Slammin Sam

[david k]

Your comment about the sell out was in reference to the comment you quoted regarding other sports pulling larger crowds, and commenting about 4 times more TV viewers than Union.
You are also aware that last season the Aviva Premiership averaged 4000 more per game than the Super League?
How is pointing out that our fans sit on their arse watching on TV, instead of actually going to games like other sports irrelevant? As in my opinion, it's one of the main issues with league at the moment.
So why mention stuff that relates back to the original split of the RFU? You experience all this hatred, yet I have southern friends, 1 of which plays and only watches Union, as League is dull to him. His father only watches League.
I also play rugby regularly on a social night where a few of the guys come from a Union background, and mainly play Union. The evening rugby we play is their only experience of playing league. I have not experienced this "hatred".
To call me naive, and untravelled as I have had different experiences than you. Is in itself quite naive, and borderline offensive.
I have immediate family who attend private schools, who only play Union. Snobbery there is rife, yet no hatred of League. They simply don't play it. My school didn't play any rugby, despite there being many who wished too.
I am not a fan of Union at all, but from all the people I know, working class, private schools, from the home counties, the only thing that seems common to me. Is how often League fans moan "you all hate us", yet I've never experienced any of it.

Not offensive at all, I see it differently than you based on my experiences, I could say you are being offensive saying my experience and view are wrong.
My comments have been about rugby league being classed by the BBC about the same as netball and hockey and demonstrating why I and other believe this is wrong. You brought up Union Internationals and I corrected you. No way is rugby league the same as netball, what tv audience do they have, what's their average gate, what's their average international gate, to claim it's the same makes me shake my head with disbelief? There so many people like you waiting to knock league down, you cannot wait to say it's all in our heads and it's a mnoriry sport the same as netball
, what's your motivation? I want to see league get recognition and it's hard when some of your own followers have a strange view of their so called own sport
Just because you have no experience doesn't mean it doesn't exist, I assure you I haven't made this up, in a meeting talking rugby league when several people turned on me and told me I wasn't to talk about it??? It was bizzarre and it's not an isolated incident. I'm not basing my view solely on this, read he media reports, talking to people, classed same as netball etc.
I won't stop mentioning the 100 years of banning league players like it didn't happen, the rfu would prefer nobody mentioned it as its easier that way
Does the 4K average include the one off game at Wembley? How many teams get good attendances in Union? Tbh I don't know, it may well be more than league but the tv audiences are not irrelevant n any way shape or form, most money in sports comes through tv and its advertising rather than the gates, the tv audience n super league is around 50/50 north and south

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Does the 4K average include the one off game at Wembley? How many teams get good attendances in Union? Tbh I don't know, it may well be more than league

I have no idea I just did this
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=a...57.6684j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

and

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=s...59.2248j0j9&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

but the tv audiences are not irrelevant n any way shape or form, most money in sports comes through tv and its advertising rather than the gates, the tv audience n super league is around 50/50 north and south

Certainly not, but not every team sees that money. You have the issue of "The Qualifiers" last season, If they had a Super League club playing against a Championship club, the Championship club received NO MONEY from the TV event at all. The TV money goes only to the selected clubs in "Important games".

While a lot will go to the RFL, it would do a lot better if they were far more effective at promoting the sport. Which, lets be honest. They're useless.

 

[david k]

The point being that Rugby League is a minority sport, regardless of the money you mention, it is a minority sport, just like Netball is.


It was you who commented that you would like to see it played all over the UK. So I commented about the majority of away fans won't even travel locally, never mind to London/Scotland/South Wales. If you can't get people in the stadiums it won't grow


Do you have any citation for this? Many clubs play reduced number touch or tag rugby to speed the games up. Somebody once told me, but I can't remember, who or what, doesn't really pass as a reliable citation.

Particularly when my personal experiences contradict your opinion.

Citation? Someone in Wales I spoke to last week, who I do know btw told me,my is sons play for Union teams n South Wales , if you don't want to believe then fine, no skin off my nose if you believe it's made up, I ain't going to ask him to verify it in an email so I can share with you

 

[david k]

I have no idea I just did this
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=a...57.6684j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

and

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=s...59.2248j0j9&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8


Certainly not, but not every team sees that money. You have the issue of "The Qualifiers" last season, If they had a Super League club playing against a Championship club, the Championship club received NO MONEY from the TV event at all. The TV money goes only to the selected clubs in "Important games".

While a lot will go to the RFL, it would do a lot better if they were far more effective at promoting the sport. Which, lets be honest. They're useless.

