That's a really poor effort.

I may be wrong but I can only think of two games between true rugby union minnows in the last world cup; Georgia-Namibia and Romania-Portugal. The Georgia-Namibia game was a 30-0 whitewash and there were around 10,000 empty seats according to the match report. The Romania-Portugal game on the other hand did exceedingly well, drawing in around 100 fans more than the stadium capacity.

What you talk about in rugby league (no, it wasn't very subtle) happens in many sports. In the last rugby union world cup you had New Zealanders playing for Samoa, Wales, Italy and Fiji. Tongans, Zimbabweans and Samoans playing for the USA. Fijians for Australia, South Africans playing for Canada, Tongans, New Zealanders and Koreans turning out for Japan, Argentines and English playing for Italy. Evens the mighty All Blacks had Fijians, Samoans and Tongans representing them. I think you get the point.

I take your point however all of those different players would not then be able to go on and play for any other nation once they are capped.

A rule I don't think many rugby league fans are happy with.

Well that was hard work. The only thing good about the first half is that it was better than the second


So New Zealand win the Tri-Nations for the seventh time in nine years.

I thought yawnion was suppose to be competitive.

Quade Cooper signing for the Eels,any truth in this.

Quote ="cjhatesunion"Quade Cooper signing for the Eels,any truth in this.'" www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 59,00.html

Quote ="cjhatesunion"Quade Cooper signing for the Eels,any truth in this.'" www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 59,00.html

You must have been watching something else...

The last union WC was DIRE.

Just watching the Women's semi final now. Some of them are HUGE!!!

England vs New Zealand final by any chance?




Nice to see the RFU taking firm action against the Harlequins doctor.
'Winky' Williams must feel hard done by with his hefty four month ban

I am going to try to be on my best behaviour and stay away from this thread.

Northampton potentially moving to Milton Keynes. Take note RFL, there's a decent side down there to potentially act as a stepping stone to a lower division club.

The council will back down and allow them to expand the stadium.

Agreed.

I was amused to see though that Newcastle, Sale and Leeds's combined average attendance is less than that of Leicester's, and with expansion probably less than that of Northampton's as well.

And what is the connection between these 3 clubs,they are all northern towns,cities.
They say union is a national sport,if you class as south as Leicester as national then maybe yeah.

Exactly!

Now, we're accused of being only around the M62, the exceptions (in Super League) being Quins and Crusaders.

If you look at the Welsh sides and most of the Aviva Prem, almost every team is within a thirty minute drive of the M4 at most. The exceptions being the poorly-supported Northern teams, Exeter (who are still West Country), and Leicester and Northampton (who are the only major union teams in their area- Cov went bust). I make it 50% of Aviva Prem teams at that level along the M4- it would have been higher if Bristol had come up rather than Exeter.

Union is the Southern favourite, League the Northern. Always has been.

Unfortunately for us, Southern popularity is bigger than Northern popularity.

It's more than just popularity. Almost every town of any size in the south has a long-established rugby (union) club, so the game is built into the local community.

And the North.

Speaking of union in the North, only 5k at Newcastle last night.

[url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/brian-viner-league-finally-scores-a-moral-victory-over-union-in-the-ageold-battle-of-the-oval-ball-2076282.htmlLeague finally scores a moral victory over union in the age-old battle of the oval ball[/url

They are going to go bust very soon,along with a few other union clubs,can't wait.

What do you base that bold statement on?

None,just hoping that's all.

Perpignan union side USAP to play at the Camp Nou in March.
Watch them (and the French RU) show Catalans how to market a game in Barcelona.

There are more union clubs in the north of england than rugby league clubs.

Ask a Stockport County fan what they feel about Sale Sharks' effect on the community's local club!