Rugby codes reuniting

Greg wrote: And, meanwhile, American Football gets more coverage each year and a growing interest at junior age groups. Tragic.

Northern sounding names. How about Scagglethorpe?

sedgley dave wrote: Perhaps people down south have no idea of the passion with which diehard RL fans hate Union. Players of each code like and respect the other, and have no problem (except technically) in switching. As a little kid, I supported Bradford Northern, as they were then; I lived near Odsal Stadium. But I got into Bradford GS and played Union from 11 onwards. I have never played RL in my life, or even watched an amateur game. Nowadays (70 years on!), I find League sterile and boring, mostly, but I think it is a hugely enjoyable game for youngsters, still. Lots of stuff on YouTube, which I started to watch during Covid lockdown.

Edited by Robb - 06 Feb 2024 at 09:30

My daughter lives in Australia and so every year when I’m over I watch a lot of NRL It’s good to watch,plenty of off loads and passing along the line. Here it’s smash it up the middle as far as you can for 5 phases and of course the usual kick on the 6

Paul10 wrote: Sounds like you're adopting a few Aussie opinions there. There's some very good rugby league going on here. NRL is franchises, isn't it? No promotion or relegation?

Clubs not franchises, but no relegation - a new club is added very occasionally

Following the recent departures of Union 'superstars', Barry John, JPR, David Duckham, Phil Bennett et al, I can't help feeling that the rugby played in their heyday (i.e 1979-80) was infinitely better to watch. These were 'normal' guys with unnatural skills. They weighed and looked like 'normal' guys and their game was built around speed, guile, and a sense of space. 

Edited by Greg - 06 Feb 2024 at 18:28

Rugby Union would be a far better watch with only 13 players.

Greg wrote: Following the recent departures of Union 'superstars', Barry John, JPR, David Duckham, Phil Bennett et al, I can't help feeling that the rugby played in their heyday (i.e 1979-80) was infinitely better to watch. These were 'normal' guys with unnatural skills. They weighed and looked like 'normal' guys and their game was built around speed, guile, and a sense of space.  I do get a little tired of the crash ball tactics and the attention on big hits. Big men ploughing into big men (concussion anybody?). Where are the dummies, the sidesteps, the sway of the hips, the swagger of passing into space and knowing that a team-mate would be in the right place to run onto the ball. Can I lend anyone my rose-tinted specs?