FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

   WWW.RLFANS.COM • View topic - Why is Union more popular ?
User avatar
RankPostsTeam
Club Coach17871
JoinedServiceReputation
Apr 24 201113 years46th
OnlineLast PostLast Page
27th Mar 24 16:1128th Mar 24 10:32LINK
Milestone Posts
15000
20000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530

Re: Why is Union more popular ? : Fri Jan 20, 2017 8:34 am  
Lebron James wrote:
Not saying you are wrong but I would love to see some stats to back up your claim about participation numbers in Lancashire and Yorkshire given that in Lancashire for example, the rugby league clubs are centred around heartland towns like Wigan, St. Helens etc yet pretty much every town or village in Lancashire has a rugby union team, with a first, second and third team,with a youth set up. I would go out on a limb and say that there are more union players in Lancashire than league, by a huge margin

Regards

King James


My lad played Union as a junior for around 10 years and the distance they had to travel to get a game was an indication of just how sparse Union is in the area, although as you say, there are some decent clubs, with teams playing through the age groups.
However, League has the same and there are far more clubs playing league in this area.
Thankfully he is now playing League at Uni and enjoying playing far more than he enjoyed Union.

As someone who played across the back line in Union, he tells me that involvement if far more intense and enjoyment levels are far greater.

Nobody can deny that nationally, Union is the "bigger" game and of course, it's also played across Scotland and Wales and as League will never be as popular Nationally.
However, in the Heartlands, it's still more popular than Union.

We have to remember that, but, for the arrogant and demeaning attitudes in Union at the end of the 19th Century, League would not exist, so for that, we should be grateful.
RankPostsTeam
International Star1946No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Aug 03 201311 yearsN/A
OnlineLast PostLast Page
7th Nov 18 06:0620th Oct 18 18:04LINK
Milestone Posts
1000
2500
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Signature
Superleague Titles
Warrington Wolfs - 0
Wakefield Trinity - 0
Leigh Centurions - 0

Budgiezilla wrote:
Surely it can only be a player from Catalans. Probably the best RL side I have ever witnessed in this season's comp.

Re: Why is Union more popular ? : Fri Jan 20, 2017 9:08 am  
wrencat1873 wrote:
My lad played Union as a junior for around 10 years and the distance they had to travel to get a game was an indication of just how sparse Union is in the area, although as you say, there are some decent clubs, with teams playing through the age groups.
However, League has the same and there are far more clubs playing league in this area.
Thankfully he is now playing League at Uni and enjoying playing far more than he enjoyed Union.

As someone who played across the back line in Union, he tells me that involvement if far more intense and enjoyment levels are far greater.

Nobody can deny that nationally, Union is the "bigger" game and of course, it's also played across Scotland and Wales and as League will never be as popular Nationally.
However, in the Heartlands, it's still more popular than Union.

We have to remember that, but, for the arrogant and demeaning attitudes in Union at the end of the 19th Century, League would not exist, so for that, we should be grateful.


There are 17 union leagues in the north west compared to, what, 5 in league? My local union club has acually linked up with my local league club and some union players now play for them in the offseason and vice versa and both sets of players enjoy playing the other code. But yes, I can see your sons point as a backrower from the union side, played centre for the league side and couldnt believe how tired he was after 60 minutes!

Regards

King James
RankPostsTeam
International Star865
JoinedServiceReputation
Jan 29 201014 yearsN/A
OnlineLast PostLast Page
16th Dec 18 10:197th Dec 18 08:26LINK
Milestone Posts
500
1000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530

Re: Why is Union more popular ? : Fri Jan 20, 2017 9:21 am  
ian6227 wrote:
I am aware of the origins of RL, I suppose what I want to know is why Local Authority Schools during the 60s and 70s didn't allow League to be played in the heartland of the game ( northwest in my case ).


