Last October I wrote an article proposing the reunification of the rugby codes, league and union, in Australia.
Given the grave threat that the coronavirus pandemic poses to both codes in Australia, I simply ask the question now: is this the time that serious thought should be given to the reunification of the codes in Australia?
The following points are pertinent to the discussion.
The financial crisis arsing from the pandemic will have a serious impact going forward on the availability of funds from sponsors, broadcasters, and other sources. There simply will not be the funds available to throw at sports as there has been in the past. Consolidation of sports makes sense to access and maximise the limited funds that will be available.
Union has a stronger international presence than league and international games will be a source of revenue that league cannot match by itself. Therefore it makes sense that the reunified codes should adopt union rules going forward in order to have access to the lucrative international Test matches and World Cups.
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
League has a strong domestic competition, while union’s domestic competition is very limited. If the NRL adopted union rules of play (it could still be called the National Rugby League), it would provide access to players to international teams (Wallabies and others) with far greater opportunities than league alone offers.
This would also ensure that as many as possible of the current NRL clubs survive, albeit they would play by union rules going forward.
Australia could become a world rugby powerhouse, having access to current highly talented and athletic league players. It may take a season or two for their abilities to develop and shine under union rules of play, but being the athletes that they are, and with little other choice if both the codes collapse by trying to stand alone, there could be a great opportunity to develop a truly exciting rugby future for Australia and the players.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
This is the perfect time in a currently very imperfect world to consider drastic steps in order to ensure the future of rugby, where both codes are threatened with extinction.
Reunification of the codes in Australia provides one strategy that might actually ensure that a strong rugby code survives.
Wait, what??
Roar Rookie
How bout keep the 2 codes but have one ruling body running it, eliminate the doubling up of costs?
May
Guest
Just like Tom Wright couldn't crack manlys starting 13 in a terrible year for the club
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
So world Rugby wouldn't be interested in the unification unless they were actually playing Rugby! Lucky you pointed that to us all.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
sadly they could and it wouldn’t affect eithers win/loss ratio
dazell
Roar Rookie
Assume he isn't playing in the front row in Rugby or breakaway?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The only way it happens if something happens to League financially and the clubs fold into RA and form an Aus competition based around the NRL clubs.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Exactly as I said, world rugby won't be in it so unless rugby league goes back to union there will be no reunification. There's too much money in union (not in Australia) for them to worry about league.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
People have some strange views about Canberra but having a Rugby League team doesn't make it a suburb of Sydney. Rugby League has always been a big game in the NSW country towns but it didn't really come to Canberra in a big way until the Raiders arrived in 1982.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Mark says we focus on sports that are simplistic and uses less brain capacity to watch. While I do hate the bomb and think they should be stamped out and replaced by only allowing field goals I don't agree that it's simplistic and uses less brain capacity to watch. We watch the contest and I don't find the contest for the ball in the form of rucks, mauls and scrums to be of interest and not because I lack the brain capacity to watch. I do like to watch the Wallabies but and hope they can become world champions again soon.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
When Mark said imagine if our talent focused on soccer and rugby he made much the same point that Johnny Warren, captain of St-George and Australian Soccer teams in the 60's, did when he came to our school, Hurstville primary, to talk us into playing soccer. JW said play soccer and travel the world or play league and travel to the North of England. JW and Mark suggest the most talented kids played rugby league although JW was only talking about St-George juniors. In NSW four of the footy codes are well represented whereas in the rest of the world their is less choice.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
You are right Moz, I stand corrected. 2011 Daly M 5/8 & runner up to the overall winner Billy Slater. Maybe he was well past his prime in 2013?
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
So what relevance does your statement have to do with the unification of the Rugby codes in Australia re this article?
Pickett
Roar Rookie
I thought Asofa and Klemmer were around 1.95, but they’re both 2m. No problem then. If they were as good in union as they are in league, then we would eat those three chumps for breakfast, lunch and tea. No problem.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Some qualifiers - I'm talking team sports, men and women and all forms of the game including Rugby 15s and 7s and Olympic participation . See... https://globalsportmatters.com/youth/2018/07/19/rugby-fastest-growing-sport-in-the-u-s-also-one-of-the-oldest/ http://www.jameshaskell.com/the-worlds-fastest-growing-sport https://thinkt1consulting.com/rugby-on-the-rise-understanding-the-global-sports-recent-growth-and-future-in-canada/ https://www.newframe.com/rugby-on-the-up-in-africa/ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-rugby-union-world-growth-insight/planet-rugby-is-on-the-rise-idUSKCN0SM1UN20151028
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Cheers Pickett, I like the names you've put forward and agree mostly. I created my own list adding to yours while shuffling some players around to suit union positions. So here goes: #1 Jason Taumalolo #2 David Fifita #3 Josh Papalii #4 David Klemmer #5 Asafo Solomona #6 Cam Murray #7 Angus Crichton/ #8 Paul Vaughan #9 Damien Cook #10 Cam Smith/Luke Keary #11 Daniel Tupou #12 Tyson Frizell/Cam Munster (crash runner/skillful tactical) #13 Latrell Mitchell/Manu #14 Tom Trbojevic #15 James Tedesco There's some real talent there but I guess the next question is how would this team go against South Africa, England, NZ etc?
piru
Roar Rookie
The modified version has got a bit out of hand in Australia so agree it’s time to do away with it – 7s now fills that gap league once plugged.
Moz
Guest
Benji was not 2012 Dally M halfback, this was Cooper Cronk. Dally M 5/8 was Thurston.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
I'll have a go.. FB Tedesco Wing Tupou Centre Manu Centre Latrell/Staggs Wing Xerri 5/8 Keary 1/7 Cam Smith 8 Klemmer Breakaways Cricthton and Cam Murray There'd be none who can play second row, as there's no 2m players....wait Asofa Nelson ....... Front Row - in the past you'd have a Webcke/Lazarus and perhaps Steve Walters/Jake Friend if they put on 10kg None have got a squat body like union props atm - maybe Papalii Keary played 5/8 for Aust Schoolboys RU I believe Tedesco played rep union in high school But played league concurrently (before you Union lot claim they were poached)
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Interesting read and I think the general consensus on here is that if a merger was going to happen we'd see union rules used and NRL players would come across with their superior fitness and skill. TWAS made a comment that NRL players could only fill certain positions and I'm assuming that's because size, speed, skill and body shapes matter in union, more evident when playing international teams like South Africa, France, England, the AB's. NRL supporters have rubbished that and feel that a lot of their players would cake walk into the Wallabies in most positions. This is a fascinating topic to me and what I would like to know is if you were the national coach and had to name a Wallabies team tomorrow consisting of NRL and Super Rugby players (let assume every player knows how to player rugby) what players would you name in that team and in what positions?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
As I said it is very big in Europe, etc. I never mentioned Australia. Union will not look at reunification. There's nothing in it for the rugby union powers.