 18th 2012 @ 3:19pm
Crosscoder said | May 18th 2012 @ 3:19pm | Report comment
All I say is three bleeding cheers ,I have waited decades for some of these schools to pull the wool away from their eyes.The enlightened 21st Century has dawned,,break open the Crown Lager.
For me decades too late.
May 18th 2012 @ 6:55pm
The Link said | May 18th 2012 @ 6:55pm | Report comment
p.Tah – that article is now almost 10 years old, are they still offering it? What about touch?
May 18th 2012 @ 8:11pm
p.Tah said | May 18th 2012 @ 8:11pm | Report comment
Yes, its old Link. It’s no longer offered. I asked a work colleague who went there. He said the 1st XV is the ultimate at the school. The players who played league also played union and the work load got too high (Sat and Sun) with study and other extra curricular activities. The players ended up focusing on union because of the traditions of the GPS rugby comp and potential for Australian schoolboy selection. Sounds plausible but I don’t know.
Looking at their website it doesn’t appear they offer touch as a sport.
http://www.riverview.nsw.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=247
May 18th 2012 @ 9:01pm
Crosscoder said | May 18th 2012 @ 9:01pm | Report comment
Proving the Link they are still living in the dark age,notthing has changed..
May 22nd 2012 @ 12:14am
D Maaga said | May 22nd 2012 @ 12:14am | Report comment
that reminds me of the rugby league administrations in nz who thinks that school rugby union had to make way in their winter saturday rosters for rugby league. having work in school sports in both nz and australia afl and other sports found their way into gps schools in queensland because they worked their season around rugby, soccer, rowing and athletics and so did other sports. rugby league could have done the same but they expect the schools to move their main sports to accomodate rugby league because its the number one coded in the states.
auckland rugby league have finally woken up and played their high school season midweek. its the best move they have done in over 100 years and rugby league can do the same in queenlands gps schools.
May 22nd 2012 @ 12:14am
D Maaga said | May 22nd 2012 @ 12:14am | Report comment
that reminds me of the rugby league administrations in nz who thinks that school rugby union had to make way in their winter saturday rosters for rugby league. having work in school sports in both nz and australia afl and other sports found their way into gps schools in queensland because they worked their season around rugby, soccer, rowing and athletics and so did other sports. rugby league could have done the same but they expect the schools to move their main sports to accomodate rugby league because its the number one coded in the states.
auckland rugby league have finally woken up and played their high school season midweek. its the best move they have done in over 100 years and rugby league can do the same in queenlands gps schools.
May 22nd 2012 @ 7:41am
Crosscoder said | May 22nd 2012 @ 7:41am | Report comment
So PW back under another alias.
May 18th 2012 @ 9:44am
jamesb said | May 18th 2012 @ 9:44am | Report comment
The funny thing with me is I do read alot of union articles here on the Roar, but I don’t comment. Probably because I don’t know the game as well, and I don’t want to embarrass myself.
Union, by far gets the most comments here on the Roar on a consistent basis. Alot of passion there.
Both Union and League are great sports, and should be left independently.
(maybe I should back myself and start commenting on union articles)
May 18th 2012 @ 9:49am
Emric said | May 18th 2012 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Its time for Rugby League to come home.. Get rid of the IRL and join the IRB – leave the codes as they are but with more power and more money why not have 7,9,10,13 and 15 rugby games under the same banner after all we are all rugby.
May 18th 2012 @ 12:32pm
The Cattery said | May 18th 2012 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
Perhaps add an 18 a side version as well.
May 18th 2012 @ 2:06pm
kovana said | May 18th 2012 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
LOL at Cattery./
At Emric. Yes. This is something i have always thought about and posted as well.\
There is no hope of a Merger. But bette if they were all under 1 Banner.. and instead of bickering.. Under 1 banner they could have a more effective way of achieveing goals.
Look at 7s and 15s. 2 different, yet similar rugby codes… No animousity between them.. Because most, if not all, Rugby 15s fans are also 7s fans. Goes vice versa.. They are both run by the IRB.
May 18th 2012 @ 5:00pm
Frank said | May 18th 2012 @ 5:00pm | Report comment
Kovana/Emric although that would be an idea scenario and would be great for the fans however you better be careful what you wish for. At the moment players can play 7′s and 15′s easily as they are under the same banner. If league was under the same banner would you want the top rugby players converting to league for a world cup and vice versa would league fans want their star players switching to union and then back willy nilly.
As a fan of both codes this would not bother me but I know it would bother a lot of the die hard fans from each code.
May 18th 2012 @ 6:28pm
Emric said | May 18th 2012 @ 6:28pm | Report comment
Frank.
It already happens with 7′s players switch all the time but they are mostly tied down by contracts so it wouldn’t be a major issue imo
May 18th 2012 @ 9:54am
Bayxxx said | May 18th 2012 @ 9:54am | Report comment
‘Im all for a single rugby code. Each side would have to make concessions. It would happen in Australia and NZ, we dont need the rest of the world’s permission at all.’
Oz would be on its own…. Good luck with that. Not sure the rest of the world would care too much…
This bleating is dull
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May 18th 2012 @ 11:25am
clipper said | May 18th 2012 @ 11:25am | Report comment
To be precise NSW and QLD would be on its own – Rugby would probably be as strong, if not stronger in the other states.
May 18th 2012 @ 1:50pm
warren said | May 18th 2012 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Other states – are you kidding!! Its Aussie rules with every other code a clear second.
May 18th 2012 @ 3:08pm
clipper said | May 18th 2012 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
Yes, of course warren, I was referring to Rugby being as strong if not stronger than league in the other states.
May 18th 2012 @ 9:38pm
The Cattery said | May 18th 2012 @ 9:38pm | Report comment
That’s definitely the case.
May 19th 2012 @ 12:20pm
warren said | May 19th 2012 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
But what is your point!! It does not matter if RU is bigger than RL in SA. Who cares!!!
May 19th 2012 @ 2:35pm
clipper said | May 19th 2012 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
I was replying to Bayxxx who was saying Australia would be on it’s own in making concessions to league if both codes united. I was just saying it would not be the whole of Australia, just NSW and QLD, as Rugby is stronger than league in WA, SA and VIC.