It was similar in Hull in the 70's RL was very strong at Junior High level but none existent in High School. The only alternative to football was yawnion which was deservedly unpopular so that always struggled for numbers, so usually neither ended up being played. I don't think the local authority banned RL but on the other hand they didn't direct the sports teachers to provide what the pupils wanted so good old yawnion prejudice was allowed to run rampant. New Zealand is the only country in the world where RU is genuinely popular and earns its widespread coverage. In Aus yawnion is thankfully slipping to a distant 4th in terms of interest in the football codes but even so gets inflated coverage and sponsorship in proportion to its numbers thanks to their old boy private school network.

It is tough times for RL here but I would like the governing body to make a much stronger effort to promote the game in schools. It has to be done centrally as I'm not sure that you can just rely on the clubs as they have understandably slightly different aims and there are opportunities for the more unscrupulous to ride on the effort of others.

The real danger to RL would be if yawnion ever became entertaining - fortunately tedious penalty kicking competitions remain the norm in the UK.
User avatar
RankPostsTeam
International Board Member4961
JoinedServiceReputation
Jun 28 200222 years305th
OnlineLast PostLast Page
19th Feb 24 16:0319th Feb 24 12:50LINK
Milestone Posts
2500
5000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Location
Outside your remit
Signature
There's Only One F in Wakefield

Re: Why is Union more popular ? : Fri Jan 20, 2017 10:21 am  
It's pointless comparing the 2 codes in terms of popularity. I still can't work out how people can prefer that code to ours but given the resources and the fact that they have all the household names now, I can see why it has become more registered in the nation psyche.

I've just come to accept that RL entertains me beyond any other sport and other people like watching golf on the TV. Puzzling, but just have to accept it and move on. I do try and recruit people for League though and do people's heads in a bit at work by mentioning whats going on in RL when we are having a footy conversation.
User avatar
RankPostsTeam
Player Coach7392No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Jan 23 200618 years155th
OnlineLast PostLast Page
7th Feb 24 10:5912th Jul 23 05:57LINK
Milestone Posts
5000
10000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Location
Looking for a coach that can coach
Signature
Mac out!

Re: Why is Union more popular ? : Fri Jan 20, 2017 11:01 am  
RL is THE toughest team sport you can play , however in our H and S concious world we must remove some of the less attractive parts of the game


How do you define toughest? Im sure the Canadians would argue Ice hockey is 'tough' whatever that means.

Do mothers want there kids to play tough sports, with fights, head shots,..........?
User avatar
RankPostsTeam
Club Captain2418No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Mar 08 20168 yearsN/A
OnlineLast PostLast Page
19th Mar 20 21:279th Mar 20 07:34LINK
Milestone Posts
1000
2500
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Signature
snaivooladniv eht fo thgim eht eraweb

Re: Why is Union more popular ? : Fri Jan 20, 2017 11:38 am  
wire-quin wrote:
How do you define toughest? Im sure the Canadians would argue Ice hockey is 'tough' whatever that means.

Do mothers want there kids to play tough sports, with fights, head shots,..........?


Seriously ? , with the amount of padding they wear they struggle to lift their arms up to head hight , it takes a couple of minutes for them to take off their gloves and helmets

As for tough , from a physical contact point of view , simple as , it is a basic part of the game , every set will contain 5 actual impacts at the very least , what we must make every effort to achieve is that those impacts be it in junior,senior amateur or proffessional are restricted to the body as per the rules , no bouncing off the shoulder , no late shots and also no ducking under tackles ( I'm talking to you here Rob )
RankPostsTeam
Club Captain60No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Oct 18 20167 yearsN/A
OnlineLast PostLast Page
3rd Mar 22 01:105th Jun 19 13:50LINK
Milestone Posts
0
100
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530

Re: Why is Union more popular ? : Mon Jan 23, 2017 4:50 pm  
Bullseye wrote:
Union is marketed better. Has far more money behind it to ensure it’s played across the UK. Facilities in clubs are better than their league counterparts. Has a far better international setup. Administration is far better organised. Game has friends in high places as it’s a game played in all the private schools, grammar schools, universities etc. It benefits from more extensive sympathetic and detailed media coverage. Need I go on?


