As an aside...when a Union player tries League they generally love the opportunities to run with the ball. What do League converts say they love about playing Union? And what do Union converts miss about playing Union?

I don't think I've ever heard or read anything that says....

Wonder if Henson could be tempted over now, fresh start for him in more ways than one.

At this point in the Crusaders progress, the publicity from such signings is worth more and needed more than any playing ability.

He played League up to the age of 14, that may not sound much but at least he will know the rules and the basics of rugby league and won't be starting from scratch

the amount of euros overflowing their bank account each month.

well he can certainly put in the big hits - frowned upon in Union y'know chaps www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_rZvzDtDHw .......and has the Cardiff Blues signed his replacement ? www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynatio ... -26559511/

well he can certainly put in the big hits - frowned upon in Union y'know chaps www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_rZvzDtDHw .......and has the Cardiff Blues signed his replacement ? www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynatio ... -26559511/

I love how a big hit is illegal in Rugby union lol

the idea in Union was to stop players flying into rucks and just smashing people who are stuck in the middle and were a sitting duck.....which is fair enough

but to stop it in open play is just pathetic as is the fact you can no longer stamp on a cheap holding onto the ball at the bottom of a ruck. You have to leave it to the referee now......

What.. Union referees stamp on players who fail to release the ball?

Bit harsh?

What the hell are you on about,we all know that yawnion players are waaaay inferior to RL players,i thought that was pretty obvious.

They play an inferior game.
I agree with you on a lot of things but having seen first hand players coming through both youth systems, in the UK the union blokes are better athletes. Well, better's the wrong word, they're different but a few could DEFINATELY make the transition. A lad I played alongside who played for union england schoolboys was better than almost everyone i saw in league at my year. In fact many coming through some league academies were VERY ordinary.

Was he a forward or a back? Some of the forward "Athletes," playing for England in union are a joke, tubs of lard, who can barely run a metre.

Truth is quite a lot of union players could make it in league, SL at least. We just underestimate them cause their sport is a bit ridiculous.

Who is he?

Listen mate i agree with quite a lot of your points but i cannot agree with you with union players,i just don't rate them OR their crappy sport.

That's ridiculous, a lot of Union players and especially Welsh Union players would be better suited to RL, Powell is essentially an RL player who happens to play Union. There's massive potential in Union players, they just can't shine because their sport is so stupid and stifles their talent.

He dropped out of the game at a young age after not really making it so I doubt you'd have heard of him, he was a bit small in reality but great rugby talent.
Ash, he was an outside centre and probably didnt develop as his coaches were hoping. I lost touch with him a couple of years ago actually when I moved back up here

Isnt this guy the bloke who carries the ball like an 8 year old?

Quote ="port64"well he can certainly put in the big hits - frowned upon in Union y'know chaps www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_rZvzDtDHw '" Rugby League fans would love him putting hits in like this. Hope they can pull it of and get him signed up. It would be massive for the Crusaders and Welsh rugby league, who are hopeful of making the 2011 four nations.

Quote ="port64"well he can certainly put in the big hits - frowned upon in Union y'know chaps www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_rZvzDtDHw '" Rugby League fans would love him putting hits in like this. Hope they can pull it of and get him signed up. It would be massive for the Crusaders and Welsh rugby league, who are hopeful of making the 2011 four nations.

Yup! Or to quote any given Sunday " like a loaf of bread!"

Its looks like its just a matter of time.

Never mind Powell, i see they signed a yonug Welsh winger from SW. Scorpions paying off already!

Couldn't agree more with this post.

I quite enjoy watching the 15 man code (as I imagine do a lot of people on here despite their protests they don't) and personally I don't think Andy Powells form has been that special over the past few years...certainly at international level. I cant comment on what he was like for Cardiff Blues as I've never watched one of their games.

Having said that he is a big bloke and if Gareth Thomas can score a try in superleague then I'm sure Andy Powell will cross the line a few times too....despite looking a bit like Aussie music icon Billy 'its almost summer' Thorpe did in about 1995

His style will be well suited to league and Barry McKenzie thinks he will make a big impact... literally.

Leave the buggers in their own game,we don't need them we have to keep producing our own talent not yawnion players FFS.

Mmmmm....Mark Jones........