Calm down CD......you'll do yourself a mischief


Oh...and I wouldn't burn Twickenham...I turn it into the worlds largest spearmint rhino...

...that would sort property prices out in TW2 and maybe Quins RL could pick up some "passing trade'

I can only imagine a rugby union themed strip club.

The ladies come out to do their thing, but everyone is too busy in the bar to witness any action.

If you look at this from the outside a single code makes sense. Originally it was a single code irrespective of what has happended over the last 100+ years. So if rule changes were made to both codes then the games wouldn't be that far apart. Its a bit like boxing which started as a single body, then became the WBC and the WBA and over recent years has expanded to become about 10 world champions per weight division which is a nonsense.

Personally I am a huge League fan and I'll watch my own team (Warrington) and any other games that are on whether its SL or NRL. I don't have any interest in Union as a sport but my 3 kids all play Union because its the only game available to them although the youngest play U10's and U8's Union 7's which is closer to League than Union.

So for me if you only look forward, everything makes sense to have a single code, do I think it will happen in the next 10 years, no.

If you look at this from the outside a single code makes sense. Originally it was a single code irrespective of what has happended over the last 100+ years. So if rule changes were made to both codes then the games wouldn't be that far apart. Its a bit like boxing which started as a single body, then became the WBC and the WBA and over recent years has expanded to become about 10 world champions per weight division which is a nonsense.

Personally I am a huge League fan and I'll watch my own team (Warrington) and any other games that are on whether its SL or NRL. I don't have any interest in Union as a sport but my 3 kids all play Union because its the only game available to them although the youngest play U10's and U8's Union 7's which is closer to League than Union.

So for me if you only look forward, everything makes sense to have a single code, do I think it will happen in the next 10 years, no.

It's all about the ball recycle. Flankers, line-outs, contested scrums and so on are just negotiable.

The issue which gives RL and RU their distinctiveness is ball retention and recycling. Union's contested tackle possession results in far less passing/running/tackling than league, because the need to play for territory and avoid risk of turning over possession is paramount, as well as far more penalties and stoppages. League's safe possession for 6 tackles allows for greater risk, more running/tackling/passing (even if not all clubs take advantage of it).

That's the crux of it. Adopt a PTB and I'd watch your combined code. Take on the ruck and maul and I'd be uninterested.

I think it is a little more complicated because of the effect some rules have on others.

For instance, as we saw a PTB will require a limit of tackles. Limited tackles with 15 men would lead to incredibly defensive games. So a PTB would need limited tackles, which would need 13 players. A contested scrum would mean teams looked at bigger stronger forwards, i dont think RU props would get close to surviving in any 13 man code with a PTB and limited tackles, leading to a lot of the worst nonsense you see at an RU scrum. Many in RU see the scrum as the definition of the game, and wouldnt move away from that in a merged game.

I think we will see a merged game eventually, it makes sense. But not until RU comes to its on conclusion that the contested scrum is misplaced in a primarily running and tackling game. Once that happens the way the games are played would become much closer and set the scene for a merged code.

Kicking rules etc as you say would be negotiable and as often is the case in both codes, changeable every couple of years anyway.

you forgoten that the 4 nations is on SKY and the Yawion is on BBC so of course where is a massive differance.

Maybe I should tell you about the 4 million that tuned in to watch Australia v PNG in the world cup which was on BBC1 on a saturday evening.

Why don't we just leave Union like it is, leave League like it is and have a break away merger 3rd variation of rugby.

They are totally different games, comparing league to union is like comparing basketball and netball.

i.e both use the same shaped ball, the scoring mechanisms are broadly the same, and the game with the greater numbers of players per team is predominately played by girls.

If it was a Union themed strip club, they'd spend 80% of the time trying to hide their balls.

I think the idea is to gorge on what's [iin[/i the hamper, not on the hamper itself.

Very fibre-rich, your typical hamper.

Not like those plastic eskys. No nutritional value in those at all...

Rugby league and rugby union are currently battling it out in a downward spiral of falling popularity, relentless tales of off field barbarism and vulgarity, scarcity of financial resources and a shrinking base of on-field talent.

NRL crowds up, TV viewing figures through the roof, RL Jnr numbers up, about to sign a media deal that the ARU could only dream of. What exactly do we get out of the deal again? Oh yeh we get to watch fat blokes from Argentina and Italy get penalised for not scrumming properly. Hmmm I think not, thanks anyway!

There is some amount of dirt comes from The Roar.

Merger. Pfft, all a merger would lead to would be a third code shunned by fans on both sides.

Not to mention that if they did merge the union old boys wool probably completely review history and claim that league has returned begging forgiveness. I mean who would have more influence in a merger. The many countries that play union or the ARL and the RFL, hmm. Pretty sure there wouldn't be a league influence for too long.

[[size=85PEDANT RECOGNITION[/size

I see you've finally stepped into this machine with tb

What a surprise the pro expansion VT posters turn out to be closet unions fans after all.

Nothing like that! Union and League were once the same thing but they broke appart. A merged code would be joining them back together.

I'm not saying I want it to happen but nobody can deny that it would be huge.

The top league would include the likes of....

Wigan
Leicester
Leeds
Harlequins
St Helens
Northampton
Warrington
Saracens
Hull
Wasps
Bradford
London Irish
Hull KR
Bath

Nobody can deny that this looks like a much, much stronger league than either code has at the moment. Crusaders would go in with the teams from Wales and then the second tier would be about as strong as super league is now.