Nailed it an all points.

The International game is a big draw to the passing punter. Love it or hate it (personally I love it), the 6 nations annually raises union to a level that League can't get to in terms of TV coverage, and national interest. If League catches on within the USA and Canada over the next 10 years, then I guess there could be potential for a Northern Hemisphere version to try and rival that. But even if it does, it still needs to overcome a biased southern based media.
User avatar
RankPostsTeam
Player Coach7392No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Jan 23 200618 years155th
OnlineLast PostLast Page
7th Feb 24 10:5912th Jul 23 05:57LINK
Milestone Posts
5000
10000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Location
Looking for a coach that can coach
Signature
Mac out!

Re: Why is Union more popular ? : Mon Jan 23, 2017 6:32 pm  
Seriously ? , with the amount of padding they wear they struggle to lift their arms up to head hight , it takes a couple of minutes for them to take off their gloves and helmets

As for tough , from a physical contact point of view , simple as , it is a basic part of the game , every set will contain 5 actual impacts at the very least , what we must make every effort to achieve is that those impacts be it in junior,senior amateur or proffessional are restricted to the body as per the rules , no bouncing off the shoulder , no late shots and also no ducking under tackles ( I'm talking to you here Rob )


Only a 'girly' softies sport would ban shoulder barges and punching. I dread to think what parents would think if you then armed the players with sticks and put hard protection around the side to shoulder barge players into, and then throw a rock hard object onto the ground to smash round. ;) But I understand League is the toughest team sport.
RankPostsTeam
Club Captain189
JoinedServiceReputation
Jun 15 20168 yearsN/A
OnlineLast PostLast Page
27th Jul 17 02:5224th Jul 17 06:32LINK
Milestone Posts
100
200
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530

Re: Why is Union more popular ? : Tue Jan 24, 2017 4:58 am  
don't there is a magic formula but some of the component parts are

Union has always valued internationals and representative rugby over club rugby...
Union saturation around London as the only form of 'rugby' there at all until the 1980s
Union saturation across all 'establishment' vehicles... until 1995
League has the biggest 'working class' chip on its shoulder I have ever seen
We in league are grudgingly welcoming of new incumbents to the game AND are quick to attack and criticise
The growth of the Union World cup concept
The majority of people in the sporting world still have no idea there are two sports with the same name
Former players from Union tend to sound educated and literate... many former league players come across less so...
leagues ability to interpret a full glass as half full... a half full glass as half empty and a half empty glass as spilled with broken splinters of glass everywhere and the whole world pointing and laughing!

lets stop comparing and enjoy what we have.
User avatar
RankPostsTeam
Player Coach6035No
Team
Selected
JoinedServiceReputation
Dec 16 200419 yearsN/A
OnlineLast PostLast Page
20th Dec 18 06:5019th Dec 18 22:15LINK
Milestone Posts
5000
10000
Milestone Years
0510 1520 2530
Location
on my way to save the world

Re: Why is Union more popular ? : Tue Jan 24, 2017 1:34 pm  
Surely the reason Union is 'more popular' is simply because when RL was formed it was as a pro league based on a very small geographical area in a place where union already had a significant amateur set up. So RL was basically a pro sport in Lancs/Yorks, RU is a national sport played also in Lancs/Yorks at an amateur and school level. RL was never going to catch up with that head start when it never really tried to in it's early years. RU is still big in Lancs/Yorks at every level but pro. Which is why I laugh when my southern mates refer to RL as 'you' and RU as 'us' on a north/south basis when in reality RU is a truly national game and popular in the north of England AND everywhere else. The popularity of sports on a national basis has almost nothing to do with it's entertainment value no matter what people think.

It's just a quirk of history and no amount of 'marketing' or skilful 'administration' can change the mindset of a nation, football codes strength in the market places was formed a LONG time ago .
PreviousNext

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 291 guests

REPLY

Subject: 
Message:
   
Please note using apple style emoji's can result in posting failures.
Use the FULL EDITOR to better format content or upload images, be notified of replies etc...

