It is well documented that the birth of rugby league in Northern England stemmed from the fact that the Rugby Football Union (RFU) ‘banned’ clubs from paying rugby players.
The Northern rugby clubs, primarily made up of working class players, needed to pay players to compensate them from time away from work. In the south, rugby was played by ‘gentlemen’ who were wealthy enough to play without the need for financial compensation.
The game was governed by the RFU in the south, but the northern unions were the ‘powerhouses’ and the better rugby teams. It was the clamp down on professionalism by the RFU, in its bid to maintain control of the game, that forced the Northern Rugby clubs to break away from the RFU and form the Northern Union, which ultimately became rugby league.
After the split, the Northern Union initially played rugby rules. The game at this time was dull. It was a game designed for the players, not the spectators. At the same time, throughout England, the recently formed professional Associated Football (Soccer) was attracting large crowds and top athletes who would receive large gate takings.
The Northern Union (rugby league) relied on gate takings to pay the newly ‘professional’ rugby players, however spectator numbers were dwindling because the game, where the ball was often lost from view at the bottom of the ruck, was less ‘entertaining’ than football, where the ball was continuously in play.
In a bid to make the game more ‘entertaining’ the Northern Union began to tinker with the rules, initially removing the line out and replacing the ruck with a scrum; and so began the evolution of rugby as a sport for the spectator.
Fast forward to 2004. Rugby union, the once amateur game, is well and truly professional. Spectators are key to revenue, through game takings, media rights and sponsorship. However, the game itself is not appealing to the masses.
The IRB embarks on the development of the infamous EVLs in a bid to improve the game and make it more spectator friendly. Due to the poor implementation of the EVLs, the game became less appealing and drove fans away, but in 2010, the correct interpretation of a ruck rule brought about a more entertaining spectacle and brought fans back to the game.
The common theme in the evolution of both rugby league and union is the desire to make the game more spectator friendly by opening the game up and by increasing the movement of the ball by running it. Union is heading down a similar path to league but league has about 100 years head start.
I was drawn to write this article after a comment by Spiro Zavos in one of his recent columns who quoted the rugby league historian Sean Fagan: “rugby league ‘shouldn’t be so smug’ as to think that the rugby union code cannot ever evolve a game that will rival the entertainment value of the 13-man game.”
Reading about the evolution of the rugby league and union rules on Fagan’s website, I can’t help but wonder what is rugby league and what is rugby union.
Both of these games were vastly different spectacles 100 years ago. The game of league in 2010 is only linked to the game of 1908 by name alone, and likewise for union. It occurred to me the games we see today are composed of a transitory set of rules that evolved with the need to appease spectator tastes. That is why, when I read about code wars between league and union, I find them pointless.
The codes are supported with a fervour that rivals the passion for a footy club and the arguments supporting each code are usually based on historical events that none of us were directly involved in but are trotted out in debate as if they are some personal insult. But why? What are we really ‘rooting’ for?
The game is constantly evolving, so what is ‘the game’ other than a name?
The only things that remain constant during the rule evolutions are the clubs. In rugby league, for example, St George and South Sydney have been essentially the same clubs for 100 years, but they are playing a different game today to the one they first played in their foundation year. To me rugby league is not a set of rules, it is the collection of clubs.
That’s why Super League was so keen to take them over rather than start up new ones. How passionate were the South fans when Super League kicked them out of the national competition or the Bears fans when they were ‘merged’ with Manly? These fans lost their place in rugby league and no matter what the rules, or how entertaining the game, they weren’t going to follow the game until their team was/is reinstated.
In Australia, rugby league is likely to always be the king of the ‘rugbys’, but as Union becomes more entertaining, the chance of rugby league gaining a significant international foot print over union is quickly diminishing.
In Russia and in the Pacific Islands, many clubs play both rugby union and rugby league – in fact the same players play both games.
Why can’t the same happen here in Australia? Why must there be a divide? For the good of both codes why don’t they work together?
I propose that the ARL/NRL form a partnership with the ARU, under the umbrella of the Australian Rugby Cooperative (ARC). The ARC will support the development of 15s (union), 13s (league) and 7s (union). I have what I am certain will be a controversial proposal, on how 15s (union) can be played at an international level whilst 13s (league) is played at a domestic level, which I will describe in more detail in another article.
