We all know RL's roots are modest and working class ed on the industrial past, but that is long gone and since the game appears to be progressing well at tertiary and university level and with the cultural and social background differences and association with rugby union types, what is the game doing to attract middle and upper classes to play, watch and support the game?

it is one of the most popular sports in English Universities we are often told.......not long until we have a cabinet and BBC board rammed with folks from Wakefield, Hull or St Helens...

Prawn sandwiches and Pimms all round my dear.

doesn't oxford and cambridge have a yearly match or have i imagined this? they do need to hire development officers to help set up school leagues all over the country.

If only they could attract funding from Sport England...

The only time people with money come along is to watch a C.C. or G.F, for a photo opportunity.

Posh Rhinos fans drinking champagne on the way to a CC final, albeit sat in standard class seats

By "affluent classes" do you include millionaire racehorse owners ?

The cans of Magners and Fosters give away their true tastes though



The setting up of school leagues is vital, but sadly our regional confinement at pro level hampers taking the interest much beyond that. I think having England games in London is very important in developing this interest too. I understand the reasons for having the England games at places like Hull, Wigan etc but I think we need at least one in London.

Getting RL played at private schools would be a big step forward in my opinion.

Didn't a (?Private) school from Effingham in Surrey pick up the year 7's trophy last year at Wembley (2012)

What do we mean about "affluent classes" here? People called Tarquin and Rupert or just people who don't baulk at the idea of people £18 for a play-off semi final?

The latter shouldn't be too difficult for any club.

Reducing ticket prices to £10 every time a big game rolls around.

£10 is way too steep.

And especially so considering all those £5 markers offered during the recent RL World Cup which was a [i'massive success'[/i of course.

If you're still talking about it, it must have been a huge success!!

Lost the programme so I'm not sure exactly but in the 2013 C C Final "curtain raiser" a team from a private school battered a team from the "heartlands" (Castleford?). They were bigger, stronger, fitter and more skillful. Their handling was better than Hull F C too.

The discount bar has now been set at an adult price of £5 for international games, therefore paying £10 and upwards for a SL game (which isn't part of a season ticket cost) may have become a far tougher prospect from a sales POV.

Howard of Effingham School is a state school.

Not all schools in Surrey are private.

Theyve done a lot good work with the Broncos. Shame its all gone now.

Trying to get Rugby League into a private school, however, is like weeing into the wind

The affluent classes are only affluent because they paid measly wages for the working classes and creamed off the profits of their labor.

damo is russell brand your hero? honestly thats how rich people become rich is it?

I'm sure i saw a thing a while back about Leeds partnering or doing a workshop thing down at Eton?

Eton and Leeds, who'd have ever thought those two would go together?

My hero is [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_426RiwST8this guy[/url. Seriously though we've all got to stop hoping that millionaires will come galloping in on white horses because very few of them are benevolent. The working class in country have built some great things in the past with the NHS and the welfare system. There's no reason why over time the working classes can't build rugby league into a product that is the envy of the world. Look at how some of the football clubs in Germany operate and at how FC Barcelona operates as prime examples of the working class building wealthy clubs.

Finally I'm sure most of us are hoping that Marwan Koukash builds Salford into a combination of Chelsea FC and Man City of rugby league but knowing our sports luck we'll end up with a situation very similar to AS Monaco FC with top drawer players and small crowds..

Not sure what planet some people are on but I was not referring to multimillionaire backers of clubs. I was referring to how to attract more middle class personnel to attend games.

I'm a wine drinker, is that therefore wrong to be associated with RL? Maybe when RL shrugs off it's deep ingrained culture of cotton/woolen mills, terrace houses and ferrets image the game will have a better hope of growth elsewhere in Britain?

What about those of us who are 'Middle England'. Are we banished or welcomed?

NHS was built by specialist and business consultants who all earn well over six figures a year, it employs some working class people but thats as far as that goes. The welfare system is the reason i won't return back to the UK, its so flawed its beyond repair.
I agree with you that Rugby League doesn't need millionaires to succeed it just needs hard working and honest people driving it. All super league clubs are run on a relatively small budget so its doesn't need massive investors but some projects what would benefit the game in the long do need that initial capital to get it going. Such as hiring the best event organizers for events such as magic weekend, grand final, challenge cup final and big international games. Also it would be fantastic for the RFL to be able to hire these guys and let them consult with clubs so they don't spend money they don't have but instead find new ways of making money.

"I hate all Tory's!!"

haha. I think it needs to start in the schools allow people to get familiar with it and grow a natural interest in rugby league, then it won't matter what the most narrow minded heartland fan thinks. What is you general opinion when going to matches at wembley or Cardiff? have you ever felt out of place?

I agree with all of that and especially the bit about hiring the best event organizers. I would love to see what the Bestival guys could do with the magic weekend.