Return to The Virtual Terrace


RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
3m
Smith - should he stay or should he go
ComeOnYouUll
351
7m
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
22m
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
ComeOnYouUll
126
41m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Builth Wells
15
42m
Game - Song Titles
Wanderer
34275
43m
BORED The Band Name Game
Wanderer
55989
52m
2024 Southstandercom Prediction Competition Week 6
steamy
32
53m
The official Leon Hayes Thread
fez1
17
Recent
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
Khlav Kalash
24
Recent
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
55s
New Super League shirts in time for Christmas
The Curtism
114
56s
Halifax H
Maccbull_Big
32
1m
Game - Song Titles
Wanderer
34275
1m
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
Khlav Kalash
24
1m
Smith out ASAP
Backwoodsman
138
1m
Fevround 2
Wollo-Wollo-
89
1m
Challenge Cup
stpatricks
37
1m
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
2m
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
2m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Builth Wells
15
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Septimius Se
2
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
fez1
17
TODAY
Saints a
Warrior Wing
21
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Fartown58
6
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
Khlav Kalash
24
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
Rd 6 I Cas A
Rockinhorse
21
TODAY
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Builth Wells
15
TODAY
Spare Tickets Friday
post
4
TODAY
RL Podcast
AgbriggAmble
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
499
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
628
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
551
Warrington Demolish London For..
659
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
707
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
686
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
932
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
906
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1051
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1021
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1076
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1067
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3839
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1189
Dragons Triumph Over Hull FC t..
1067
POSTSONLINEREGISTRATIONSRECORD
19.57M 3,079 80,00114,103
LOGIN HERE
or REGISTER for more features!.

When you register you get access to the live match scores, live match chat and you can post in the discussions on the forums.
RLFANS Match Centre
 TODAY
National Rugby League 2024-R4
09:00
Sydney
v
Penrith
Mens Super League XXVIII-R6
20:00
Castleford
v
Leeds
 TOMORROW
National Rugby League 2024-R4
05:05
Souths
v
Canterbury
09:05
Brisbane
v
NQL Cowboys
Mens Super League XXVIII-R6
12:30
Hull KR
v
Hull FC
Championship 2024-R2
14:00
Widnes
v
Swinton
Mens Super League XXVIII-R6
15:00
St.Helens
v
Wigan
Championship 2024-R2
15:00
Whitehaven
v
Barrow
17:00
Dewsbury
v
Batley
18:00
Featherstone
v
Wakefield
19:30
Bradford
v
Halifax
19:30
Doncaster
v
Sheffield
League One 2024-R2
19:30
Hunslet
v
Keighley
 Sat 30th Mar
National Rugby League 2024-R4
06:30
St.George
v
Manly
08:35
Gold Coast
v
Dolphins
ALL SCORES PROVIDED BY RLFANS.COM (SETTINGS)
Matches on TV
Thu 28th Mar
SL
20:00
Castleford-Leeds
Fri 29th Mar
SL
12:30
Hull KR-Hull FC
SL
15:00
St.Helens-Wigan
Sat 30th Mar
SL
15:00
Warrington-Catalans
SL
17:30
Salford-Leigh
Sun 31st Mar
SL
15:00
LondonB-Huddersfield
L1
15:00
Oldham-Rochdale
Thu 4th Apr
SL
20:00
Leigh-Wigan
Fri 5th Apr
SL
20:00
Castleford-Salford
SL
20:00
Hull KR-LondonB
SL
20:00
Leeds-Warrington
Sat 6th Apr
SL
15:00
Hull FC-Huddersfield
SL
17:30
Catalans-St.Helens
Sat 13th Apr
CC2024
17:00
Hull KR-Leigh
Sun 14th Apr
CC2024
16:30
St.Helens-Warrington
Fri 19th Apr
SL
20:00
Leeds-Huddersfield
SL
20:00
St.Helens-Hull FC
SL
20:00
Wigan-Castleford
Sat 20th Apr
SL
15:00
Warrington-Leigh
SL
17:30
Catalans-Hull KR
Sun 24th Mar
CC2024 6 Halifax4-40Catalans
NRL 3 Parramatta28-24Manly
NRL 3 Newcastle14-12Melbourne
L1 1 Cornwall16-40Crusaders
L1 1 Keighley58-16Workington
L1 1 Midlands70-16Newcastle
L1 1 Rochdale24-26Hunslet
WOMCC2024 2 FeatherstoneW38-6Shef W
WOMCC2024 2 BarrowW18-20WiganW
WOMCC2024 2 LonB W6-24Wire W
WOMCC2024 2 HKR Wom0-90LeedsW
WOMCC2024 2 Lei L W6-36Hudds W
Sat 23rd Mar
CC2024 6 Batley14-28Castleford
CC2024 6 Huddersfield50-6Hull FC
CC2024 6 Leigh26-14Featherstone
CC2024 6 Warrington42-0LondonB
NRL 3 Canterbury32-0Gold Coast
NRL 3 St.George24-46NQL Cowboys
NRL 3 Wests36-6Cronulla
WOMCC2024 2 Card Wom58-0Sal W
This is an inplay table and live positions can change.
Mens Betfred Super League XXVIII ROUND : 1
 PLDFADIFFPTS
Warrington 5 156 58 98 8
Wigan 4 144 54 90 8
St.Helens 5 118 40 78 8
Catalans 5 126 54 72 8
Hull KR 5 98 63 35 6
Leeds 5 82 82 0 6
 