Having played both league and union I am acutely aware that the games are different but they are similar enough that players can switch between both codes if they are brought up playing both.
Therefore, kids should be schooled in both games at a junior level.
For union the attraction of the ARC is the need for a domestic competition to nurture talent and the need to keep talent like Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale from switching codes. For League the attraction is more revenue and the removal of a ‘competitor’ who poaches top players as well as juniors.
The cooperative can keep NRL players in the NRL and provide them with larger salaries. It will allow Wallabies to play NRL, provide the national squad with more talent and allow the rugbys to pool their resources for greater efficiency.
At this point in time, league brings more to the table than what union does, however no one can predict the future. Through the ARC, league and union will slowly converge in Australia and this new set of rules may acts a blue print to help the international game (union) evolve into an even more spectator friendly game and expand its foot print even further.
To many this may seem impossible and even ridiculous but ultimately, as history has shown, it doesn’t matter what rules the game is played under, as long as it’s entertaining and the clubs we love, continue to proposer.
Timmy_L
Guest
It should never happen both have different skill sets. It would be like combining tennis with table tennis, despite having the same core game they have different rules and are played in different ways. There are some players that are gifted enough to play both however most are made up of players primarily for one sport
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
It does depend on which set of binociulars you use,and the colour of the lenses. Correct things do change,the same applies to Brisbane where the local clubs drew large crowds to the local grand finals.the situation is also reversed ,where the crowds attend Broncos games,SOO games,semis etc.Crowds for the code have grown therefore markedly, in cities such as Brisbane,Newcastle,Canberra,Sydney. The Gold Coast is a classic example,not that long ago a growing junior rl,and now a thriving one,with crowds following the Titans.You would ber lucky to get 5,000-8,000 to a Charges,Giants,Seagulls game,now there is disappointment if the get less than 15,000. at the Titans.. Therefore strong local comps in Newcastle and Brisbane and Sydney as a consequence lost large parts of their following.Just as Sydney ru teams have done since the Waratahs entered the S14.Looking at the numbers in the club ru semis was proof enough.Look at the crowds when the Ellas played for Randwick.People graviatate to the premier comp in the area or state. The game has a far higher national profile than it did before(despite having to compete with a RWC03)the one where ru was going to take over rl in Australia according to J O'Neill.In fact since that period,the game has the highest participation and following in the code's history. You overlook the impact of the youth comp (under20),which draws youngsters from the bush and elsewhere,to the extent it at times matches and even outrates some of the S14 on pay TV. Maybe one should take a litttle time and read the NRL state of the game 31/7 where it was stated junior registrations are on track to create a new participation record with almost 90,000 registrations in the 10-18 yrs goupr.And no doubt that narrow group has a fair participation in the country areas of NSW .If country rl is supposedly dying,and registration numbers for rl are at an all time high,and the city registrations,have had small increases,where are the others coming from outer slobovia or the country. There are of course areas within the bush that are struggling,but there are also areas in regional NSW for starters,that are thriving, Nth Coast ,Far Nth coast,Illawarra and the south and even the Riverina has picked up since a fall off.There are areas in fact that haven't had rl for some time being regenerated.iThe notion that rl is dying in the bush,is a generalisation that is a tad premature.. And no doubt new teams such as Central Qld,a 2nd Brisbane side and the Central coast(where the people are clammering for a NRL not S14 side) may impact on the local 1st grade comps and take young players from the bush.It happens when you have a highly successful NRL high profile comp,that appears on FTA TV and generates the passion and merchandise revenues it does.This suggests a couple of things,growth and participation in their local areas and the need to be involved in one of the highest profle sports in the country. Glad you got excited over the athletics race.That probably created more interest for ru from rl supporters ,than any S14 could do.A marketing coup no doubt LOL.Trouble is no one is going to switch because Lachie did a Rocky.In fact he was posted according to a betting market, as favourite from the start. If it is growing at the margins of ru overseas and not creating anything from the start,I suggest you have a litlle contact with the Lebanese rl,they will no doubt roll over in fits of laughter,at your comment .It would appear that area ,was not part of your Foreign Affairs and Trade remit. In fact in Serbia,the game is played at the same time as ru. In the London junior rl,the reason Sport England gave the rl a huge grant increase,was partially due to the work in getting young kids in the underpriveledged areas of London to play the game.The establishment of junior rl academies in places such as Fiji,Lebanon,Sth africa,France ,Wales makes your comment "it does not create anything from the start" ill informed nonsense.The "if it grows overseas comment,is therefore unworthy of a response,based on the former. Any elite(I repeat elite) private school group that maintains a rigid one code rugby policy to the exclusion of the other, as occurs in Australia,then the code of that elite system can justifiably be called elite.Regardless of what happens in other countries.As you stated there are many private schools that play rl and ru and both,that are your typical private schools,but cannot be classified as elitist.You open up the elite schools to all sports,QED they are not elite any more.simple really. You are right one one thing,things do change,abnd that is why rl is played in more countries in its history and played by more.The rLWC13 in England is testimony to what can be achieved,so much for a struggling sport.
