[quote="The Avenger":3ele8sad]Rugby Union has come a long way since open professionalism but in many ways the players have become less suitable for switching codes. I know someone who’s coached at the very top of both sports, League & Union, domestic and internationally, World Cups in both and their opinion is that in the fine skills when put under pressure Union players are still some way behind. There is no guarantee, far from it, that Union playmakers would be capable of executing their skills under the greater defensive and physical pressure that League at the top level would put them under. Of course given enough time there would be the odd one or two that could move over but it would be an expensive experiment for the unlikely returns a club would receive.[/quote:3ele8sad] Nah. Plenty of skill in Union.

[quote="Belle Vue":1k1mk36m]I was lucky enough to be in Australia in 2023 watching NRL games and looking at media and TV channels union looked as though it was on its Bankside over there…[/quote:1k1mk36m] League is a commercial monster over here... Each year it makes inroads into other sports and Union has been one of its victims. In '25 union is almost complete confined to being played by private schools (of which there are plenty), the alumni of said schools at a small number of clubs, and the armed forces. The Pacific islands and their populations have fallen under the thrall of the NRL, and even the union stronghold of NZ is seeing a shift of power. Only AFL currently is able to hold its own in commercial terms across the sporting business arena.

[quote="PopTart":87kjbc3s]Nah. Plenty of skill in Union.[/quote:87kjbc3s] No doubting that there’s skill in Union but is it as transferable as some think? You’re obviously entitled to your opinion but I’ll take the view of someone whose coached both at the very top over yours thanks

[quote="The Avenger":izpwqvdd]No doubting that there’s skill in Union but is it as transferable as some think? You’re obviously entitled to your opinion but I’ll take the view of someone whose coached both at the very top over yours thanks[/quote:izpwqvdd] It's a totally different game and although there is undoubtedly skill in union, I feel very few would successfully make the transition to league. It's changed like league has, and the players becomed honed to their particular game- the same applies vice versa, how many league players have tried union and looked completely lost. Up to RU professionalism ( official that is) the Union players seemed OK adapting to league - and I'm talking about backs now- you can probably count on one hand how many forwards made it! I remember Bryan West!

[quote="1315trinity":21fc23t8]It's a totally different game and although there is undoubtedly skill in union, I feel very few would successfully make the transition to league. It's changed like league has, and the players becomed honed to their particular game- the same applies vice versa, how many league players have tried union and looked completely lost. Up to RU professionalism ( official that is) the Union players seemed OK adapting to league - and I'm talking about backs now- you can probably count on one hand how many forwards made it! I remember Bryan West![/quote:21fc23t8] Which is exactly what I was saying, since open professionalism Union players have become fitter but they’ve also become more specialised with their skill set being peculiar to their role within a Union team. There are areas of commonality and that’s where they are behind their League counterparts. Union players simply don’t face the same level of relentless pressure and intensity and as a result their skills break down when put under the sort of pressure a top level League defence would impose.

[quote="1315trinity":2jcy197n]It's a totally different game and although there is undoubtedly skill in union, I feel very few would successfully make the transition to league. It's changed like league has, and the players becomed honed to their particular game- the same applies vice versa, how many league players have tried union and looked completely lost. Up to RU professionalism ( official that is) the Union players seemed OK adapting to league - and I'm talking about backs now- you can probably count on one hand how many forwards made it! I remember Bryan West![/quote:2jcy197n] Scott Quinnell and Paul Moriarty were the forwards who came to mind.