Salford 5 95 96 -1 6
Huddersfield 5 94 98 -4 4
Leigh 4 82 54 28 2
Hull FC 5 54 162 -108 2
Castleford 5 56 178 -122 0
LondonB 5 54 220 -166 0
This is an inplay table and live positions can change.
Betfred Championship 2024 ROUND : 1
 PLDFADIFFPTS
Widnes 1 44 8 36 2
Wakefield 1 42 12 30 2
Doncaster 1 36 20 16 2
Halifax 1 24 10 14 2
Featherstone 1 24 20 4 2
Sheffield 1 24 22 2 2
 
Whitehaven 1 18 16 2 2
Toulouse 1 22 24 -2 0
Swinton 1 16 18 -2 0
Batley 1 20 24 -4 0
Dewsbury 1 10 24 -14 0
York 1 20 36 -16 0
Bradford 1 12 42 -30 0
Barrow 1 8 44 -36 0
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
3m
Smith - should he stay or should he go
ComeOnYouUll
351
7m
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
22m
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
ComeOnYouUll
126
41m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Builth Wells
15
42m
Game - Song Titles
Wanderer
34275
43m
BORED The Band Name Game
Wanderer
55989
52m
2024 Southstandercom Prediction Competition Week 6
steamy
32
53m
The official Leon Hayes Thread
fez1
17
Recent
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
Khlav Kalash
24
Recent
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
55s
New Super League shirts in time for Christmas
The Curtism
114
56s
Halifax H
Maccbull_Big
32
1m
Game - Song Titles
Wanderer
34275
1m
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
Khlav Kalash
24
1m
Smith out ASAP
Backwoodsman
138
1m
Fevround 2
Wollo-Wollo-
89
1m
Challenge Cup
stpatricks
37
1m
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
2m
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
2m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Builth Wells
15
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Septimius Se
2
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
fez1
17
TODAY
Saints a
Warrior Wing
21
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Fartown58
6
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
Khlav Kalash
24
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
Rd 6 I Cas A
Rockinhorse
21
TODAY
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Builth Wells
15
TODAY
Spare Tickets Friday
post
4
TODAY
RL Podcast
AgbriggAmble
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
499
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
628
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
551
Warrington Demolish London For..
659
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
707
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
686
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
932
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
906
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1051
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1021
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1076
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1067
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3839
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1189
Dragons Triumph Over Hull FC t..
1067


Visit the RLFANS.COM SHOP
for more merchandise!