Gallus
Guest
Why should these two codes merge? They are both so different. Rugby League will always be the premier rugby code in Australia. Rugby League is as Australian as Australian Rules and captures the so called 'unique' Australian element in the northern states that Australian rules or football (which was never the moniker in the northern states) will never be able to achieve. Growing up in Sydney or Brisbane in the 50s,60s,70,80s, 90s rugby league was the only game in town. However, things do change. As a rugby union player in Newcastle in the 70s, before the Newcastle Knights were formed, there would be 15,000 people watching the RL grand final between Wests and Souths at Newcastle No 1 Sports Ground. When my RU team Merewether-Carlton played Wanderers in the RU final at No 2 Sportsground there may have been a maximum of 500 people watching. Fast forward to 2009. After many years overseas working for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, I returned to Townson Oval in Merewether to watch the final round of the NRU premiership, which happened to be between my old university, Newcastle University, and Merewether-Carlton, the club that I played for. There would have been 5,000 people at the ground watching the games. Merewether-Carlton had 7 senior teams competing from 10.00 in the morning including colts and womens teams. After the final match the clubhouse in the grandstand, that never existed when I was a player, was packed with players from both teams men and women. I asked about cricket, which had been the raison 'etre for the ground. I was told that cricket only existed because rugby subsidised them. As to Souths RL, which was the dominant team that played at Townson Oval along with Merewether-Carlton, I was told that nobody plays or watches them. It is the same through every New South Wales country town. RL is dying in country NSW, which used to be the lifeblood of the code. To soccer supporters such as Midfielder, who cries crocodile tears that nobody plays Rugby (union) in Eastwood and therefore that rugby in Australia is dying, it might be pertinent to look at NSW country where RL is dying, AFL is trying and soccer as usual is boring. Rugby (Union) is booming. The two rugby codes codes will never merge. But more joint enterprises, such as athletic events and sevens, will give a better comparison of their respective merits. Before the so-called clash of the codes foot race it was widely held that RL had the greatest athletes and that RU players were all Matt Dunnings. When Lachie Turner and John Grant came first and second (and AFL wimped out as we knew they would) and Greg Inglis, the greatest RL player of them all finished 10 metres behind them it gave an understanding why so many RL players who looked so fast in RL were so slow when they converted to RU. The screams of Ray 'Rabs' Warren that 'Jamie Soward is the fastest runner in the world', the blogs from the Daily Tele correspondents that Uate from Newcastle Knights would have won (he could have competed - they allowed slow coaches such as Morris and Barba to compete - and that Turner didn't have to play 22 rounds of the toughest rugby league competition in the world to compete - er, he played the All Blacks 4 days before at Sydney Olympic Stadium - show that RL lives in its own little bubble. Rugby (union) is getting inexorably bigger world-wide. RL, if it grows anywhere overseas. is only at the margins of RU as it captures those kids who have already played RU. It doesn't create anytihng from the start. In conclusion, the claims by RL fans that RU is elitist in Australia because it is a product of private schools is countermandered by the fact that almost 50% of Australian children go to private schools. Aspirational voters send their kids to these schools to get ahead. If RU or soccer or AFL or RL is played in these schools is a matter for the kids and their parents.
