Rugby League - Page 3

DeadShotKeen · 11-11-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crackity Jones

I knew nothing about that. Interesting stuff.

It's weird how Union is considered "posh" in England though.

I think Wales is relatively unique in terms of RU being "the working man's game". League has been quite slow to tap the general appetite for both codes, although it's very much second fiddle there, for sure.

Smeg! · 11-11-2009, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadShotKeen

Well, I watch quite a lot of international RU so I've seen both Northern and Southern hemisphere teams in action on numerous occasions. It's how international RU is in general I'm afraid.

I think that's a total misnomer as well. In the run-up to the WC in 2003 England were by far and away the most exciting side in the world, used to throw it about a fair bit. They trounced your lot on their own patch one time (2002 maybe?) playing some good running rugby, I seem to remember. They weren't so exciting in the WC but then needs must. You adapt your style to the occasion etc. So it's a nonsense to suggest that the Southern hemisphere sides are by definition "more exciting".

They were never the most exciting team in the world. If excitement is measured by wide play, the All Blacks haven't been surpassed in more than a generation. And England went into that world cup favourites precisely because of their forward pressure and Johnny WIlkinson's boot. Go back and look at the articles from the time - nobody was talking about Lewsey and Robinson.

Southern Hemisphere rugby isn't more back-focused "by definition". It's moreso by the culture of the game down here, and most importantly by the weather. In SA and Aus, we don't play games in mudpits every weekend where clean ball's a rarity and flankers have a field day. And we don't play many games with strong winds that make kicking the percentage move.

Plus, we have Fijians and Samoans.

Smeg! · 11-11-2009, 04:59 AM

I think it kind of makes sense that Union is posh though. You need a fair bit of equipment, you need at least 11-12 players a side, and you need a referee, and people get seriously hurt if they don't know what they're doing. It all requires a lot of organisation. Which tends to mean you need a bit of cash.

On the other hand, you can get a bunch of mates together and hit up a game of League in the park. The rules are nice and simple - it's usually pretty obvious when a tackle's been made etc - so you can just call em amongst yourselves etc.

It's the same thing that makes Football far and away the best muckabout sport in the world. In that respect at least I'll say League is the better of the codes.

Horses Are Nice · 11-11-2009, 10:58 AM

The horse people excell at rugby league. In fact, if they were not banned, they would currently be sitting at the top of the table, and horse people players would command astronomical sallaries.

DeadShotKeen · 11-11-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smeg!

I think it kind of makes sense that Union is posh though. You need a fair bit of equipment, you need at least 11-12 players a side, and you need a referee, and people get seriously hurt if they don't know what they're doing. It all requires a lot of organisation. Which tends to mean you need a bit of cash.

On the other hand, you can get a bunch of mates together and hit up a game of League in the park. The rules are nice and simple - it's usually pretty obvious when a tackle's been made etc - so you can just call em amongst yourselves etc.

It's the same thing that makes Football far and away the best muckabout sport in the world. In that respect at least I'll say League is the better of the codes.

I think the main reason RU spread better was that our toffs took it with them to the colonies during the Empire years. Generally - but not exclusively - the game was then taken up by the toffs welcoming them at the other end.

RL generally didn't spread much beyond the heartlands for the same reason. I'd be interested to know why RL took off so big in Aus though, something I plan to read up on at some point.

Loving how RL was banned in France during the 2nd World War. Banned! A sport! The game was apparently synonymous with the revolutionary spirit or something, drew in revolutionary types. Awesome.

Smeg! · 11-11-2009, 04:14 PM

God damn it. In one fell swoop, that little bit of trivia suddenly renders rugby league a whole lot cooler.

DeadShotKeen · 11-11-2009, 04:20 PM

From Wiki:

Germany invaded France in May 1940 and divided France into occupied France and a pro-Nazi Vichy France which roughly corresponded to the rugby-playing heartlands. Some of the French Rugby Union's senior administrators took advantage of their close relationship with the new regime to have rugby league outlawed as a "corrupter" of French youth[2]. All funds belonging to the French Rugby League Federation were confiscated and given to rugby union. In addition, rugby league players were forced to switch to rugby union. Rugby union's connections with the Vichy government and Nazism have remained largely unexplored by that sport.

Bit further on is this pearler!

Although the ban on rugby league was lifted, it was prevented from using the word rugby in its title from 24 April 1949 until 26 June 1991, having to use the name Jeu à Treize (Game of Thirteen).

11-11-2009, 04:59 AM	#23
Smeg! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,406	I think it kind of makes sense that Union is posh though. You need a fair bit of equipment, you need at least 11-12 players a side, and you need a referee, and people get seriously hurt if they don't know what they're doing. It all requires a lot of organisation. Which tends to mean you need a bit of cash. On the other hand, you can get a bunch of mates together and hit up a game of League in the park. The rules are nice and simple - it's usually pretty obvious when a tackle's been made etc - so you can just call em amongst yourselves etc. It's the same thing that makes Football far and away the best muckabout sport in the world. In that respect at least I'll say League is the better of the codes. __________________ Active with the activists, sleeping with the sleepers. My first and last.fm.

11-11-2009, 04:14 PM	#26
Smeg! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,406	God damn it. In one fell swoop, that little bit of trivia suddenly renders rugby league a whole lot cooler. __________________ Active with the activists, sleeping with the sleepers. My first and last.fm.

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11-11-2009, 10:58 AM	#24
Horses Are Nice Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 40	The horse people excell at rugby league. In fact, if they were not banned, they would currently be sitting at the top of the table, and horse people players would command astronomical sallaries.

11-11-2009, 04:20 PM	#27
DeadShotKeen Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,657	From Wiki: Germany invaded France in May 1940 and divided France into occupied France and a pro-Nazi Vichy France which roughly corresponded to the rugby-playing heartlands. Some of the French Rugby Union's senior administrators took advantage of their close relationship with the new regime to have rugby league outlawed as a "corrupter" of French youth[2]. All funds belonging to the French Rugby League Federation were confiscated and given to rugby union. In addition, rugby league players were forced to switch to rugby union. Rugby union's connections with the Vichy government and Nazism have remained largely unexplored by that sport. Bit further on is this pearler! Although the ban on rugby league was lifted, it was prevented from using the word rugby in its title from 24 April 1949 until 26 June 1991, having to use the name Jeu à Treize (Game of Thirteen).