Many people say they are useless and yes they should have done better but if we hadn't took the sky money and made the big changes I worry about were we would be, in the absence of any better they get my support

 

[david k]

Few years old now but an insight into the problems

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-why-he-has-introduced-a-bill-to-1425064.html

 

[PhilDawson8270]

[QUOTE 4007499, member: 43827"]
Much of yesterday's RL international was like watching groundhog day with the repeated six tackles/kick/turnover.
[/QUOTE]

This is the love or hate section of League.

Either "boring, 5 tackles kick". Or the constant attack, that you can't play a slow possession game or you're kicking from deep in your own half. You still have to attack hard to defend and keep the all clear.

In the last few meters, then the 6th tackle can produce some fantastic plays that you would never see in Union. As there's no risk of losing the ball in League since you're turning over anyway.

But as I say, it's the love or hate it bit, the same as the technical aspect of Union. I prefer League, do I hate Union? No. I would certainly rather watch a Union game over Football, or Strictly come X factor with talent.

 

[Milkfloat]

As an aside, Hockey, Netball and of course Rugby Union have far higher participation numbers than Rugby League. RL numbers seem to be in a decline too.

 

[Aperitif]

Time to forget Slammin' Sam...in rugby professional parlance, "step up to the plate" (Gosh, they're always hungry these boys!) 'Kickin' Kev'! Will he be on the HS3...fast tracked into England training when the next crisis arrives? He's got a good five years in him as a wise head...

Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

 

[martint235]

Time to forget Slammin' Sam...in rugby professional parlance, "step up to the plate" (Gosh, they're always hungry these boys!) 'Kickin' Kev'! Will he be on the HS3...fast tracked into England training when the next crisis arrives? He's got a good five years in him as a wise head...

Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

Why not fast track him into being England Head Coach? He's old enough!

 

[Dayvo]

Remember 'The Clash of the Codes' in 1996 when Bath (best English union club side) played Wigan (best league club side) took each other on in both codes?

Which team fared best, do you think over both games (unless you're old like Aperitif and me and remember the occasion)?


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5jEZCiJsz8



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZyLnW-3e_I


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash_of_the_Codes_(rugby)

BTW, I'm a southern Jessie and played union (front row) for 20+ years, but I'd rather watch league any day, as I find it more entertaining, more skilful and more flowing than union. So there!

 

[david k]

As an aside, Hockey, Netball and of course Rugby Union have far higher participation numbers than Rugby League. RL numbers seem to be in a decline too.

I think if you took out under 16 in schools the participation numbers in league would be more, I don't know any netbal clubs outside of schools.
Rugby league participation numbers have grown dramatically in the last 10 years particularly since rugby union stopped the ban on amateur rugby league players
Happy to be corrected if you have any details

 

[nickyboy]

Remember 'The Clash of the Codes' in 1996 when Bath (best English union club side) played Wigan (best league club side) took each other on in both codes?

Which team fared best, do you think over both games (unless you're old like Aperitif and me and remember the occasion)?


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5jEZCiJsz8



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZyLnW-3e_I


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash_of_the_Codes_(rugby)

BTW, I'm a southern Jessie and played union (front row) for 20+ years, but I'd rather watch league any day, as I find it more entertaining, more skilful and more flowing than union. So there!

I'm old enough to remember this. It's a bit unfair to compare performances. In 96 RU had only had a year of professionalism and it showed up against a really great RL side in Wigan. I suspect it would be quite a different match up these days as top RU clubs have learned all those hard RL lessons on defensive alignment, running lines etc

 

[Dayvo]

Some interesting statistics here:

http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/09/03/how-long-is-a-rugby-match-really/

http://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/nrl-vs-super-14-differences-game-and-players/971/28136

 

[Milkfloat]

I think if you took out under 16 in schools the participation numbers in league would be more, I don't know any netbal clubs outside of schools.
Rugby league participation numbers have grown dramatically in the last 10 years particularly since rugby union stopped the ban on amateur rugby league players
Happy to be corrected if you have any details

The figures quoted are for adults only - so all are clubs outside of school.
The link I included shows RL participation down over the time period 05-09

 

[Chromatic]

I'm old enough to remember this. It's a bit unfair to compare performances. In 96 RU had only had a year of professionalism and it showed up against a really great RL side in Wigan. I suspect it would be quite a different match up these days as top RU clubs have learned all those hard RL lessons on defensive alignment, running lines etc

I remember it too, Bath played into Wigan's hands in the union game by trying to run it too much, they could have kept it tight, starved them of possession, and scored more or less at will with the forwards