Crosscoder
Guest
News ltd responsible for overhyping rl ! Super league yes in 95. It äin't 95 now,you can't fool the average Joe in the street as to whether he likes or dislikes rl.Give fans the intelligence to know what he or she likes and dislikes about a sport. You can promo it in the papers,but at the end of the day,people make up their minds,not some biased journo or editor in some newsroom. One thing for sure News ltd would be on of the last to push for a merging.Because they got their fingers burnt interfering in a code and secondly they need content for electronic media and rl is ideal for such a communication. Fair point we watch what we grow up on,but some people's choices change.Mine certainly did .I was mildly interested in rl until I married my better half a St George supporter,then got absorbed in it with the Sharks.. Born of soccer,moulded in union and engrossed in rl.it It does happen.That is why I am dead against merger of codes.Variety is the spice of life.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
im not a kiwi and have a family history in league but still hate it... i understand what danny is trying to say, but his first post did entice feedback and argument, even if he claims to be a rugby coach, it seems he's lost his love for the game and hasn't seen the last season of tri nations. i would also think hes in queensland?
JVGO
Guest
These guys are mostly Kiwis you are arguing with Danny. They are talking about NZ you are talking about Oz. Not really the same wavelength I'm afraid. I think a lot of this gets inflamed by the kiwi guys who are so adamantly union (understandably) when a lot of Aussies have an interest or experience in both codes....anyway let's go round and round again....forever. The whole RL v RU is only really pertinent in NSW & Qld anyway but on the roar seems to draw in a lot crossfire from NZ and SA Union followers which just confuses the discussion it seems.
Dave
Guest
Oh for crying out loud , oikee if you think dying is being tougher, than good for you, hope your kids get slaugthered on the big stage. Grow up. leaguies, grow up also, go study your code, from bans to jeajous snobbish behavious which as i stated, still esists in prisons and centerlink refusing to allow rugby to public schools. Mate, you say that rugby is bigger than league, we all knew this. now the leaguies have computers and internet, now its common knowleadge. I will tell you something, tonites canterbury /wellinton game has shown up one thing. League will never be able to compete with rugby in New Zealand, world wide for that matter. If you think the public will ever take to a dumbed down version of rugby, which also refuses to admit that there games is not the best thing since slice bread, your not only a goose, your a loser. Bring it on, attack me at your own peril. I will debut you into submission. And at every angle , i will not only show your code up, but i will knock it down to your death-bed. Now, your being warned, rugby in Australia is thriving more numbers playing the game, because the code is perfect for the world as a sport, we have had 100 years to perfect the amateur and grassroots. Now we are going to get our professional game to another level. This is shown already in England and Europe where our professional comp now outnumber your code in players and crowds. Your code refused to change, thats your downfall. Cheers, good luck, but i know the outcome. P.S and a bloody big P.S 7′s is in the Olympics and its going to be a great spectator sport, for all your denials 7's is about to be shown all over the world through the Olympic family. Well here is news for you, rugby touch is more exciting, and this game pails into comparision compered to league. ask rugby followers, do they care about nrl, or superleague, or nrlus, or RLWC for that matter. Rugby at the highest level, RWC, Heineken cup, Super rugby and soon to be Argentina in the 4nations, internationals and world cup is the pinacle. Unlike your code where SOO is the pinnacle of your sports Talk to me again in 3 years when the Olympics in on, i am normally right, as you know. Cheers.
kovana
Guest
My frend.. Then why are you offended when I just stated a different perspective from yours? "That smug elitist hubris is always your downfall." Again.. RU fans are elitist... Why why why? Have you been to Samoa, Tonga and Fiji? Are the people elitist?
kovana
Guest
So... Only 200.... Alright... Number of Rugby Union Registered players in America = 81,678 as listed by the IRB.. However the USA Rugby union page said they have over 90'000 because that Last IRB stat was from last year.. Ok oikee.. Within ten years.. There should also be over 150'000 or maybe 200'000 RU in america.. Cheers.
kovana
Guest
@ Oikee "Rugby union will never be able to compete with rugby league, world wide for that matter." I thought Rugby union is already more global the League, So i dont know what your talking about.. League is more popular then union in 2 countries.. Australia and PNG... Australia and PNG do not constitute 'worldwide'. Your statement is Incorrect. "Now, your being warned, rugby league in Australia is thriving, because the code is perfect for the world as a sport, we have had 100 years to perfect it" Yes.. 100 years...... Union only 15 years.. And see what its achieved. "Well here is news for you, rugby league touch is more exciting, and this game pails into comparision compered to rugby league. ask rugby league followers," Rugby Union is in the olympics.. And Rugby league followers to not make up the majority of the world. "Rugby league at the highest level, NRL, state of origin, and soon to be 4nations, international and world cup is the pinacle." If you were to go by TV ratings and crowd attd.. The pinnacle of RL is the SOO.... Followed by NRL, then the 4 nations... Then the World cup.. in fact your RLWC is the 4th tier event in RL's calender..
