[Yudster]

And all the media that counts is down south...

I was thinking more in terms of the people who actually follow it, but interestingly enough, as far as club rugby is concerned, I watch a lot more League on TV than I do Union. With internationals Union tends to get a lot of publicity, but the League internationals are always on too, surely?

[fish heads]

My point is that at club level - League is just as, if not more, popular than union (Leeds RL are the biggest supported Rugby club of either code in Europe I think) yet you look in the national papers and even the national tv news and this isn't reflected one bit and that is because, I would say, all of the media are down south - in the same way Snow is the national news headline if there are two flakes in London but if there is loads of it in Sheffield nobody says a thing. Northern bitterness, perhaps, but there is an element of truth in there I think.

As for the internationals, you are wrong to presume they are always on , there are 3 or 4 at the end of the year and that's it. The fact that you think that, to me, shows that RL is doing something wrong with our international team. The RFL keep trying to introduce mid-season tests, but they always fail miserably as the Super League clubs are usually unwilling to release players, as are the Aussie NRL clubs and as such we play weakened oppositon which helps nobody and gives people false hope that we stand a chance of beating anyone on a world stage.

While Rugby League - both fans and clubs themselves - continues to put club over country in the UK it will never become more popular than union, or even come near to contesting it.

[Ballbag]

Why in league do we compete as GB, and in Union it's split up into the countries and the principality.

Come to think of it, that's the case in many sports, Athletics, Motorsport, tennis, all as GB, but cricket, football, rugby union, we play as England.

Do any of you clever little beans have any answer to this?

Also, the Irish rugby team is made up from both Northern Ireland and Eire? Are there any other sports in which this happens.

And, why do England and Wales compete as just England in the world of cricket?

I look forward to your answers.

Regards

Ballbag.

[Yudster]

A similar row is bubbling with the RFU, I fear. And I will quite happily bow to your far greater information on league matters, as I said, I'm a newcomer to the code (relatively speaking). As to the Northern bitterness, well, I'd say you're entitled, after all, it must be dreadful.....

[fish heads]

Why in league do we compete as GB, and in Union it's split up into the countries and the principality..

I suspect, although cannot be 100% certain on this matter, it is because initially Rugby League played as GB (which it always has done) to distance itself from Union. However Union now do play as GB when they do overseas tours every 4 years or so, but not in the world cup or at home.

Also the plan in Rugby League is to end playing as GB in the next few years and phase in "the home nations", which I think will probably end up backfiring spectacularly, but that is beside the point

[Yudster]

Didn't there used to be a Home Nations championship in RL years ago, or am I dreaming?

[fish heads]

There is a competition called the "Euro Nations" which happens at the end of the season while GB play their internationals. This involves the home nations and France, Russia and Italy. However the homenation sides are essentially a B-team, who aren't good enough yet to play for GB. France, Russia and Italy are at full strength though, but this is essentially a training exercise to help these countries who are still developing in the sport to gain some experience, and as such these matches aren't given Test status

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

The international game is vastly overrated. As I often say with football England comes a long way down my list and when I used to go to Wigan often I didn't care about Great Britain. Particularly as more foreign players come into the game I mean back then was I suppose to not still support Dean Bell, Sam Panapa, Frano Botica (hero), Andrew Farrar, Gene Miles and the like?

[fish heads]

The international game may well be overrated but the point is that League is not rated at all as a sport in most peoples eyes compared to union. My point is that the Media like international success and until League progresses and gets some it will be continually overlooked - despite how brilliant the club game might be.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

but why does it matter that its overlooked? football has been ruined as a competition by interest and money it seems since the superleague the competition is better than ever.

[fish heads]

Because,in my mind, it is not getting the credit (or money) it deserves. I'm not saying I want it to become the national game - but Union and Cricket have benefited from successful international campaigns. Superleague is not the be all and end all of RL and there are a hell of a lot of clubs in the National Leagues that need investment. Plus if Sky decided to pull Super League coverage and the money that goes with it tommorow, the game in this country would collapse (IMO of course) - whereas if Sky stopped showing football and cricket the other networks would be clambering over themselves to buy the rights. The game needs investment more than anything and internationals are a major key to that.

[Ickle Angel]

That's the way I see it.

Also in League the fans/players are burley bitter drinking northerners.

For Union the fans/players are usually called Rupert, or Harry, or have a silly nick-names like Knockers, Bockers of Chockers, and you have to shout rah! and bugger! alot, swig pints of your team mates urine mixed with fag ends whilst your chums cheer or be a big girl, be generally loud and boysterous, spontaneously dropping your trousers on request.

Row row row your boat, gently down the stream, belts off trousers down isn't life a scream.......Rah!

Not necessarily. There are teams all over the country. Its just that Yawnion is more popular in britain for some bizarre reason. Im a leeds rhinos fan myself

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Teams all over the country? How many not from the north of england?

[Ickle Angel]

Well theres Harlequins and Catalans anyway and ok not many more pro teams but there are some amateur teams around the midlands area which i know of

[Lawrie]

union is cack and dull

look at rugby leagues top flight last week

the team everyone thought could go through the season get turned over at home by a team tipped for relegation and the biggest points difference in any match was 8 points

[Yudster]

.......... Im a leeds rhinos fan myself

Baggie, as he is from Birmingham, does this make him a Rugby League Glory Hunter?!

[Ballbag]

I'm quite sure I can't possibly comment.

(I'm not that interested nor well-informed enough on ruggers league in order to make that call).

[Lawrie]

.......... Im a leeds rhinos fan myself

Baggie, as he is from Birmingham, does this make him a Rugby League Glory Hunter?!

psssst Ickle is female

And shes been to quite a few games (i should know shes seen me ultra hammered before at headingley and various other grounds)

and Rugby League doesnt fall under the "ruggers" tag..please that name for the ruggerzoid union followers, ta *

[fish heads]

From what I know of Ickle she seems very passsionate about the club and I suspect that would be the case even if Leeds slipped down the table

[Quincy]

leeds are crap. bulls are the best.

im a real fan honest.....

[Lawrie]

leeds are crap. bulls are the best.

im a real fan honest.....

[Yudster]

Well, since I started watching Wigan, they have gone nowhere but downhill......my support of them has more to do with the fact that Mr Yudster, an ex-pat Lancastrian, is a fan and it was he who educated me in the sport. And I started supporting my Union side - Sale - when ex-Wigan players who changed codes went there.

Ickle, I wasn't trying to have a go, sorry. And also sorry for the gender-confusion - I knew you are a she, I don't know what came over me there!

[Ickle Angel]

Thats ok hon no probs

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Its still dominated by a big few teams though and for years it was all wigan.

[DemonHorse]

Its still dominated by a big few teams though and for years it was all wigan.

Hmm bit like football...