goodNumber10
International
ok, so i know these kind of things come up a lot, but if by some miracle the two codes aligned overnight to create some new Hybrid game, what would you keep about each code (no 100% of one code)?
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The Hybrid Game
- Thread starter goodNumber10
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Obligatory SigeSige reference
Daibhidh
Academy Player
I like how League is a faster paced game, but I prefer union, but if union could incorporate the pace of league then that would be great 
Although I don't think it's possible as its the rules of league that make it fast paced.
Although I don't think it's possible as its the rules of league that make it fast paced.
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Keep from league: Place kick restarts (as an option), goal line dropouts, 40/20's, NRL's "try/no-try" procedure (ref hand signals etc.), "try awarded" hand signal.
Not a rule as such - but league's outward admiration for physicality is something I would like to see in union.
We need to find somewhere inbetween where both codes stand at the moment - don't shy away from the fact it's a contact sport, and physically/mentally dominating your opposition is a fundamental part of the game.
That's about it really - I'd make the pitch 2~ metres wider though. (obviously that's pretty difficult to do, but in an ideal world)
Not a rule as such - but league's outward admiration for physicality is something I would like to see in union.
We need to find somewhere inbetween where both codes stand at the moment - don't shy away from the fact it's a contact sport, and physically/mentally dominating your opposition is a fundamental part of the game.
That's about it really - I'd make the pitch 2~ metres wider though. (obviously that's pretty difficult to do, but in an ideal world)
Quite like goal-line dropouts.
Also wouldn't be completely against rolling subs.
Also wouldn't be completely against rolling subs.
goodNumber10
International
yeah, that'd be good.
Sean Edwards was, he said it would lead to larger players with less aerobic fitness...
Tough one because the games really are just so fundamentally different now. Union as all about the contest for possession, whist in League they've systematically removed the any contest for possession from all facets of the game.
Ultimately if I could merge them though, I'd probably make it union with a few League touches like:
- goal line drop outs instead of 22 drop-outs
- 1 point drop goals (I really think they should just be a tie-breaker, but I'd keep penalties at 3)
But that'd probably be it. League is great at what it does - but at this stage if you put any Union facets of the game into it, it'd almost certainly mean reintroducing the contest for possession and therefore reducing the amount of ball-in-hand action, and League fans just don't want that.
All the same, I'd love to see what the Wallabies strike rate would be like internationally if you went back in time and made the NRL a Union competition
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Ultimately if I could merge them though, I'd probably make it union with a few League touches like:
- goal line drop outs instead of 22 drop-outs
- 1 point drop goals (I really think they should just be a tie-breaker, but I'd keep penalties at 3)
But that'd probably be it. League is great at what it does - but at this stage if you put any Union facets of the game into it, it'd almost certainly mean reintroducing the contest for possession and therefore reducing the amount of ball-in-hand action, and League fans just don't want that.
All the same, I'd love to see what the Wallabies strike rate would be like internationally if you went back in time and made the NRL a Union competition
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Ah, I hadn't considered that side of it.
I had just thought that you'd probably get more intense/high-paced games as you'd have fewer players out on their feet etc. but that does make sense.
He was and is right but also, at present, when they start the sub process, usually around the 55/60 minutes, the process goes on and on and the dislocation in the game and the teams makes the last quarter usually not worth watching..........other than for obvious injury (and that brings in question of enforcement) subs should all be made at once on 60th minute or not all......!!
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It would be fascinating to see what would have happened if rugby had gone pro instead of dividing into union and league. I.E there would be no League or Union just Rugby Football or Rugby.
- Would it have evolved into league with no possession because of the messiness in union at the time?
- Would it truly rival football as the world's 2nd sport.
- How many nations would be competitive?
- It's interesting because union has only stayed the same precisely because of amateurism. Games like Gridiron football and league evolved because at the time union was too dangerous and not entertaining enough
- Also important to note that the game of rugby football that they were playing in the US and Canada was not the codified version from Oxbridge as we know it.
- Lancashire and Yorkshire would probably still be dominant in England
- Australia would probably way better than they are now
- Australia would probably also have a massive league
enter papa new guinea as the 5 nations champs !
SimonG
Academy Player
Great topic...and something I've spoken about for a while.
Rugby Union - Keep the tackle rule. Cheerio heffers, lanky beanpoles, scrums, line outs and everything else that bogs down Rugby.
Rugby league - Keep 13 men per team. Discard the play the ball routine...Cheerio 600 times of backheeling the ball per game, non contested tackling, two lines of running straight into each other.
All athletes and constant attacking as is the case in league, and diagonal running and offloading as is the case in Union. No bogged down play with scrums/line outs, no 600 stoppages to backheel the ball...just 80 minutes of what most folk want to see. A unified game that would grow exponentially, no geographic divisions, no class aspect, a much more exciting game with much much more skill on show. I'd also make the game less dangerous by setting out rules that any lifting, eye gouging, spear tackles results in massive bans (2 months minimum) as many folks are reluctant to let their kids anywhere near a Rugby field.
