Rugby onion isn't really in that healthy a state. They've got the same issue with concussion claims that we have, plus they've had big name clubs fold in recent years.
It's bad enough that a Faily Mail journo wrote a piece suggesting a merger a month ago
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Rugby should MERGE union and league to save the game we all love, argues CHRIS FOY
Officials should be considering the possibility of one version of the game
It's time to stop scrapping for a slice of the sporting market in a time of volatility
There just isn’t enough space for two codes to thrive – and both have their value
By Chris Foy for the Daily Mail
Published: 12:10 EDT, 15 September 2024 | Updated: 12:41 EDT, 15 September 2024
Never mind a merger of leagues in union, it’s time to be far more radical, by considering a merger between league and union. Reunite the codes, after more than a century apart. That is not a typing error. Most consider it unthinkable, but officials across rugby’s historic divide should be considering the possibility of creating one version of the game, as a means of staying vibrant and relevant. Stop scrapping for a slice of the sporting market, in a time of volatility and change. Any honest assessment, with sentiment removed from the equation, would conclude that there just isn’t enough space for two codes to thrive – and both have their value.
Union brings a far superior international dimension, but league offers a major stronghold in Australia – where league utterly eclipses union in terms of following and finances – along with pockets in New Zealand, the Pacific, and the north of England. There is plenty of tribal passion along the M62 corridor, which is not recognised beyond that catchment area.
Super League’s regular season is finishing – just as the Premiership is about to start – with Wigan, Hull Kingston Rovers and Warrington jostling at the top of the table. Those clubs, along with others such as Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and Hull FC, have fan-bases comparable to most Premiership clubs and the Super League Grand Final attracts 60,000-70,000 crowds, which is not far off many Premiership Final attendances in recent times.
When it comes to following on social media, the codes are closely matched. Leeds have far more followers on X – 206,000 – than any of the union clubs, led by Leicester, who have nearly 170,000. Wigan and St Helens have a healthy digital fan-base too. Average crowds are comparable in both codes, although the Tigers are the clear leaders when it comes to match-day ticket sales.
Union attracts the greater coverage, but league appears to resonate more with younger ‘Gen Z’ audiences. According to data compiled late last year, the 13-man code was in the top 20 sports for engagement in the UK, for 18-24 year olds, whereas union wasn’t in that category. That backs up anecdotal evidence about union’s ageing fanbase in this country.
At a time when sports are increasingly viewed via apps and online content, amid a raft of data about shortening attention spans, a simple format has obvious appeal. League ticks that box far more than union, with its re-set scrums, laboured lineouts, collapsing mauls, messy breakdowns and nuanced laws. A wide section of the public can relate to the essence of a run, catch, pass, tackle game – but are put off by greater complexity.
England players often attend league game when on tour Down Under, and are blown away by the physicality and skill levels – as were the Wales squad who went to the State of Origin decider in Brisbane this year and were shocked by its relentless intensity. League desperately needs a wider profile, but brings a gladiatorial nature which appeals.
There is scope for both sides of the divide to gain from a merger, in myriad ways. Union's domestic power base is too limited and league's is even more so - plus the latter code has a tiny global footprint and can benefit from union's reach in Europe, Africa and South America. Meanwhile, as the Premiership and RFU seek new clubs to emerge and enhance the elite, after the recent demise of Wasps, London Irish and Worcester, imagine adding Wigan, St Helens and Leeds, along with all the superpower sides Down Under, to secure rugby's future there.
How would it work; uniting the codes? It wouldn’t be easy - not least because league is a summer sport in these parts and union operates in winter - and should be a target at professional level only. While many of the league staples, including 13-a-side, could work, there is no reason why a set-piece element couldn’t be incorporated, with lineouts and contested scrums in reduced form. Flankers could thrive in a fast-paced version of the game which puts an onus on their dynamism and defensive prowess, while taking away the ruck battle which carries such an injury risk.
Union changes its laws so often that creating a hybrid format shouldn’t be too taxing for those who spend their time tinkering in the quest for box-office nirvana. Plus, there has been so much coaching cross-over and adoption of league principles in attack and defence, so it wouldn’t be such a culture shock for many backs; whether they are decision-makers, distributors, runners or finishers.
Traditionalists will be outraged by any argument that challenges the status quo and it does present a threat to the ‘game for all shapes and sizes’ point of difference cherished by union. But the greatest threat of all is to the future existence of rugby, amid rapid shifts in the sporting landscape.
Together, the codes can be stronger. '"