Look at the size of the clubs in this league, joined together it would be massive and could completely kill football in certain areas. There would be loads of money in this new league, the pool of talent would be huge, it could take the best players from all over the world.

Still not saying I want it to happen but you cannot deny it would be huge for the sports. Once the initial years of getting used to any rule changes are over then the fans would be fine. Both games in some ways want to head in the others direction anyway. Union fans want to see a more open attacking game and we want to see a bigger sport.

Your picture is a cat being squashed by an ar*e. I cannot take you seriously now.

At the end of the day it all comes down to money, don't forget that was why the original Northern Union split away, then the game developed new rules to make it more attractive to the crowd.

If say TV company came up with a formula for a mini-tournament under hybrid rules and threw a lot of money at it clubs would take part ( only the same as Wigan & Bradford joining in RU sevens) that may lead to a new formula.

Never say never

This thread is on the NRL forum as well.

I will say again no thanks.
If we did merge with union our game would get swallowed up big time and we will end up playing union with RL defunct.

Plus on the other hand we would have to mingle with union folk,no thank you.

Quote ="dids858"Maybe I should tell you about the 4 million that tuned in to watch Australia v PNG in the world cup which was on BBC1 on a saturday evening.'" Please do.....what time and date was this game played? 9th November 2008..Attendance 16,239. TV audience on the BBC? No. www.barb.co.uk to check Or was it back in the day when there were a mixture of square and oval dishes on 2% of the countries roofs meaning there were 4 TV channels for 98% of the population to watch. I suspect it is one of these games... 15th July 1992...Attendance 12,470. TV Audience on the BBC? 13th October 1991..Atendance 14,500. TV audience on the BBC? ....and if it is, I trump that with an average of 4,600,000 for 15 games in this years 6 Nations......with only 33% actually involving England Listen, I am sick of debating the undebateable.....If certain flat earth society types think that RL is better run than Union then so be it....but Jesus wept guys...you need to get over the injustices of over 70 yrs ago.....get in your German cars and listen to your japanese radios whilst driving off to get a turkish kebab or an italian pizza

Quote ="dids858"Maybe I should tell you about the 4 million that tuned in to watch Australia v PNG in the world cup which was on BBC1 on a saturday evening.'" Please do.....what time and date was this game played? 9th November 2008..Attendance 16,239. TV audience on the BBC? No. www.barb.co.uk to check Or was it back in the day when there were a mixture of square and oval dishes on 2% of the countries roofs meaning there were 4 TV channels for 98% of the population to watch. I suspect it is one of these games... 15th July 1992...Attendance 12,470. TV Audience on the BBC? 13th October 1991..Atendance 14,500. TV audience on the BBC? ....and if it is, I trump that with an average of 4,600,000 for 15 games in this years 6 Nations......with only 33% actually involving England Listen, I am sick of debating the undebateable.....If certain flat earth society types think that RL is better run than Union then so be it....but Jesus wept guys...you need to get over the injustices of over 70 yrs ago.....get in your German cars and listen to your japanese radios whilst driving off to get a turkish kebab or an italian pizza

Quote ="gutterfax"Please do.....what time and date was this game played? 9th November 2008..Attendance 16,239. TV audience on the BBC? No. www.barb.co.uk to check Or was it back in the day when there were a mixture of square and oval dishes on 2% of the countries roofs meaning there were 4 TV channels for 98% of the population to watch. I suspect it is one of these games... 15th July 1992...Attendance 12,470. TV Audience on the BBC? 13th October 1991..Atendance 14,500. TV audience on the BBC? ....and if it is, I trump that with an average of 4,600,000 for 15 games in this years 6 Nations......with only 33% actually involving England Listen, I am sick of debating the undebateable.....If certain flat earth society types think that RL is better run than Union then so be it....but Jesus wept guys...you need to get over the injustices of over 70 yrs ago.....get in your German cars and listen to your japanese radios whilst driving off to get a turkish kebab or an italian pizza '" The one in 2000 hence the BBC one on saturday evening. I did get the team wrong it was Samoa.

Quote ="gutterfax"Please do.....what time and date was this game played? 9th November 2008..Attendance 16,239. TV audience on the BBC? No. www.barb.co.uk to check Or was it back in the day when there were a mixture of square and oval dishes on 2% of the countries roofs meaning there were 4 TV channels for 98% of the population to watch. I suspect it is one of these games... 15th July 1992...Attendance 12,470. TV Audience on the BBC? 13th October 1991..Atendance 14,500. TV audience on the BBC? ....and if it is, I trump that with an average of 4,600,000 for 15 games in this years 6 Nations......with only 33% actually involving England Listen, I am sick of debating the undebateable.....If certain flat earth society types think that RL is better run than Union then so be it....but Jesus wept guys...you need to get over the injustices of over 70 yrs ago.....get in your German cars and listen to your japanese radios whilst driving off to get a turkish kebab or an italian pizza '" The one in 2000 hence the BBC one on saturday evening. I did get the team wrong it was Samoa.

To compromise

14 a side
10 tackles instead of 6/maul, compensate for the better defence
Scrums banned completely and replaced with lineouts
bigger in-goal area


2 points drop goal
5 points try
3 points conversion from a try
2 point penalty kick

25 mins half time break (more rest, more energy, more excitement,more beer)

straight bat mate or it isn't sport


Still...samoa?
England RU played them in 2000 November 20th....







And it was Sunday and it got 2.6 million viewers on BBC2







.... google doesn't seem to remember this RL game..neither does wiki?
[urlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa_national_rugby_league_team#International_results[/url
I suspect you are out of your depth and now trying to look clever/funny

...it isn't working