A cleaner more skill based game with a vast increase in excitement. Football is the world's biggest sport mainly due to these elements. Folk are open mouthed at Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi and co...if Rugby tried to increase the emphasis on skill it would certainly become much bigger as a result. I used the example of an O'Driscoll dummy pass getting over 1 million hits on YouTube...imagine if Rugby had more skillful moments such as this. More kids would take up the game and want to emulate such moves, and more folk would watch (evidently).
Rugby Union - Keep the tackle rule. Cheerio heffers, lanky beanpoles, scrums, line outs and everything else that bogs down Rugby.
Rugby league - Keep 13 men per team. Discard the play the ball routine...Cheerio 600 times of backheeling the ball per game, non contested tackling, two lines of running straight into each other.
All athletes and constant attacking as is the case in league, and diagonal running and offloading as is the case in Union. No bogged down play with scrums/line outs, no 600 stoppages to backheel the ball...just 80 minutes of what most folk want to see. A unified game that would grow exponentially, no geographic divisions, no class aspect, a much more exciting game with much much more skill on show. I'd also make the game less dangerous by setting out rules that any lifting, eye gouging, spear tackles results in massive bans (2 months minimum) as many folks are reluctant to let their kids anywhere near a Rugby field.
A cleaner more skill based game with a vast increase in excitement. Football is the world's biggest sport mainly due to these elements. Folk are open mouthed at Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi and co...if Rugby tried to increase the emphasis on skill it would certainly become much bigger as a result. I used the example of an O'Driscoll dummy pass getting over 1 million hits on YouTube...imagine if Rugby had more skillful moments such as this. More kids would take up the game and want to emulate such moves, and more folk would watch (evidently).
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Re-introduce rucking and shoulder barges, but only between sets of opposition fans.
Rugby will never grow as a sport until all of it's fans are brain dead Neanderthals with no interest in the sport and only go to the stadium to have a fight.
Rugby will never grow as a sport until all of it's fans are brain dead Neanderthals with no interest in the sport and only go to the stadium to have a fight.
SimonG
Academy Player
It's not exactly rocket science to work out the best hybrid game...taking out the aspects of each code that fans of the other dislikes (play the ball in League, scrums/line outs in Union)...you are retaining the best in both.
The split in Rugby was a massive error as the sport will always be hampered by having competing codes.
The split in Rugby was a massive error as the sport will always be hampered by having competing codes.
goodNumber10
International
Not wanting to get into a right and wrong argument here and I really don't want this thread to become a series of criticism of the "other" code, but scrummaging, lineouts, the play the ball and the like ARE skills, just not ball in hand skills.
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He's not interested mate.
SimonG
Academy Player
Yes I am Rats. I've been consistent on this.
Those are basic elements that anyone can do..hence when such incidents occur it doesn't draw much/any special attention. Kicking a ball is basic....manipulating the ball is something else entirely.
Skills are what draw the most attention... be it handling, passing, evading tackles etc etc in the case of Rugby. Lomu, Jason Robinson, Campese, O'Driscoll...what was Drico's greatest moment in a Lions shirt?....the side step on Burke that left him for dead. You increase the emphasis on such attacking, remove the elements that bog down the game, the outcome is obvious.
Those are basic elements that anyone can do..hence when such incidents occur it doesn't draw much/any special attention. Kicking a ball is basic....manipulating the ball is something else entirely.
Skills are what draw the most attention... be it handling, passing, evading tackles etc etc in the case of Rugby. Lomu, Jason Robinson, Campese, O'Driscoll...what was Drico's greatest moment in a Lions shirt?....the side step on Burke that left him for dead. You increase the emphasis on such attacking, remove the elements that bog down the game, the outcome is obvious.
goodNumber10
International
Again, not meaning to be rude or condescending but I don't think you really understand what a skill is.
SimonG
Academy Player
Rugby is often denigrated for lacking skill, and the suggestions I put forward would help altar that.
In terms of semantics and defining skill...there are basics which anyone can do. Lifting a ball and kicking it is a "skill". No one would define a player who can do such a basic task as being skillful. Play the ball routine for instance is beyond basic..plus the game is effectively stopped.
With all due respect to the big fellas who are held up in the air to catch the ball in line outs, and the eight blokes driving against the other eight blokes in the scrum, bar Rugby purists, no one is interested. See any vids of these on YouTube? Nope. And these are elements that dominate the two codes...in Union Rugby forwards hog the ball (backs go long spells without getting a touch)..."fowards win games"...while in league over 600 times the play the ball routine occurs.
The viewing figures are minuscule in comparison to top sports. Now you eradicate these elements that bog down the game(s) and put the emphasis on running attacking Rugby, the game becomes better which in turn increases interest and viewership.