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
dil-usional
Col the Bear
Guest
"I am predicting one of your heartland clubs will suffer significantly and the AFL will have little to no cash to assist this team from falling over. Why you might ask would a heartland club be impacted by expansion,",, or relocating to Tassie ??
JVGO
Guest
I think most people like a bit of both or a lot of one and a little of the other, they just don't want to admit it. There are other issues, class based issues in Oz, that maybe one day we will get over, but it doesn't look like any time soon.
oikee
Guest
Luck does play apart. how lucky the yanks ww2 pearl harbour. Not to mention the hand of god, video refs would have murdered that luck. Their are gods, and false gods, if you beleive. Lucky bounce, maybe unlucky bounce. Tell you something, rugby league has gods, to me they are true gods. But then again, if you beleive in god, their is a devil. Otherwise why would god exist. ? So many questions. Dont open pandoras box without a answer. Only one truth, dinosaurs exist, i know its fact, i have seen them running rugby league for the last 100 years. :)
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Mister Football, Napoleon once said he wanted lucky generals. Von Moltke the Younger once said he did want lucky generals, he wanted generals that were able to take advantage of luck.
oikee
Guest
Oh for crying out loud , rugby future if you think dying is being tougher, than good for you, hope your kids get slaugthered on the big stage. Grow up. Working class rugby, grow up also, go study your code, from bans to jeajous snobbish behavious which as i stated, still esists in private schools refusing to allow rugby league. Mate, you say that rugby league are throwing stones, i never knew this crap exsisted until we got internet, now its common knowleadge. I will tell you something, tonites dragons /tigers game has shown up one thing. Rugby union will never be able to compete with rugby league, world wide for that matter. If you think the public will ever take to a dumbed down version of rugby league, which also refuses to admit that there games has problems, your not only a goose, your a loser. Bring it on, attack me at your own peril. I will debut you into submission. And at every angle , i will not only show your code up, but i will knock it down to your death-bed. Now, your being warned, rugby league in Australia is thriving, because the code is perfect for the world as a sport, we have had 100 years to perfect. Your code refused to change, thats your downfall. Cheers, good luck, but i know the outcome. P.S and a bloody big P.S 7's is not a spectator sport, for all your bunging on about its going to take over the world. Well here is news for you, rugby league touch is more exciting, and this game pails into comparision compered to rugby league. ask rugby league followers, do they care about touch, or 7's, or 9's, or 11's for that matter. Rugby league at the highest level, NRL, state of origin, and soon to be 4nations, international and world cup is the pinacle. Talk to me again in 3 years, i am normally right, as you know. Cheers.
Dave
Guest
danny you starting to sound like the rest of those paranoid leaguies but i know your not. the fact that league has more players or teams than rugby in your neck of the woods in australia is not a surprise to us all.
danny
Guest
not blaming anything mate, but look how offensive you're getting when a guy who coaches tertiary rugby is just trying to state a different perspective - i get shot down from all angles. It's that kind of propaganda/attack all naysayers that closes your mind to other possibilities. It's not just arrogance - it's ignorance.
danny
Guest
mate, I've played both games and followed both games and it's pretty obvious that since the aussie world cup the game just hasn't had the same following. but stick your head in the sand and pat yourself on the back. you're just another armchair expert. I'm trying to coach a uni side and half the players are doubling up in the league comp - ten years ago that would never have happened. at registration day, the league sign up was massive compared to rugby and now they field in three levels to our one.
MickeyD
Guest
Don't get the Union arrogance line being thrown. Union isn't just played in private schools anymore by boys who's fathers run the world. I haven't seen any comments attacking RLs fans so let's keep this about the sport and not the fans. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.