The merger of rugby league & rugby union together.

[stevenp]

Your thoughts on this idea?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I mean....how would that even work?
Which ruleset are they combining under? and what does it look like after they've combined? Suddenly Wigan Warriors, and all their players, are a Union side and getting battered by any National League side with a semi-functional scrum/maul?

 

[McTallshort]

For the professional game of both codes it's a no brainer. For the grassroots game I'm not so sure about

 

[stevenp]

There would be compromise to start with and a load of people unhappy to begin with but in the long run is a good idea as combining the best of both sports is a good idea, but sadly cannot see it happening to many vested interests.

Rugby league is much miles better at club level than rugby union is
And at international level rugby union is much better than rugby league is.

So you would get the best of both worlds.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

There would be compromise to start with and a load of people unhappy to begin with but in the long run is a good idea as combining the best of both sports is a good idea, but sadly cannot see it happening to many vested interests.

Rugby league is much miles better at club level than rugby union is
And at international level rugby union is much better than rugby league is.

So you would get the best of both worlds.

What ruleset?

 

[stevenp]

The most likely outcome is both sports stay separate but end up almost identical because since 1995 that is the direction both sports have been moving in.

Ta ...

 

[stevenp]

Shame the potential of a merged sport combing rugby union and rugby is far bigger than if they stay separate.

But would the snobs in rugby union put up with more working class in rugby league I doubt it very much.

 

[McTallshort]

Shame the potential of a merged sport combing rugby union and rugby is far bigger than if they stay separate.

But would the snobs in rugby union put up with more working class in rugby league I doubt it very much.

Would the chippy Rugby League fans want to be part of union? No don't think so eithet

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Shame the potential of a merged sport combing rugby union and rugby is far bigger than if they stay separate.

Under what ruleset?

 

[stevenp]

Mixed compromised rule set.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Mixed compromised rule set.

So you'd kill off all involvement in European and international sport in the hope of mixing two reasonably small fanbases?

 

[Saintjay]

W

So you'd kill off all involvement in European and international sport in the hope of mixing two reasonably small fanbases?

Whilst making every rugby league hooker, props and second row unemployed if they actually had to scrum.

 

[AlRums]

In Ireland they could merge rugby and Gaelic football, in Australia rugby and Aussie rules. In New Zealand and Wales rugby and sheep worrying.

 

[BrokenWing]

So you'd kill off all involvement in European and international sport in the hope of mixing two reasonably small fanbases?

And at the risk of probably alienating both

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

In Ireland they could merge rugby and Gaelic football, in Australia rugby and Aussie rules. In New Zealand and Wales rugby and sheep worrying.

There used to be a compromised Gaelic Football and AFL test series every other year. No one liked it and it's been dead a good few years now.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No one liked it and it's been dead a good few years now.

Sounds like rugby league, tbf

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

No merger would work. The only thing with a chance of working would be league sides and players joining union. A half way sport would be dead on arrival and union is larger than league.

 

[AlRums]

A small round up of cross code games.

Clash of Codes - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

The one that amused me was this one.

First ever American Football vs Rugby League game

The Jacksonville Axemen played a cross code game between Rugby League and American Football, by playing the Jacksonville Knights and defeated them 38-27 It may have been the first time that both an American Football team and a Rugby League team played a cross code game. Both teams received coaching in their opponent's sport and then played one half in full American Football equipment and rules before both teams removed the pads and helmets to play Rugby League in the second half.

I bet there was a lot of grumbling at losing their armour.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Sounds like rugby league, tbf

Although most Super League clubs are at least still in existence….

Anyway it would never happen in a zillion years, so all moot.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Although most Super League clubs are at least still in existence….

Plenty on death's door,
Toronto and Crusaders went kaput,
Bradford, Harlequins and Widnes all went bankrupt too - and Salford are months if not weeks away from going under, if rumours are to be believed