endoman
Senior Member
- Location
- Chesterfield
Was a cracking game this morning, I have no desire to watch RU, find it slow, dull, and the " spectators" are just not my cup of tea.
International Rugby League V Union
- Thread starter david k
- Start date
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I live in the heart of RL country, played for the school, two grandsons play league. one has just got a trial with a local cub, so I like to watch a good game of league a third grandson plays union which I also enjoy watching, I find the scrums in union can ruin a good flowing game sometimes taking several attempts before ending in a penalty, I have said this before Union rules with 13 in a team would make an interesting game.
As for the divisions in the game my son in law a regular league player will not even watch union and thinks its a toffs game.
As for the divisions in the game my son in law a regular league player will not even watch union and thinks its a toffs game.
AndyRM
XOXO
- Location
- North Shields
Genuine question: have you been to a game of Union? I may be reading too much into your post but I'm assuming you're subscribing to the stereotype that it's just a bunch of posh lads watching their chums. It isn't.
If I've read you wrong I apologise.
OP
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david k
Hi
- Location
- North West
To be fair, I'm watching England V South Africa now & I think in general I prefer watching the Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership than some of the international stuff. I love the 6 Nations, probably my favourite sporting event, but the premiership can be more fun to watch than the way international teams play at times.
The history may be interesting/shocking, but it doesn't change the fact that all the RL I've seen (admittedly not loads, but I've tried) I've found boring and 1 dimensional. That's fine though, I don't have anything against the game, I just don't personally enjoy it, glad others do. At the same time I find Cricket and some cycling riveting, sports many others would describe as boring
Fair enough Wafer, I see it completely differently, much prefer to watch and in my day play RL, but we are all different. I used to find watching cycling boring until i understood it more, maybe if you understood why they do what they do you may start to like it more? then again maybe not lol.
For me international RU looks better because there a big crowd, atmosphere etc. so you get swept along, if you watch both games with the sound off neutrals may see it differently?
My friend often calls it the emperors clothes!
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david k
Hi
- Location
- North West
I live in the heart of RL country too but when talking about the game I dont say it that way, we have a view of being a Northern game, we are called the northern game and this often self fulfilling as then people outside the North dismiss it as such
Glad your grandsons are playing, playing numbers have grown, more the better IMO. Many RU clubs use RL for training as they touch the ball a lot more
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david k
Hi
- Location
- North West
Think that was a tongue in cheek post and one RL are often on the wrong side of
Ive watched and played both, dont care much for watching RU and rarely put it on TV. I preferred playing RL and as a big running forward they played me at stand off in RU????? They thought it strange back then that a big lad could pass!
Pro Tour Punditry
Guru
I cannae understand why it's referred to as a Northern game when it's mostly played in the south. 
Nobbers
Nobbers
Berties
Fast and careful!
i still love to watch union with my neighbours son playing today for England gives you sone one to watch and also love sevens and again I know a player in the England sevens team,its a shame my youngest decided not to play this season after a nasty broken arm,my links at ground level have been severed,
league tends not be played in my area and sevens played at the private schools,but union is the game played ,there is a certain amount of snobbery pitch side and some lads get to play because dad is rich,
league tends not be played in my area and sevens played at the private schools,but union is the game played ,there is a certain amount of snobbery pitch side and some lads get to play because dad is rich,
Bobby Mhor
Wasn't born to follow
- Location
- Behind You
Northern Perfidious Albion....I cannae understand why it's referred to as a Northern game when it's mostly played in the south.
Nobbers
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
As we've discussed before, top level RU is a great game but is spoiled by having too many players on the field. When it was amateur, with amateur levels of fitness, 15-a-side was perfect. But these days it's too many. As a result, the skills that are such a pleasure on the eye....breaking and running....are very difficult to do. Easier in RL as they have fewer players and thus more space.
As an example, the last two England RU internationals contained just two real running tries. May for England v NZ and the one by S Africa this afternoon. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the skills involved with a rolling maul try but as a entertainment spectacle it's the real running tries. Contrast with RL where there is more space and, with automatic handover after 6 possessions no attritional phases of pick and drive.
But go back to amateur RU and, whilst the skill levels aren't comparable, there is space to run due to lesser fitness and it can be a great spectacle.
As an example, the last two England RU internationals contained just two real running tries. May for England v NZ and the one by S Africa this afternoon. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the skills involved with a rolling maul try but as a entertainment spectacle it's the real running tries. Contrast with RL where there is more space and, with automatic handover after 6 possessions no attritional phases of pick and drive.
But go back to amateur RU and, whilst the skill levels aren't comparable, there is space to run due to lesser fitness and it can be a great spectacle.
endoman
Senior Member
- Location
- Chesterfield
Yep, played it for 5 years, got to county level, also played League from age 5 and at Uni. Watched both in the past, but only RL now. Last RU game I saw was on big screen TV at Millenium Stadium in World Cup I think, Wales vs NZ? Was there for a charity bike ride. Felt so sorry for the Welsh supporters cos they would love running rugby. The people I know who go to HQ to watch are not the type of people I generally socialise with. They have no clue about either code yet of course pretend they do. They would be happy with their day out even if no contest was on offer.
tony111
Veteran
League fan here. Don't normally watch any union at all, the World Cup victory being the last game I watched the full game. What narks me is the lack of publicity league gets in the media, a couple of weeks ago England came close to knocking Australia out of the 4 nations trophy, but ITV news never mentioned it, not even bothering to announce the result. Go back to October and the game when Ben Flower got sent off for his punch on Hohiah, ITV showed it with relish, mentioning among Big Bens gongs as the programme starts.
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david k
Hi
- Location
- North West
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
For the same reason there is nothing in the news about lacrosse or trampolining or ice hockey. It's a minority sport that the vast majority of UK public couldn't care less about.
The question you should really be asking is "If it is a superior product, why has RL been so unsuccessful in expanding outside its traditional heartland of the M62 corridor?"
