: Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:30 pm  

"It has probably taken over rugby league as a professional sport"

Not if yesterday's England v Italy game is anything to go by!

Half of 'em look as if they should be playing for the thirds in a local park.

[tb]

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:52 pm  

JB Down Under wrote:

There's so much money in the union game that their players may be targeted in the future.

I stopped reading after that!

Don't blame you – so much money in the game that they can't support more than four professional teams: hence Celtic Warriors being disbanded by WRU, and Samuels' desire to form a professinal RL team. rofl

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 1:47 pm  

Barnacle Bill wrote: "It has probably taken over rugby league as a professional sport" Not if yesterday's England v Italy game is anything to go by! Half of 'em look as if they should be playing for the thirds in a local park. Tell me about it, have a look at this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7877034.stm The best bit is when Guscott says 'you don't even see that in schoolboy rugby'.

Barnacle Bill wrote: "It has probably taken over rugby league as a professional sport" Not if yesterday's England v Italy game is anything to go by! Half of 'em look as if they should be playing for the thirds in a local park. Tell me about it, have a look at this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7877034.stm The best bit is when Guscott says 'you don't even see that in schoolboy rugby'.

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 1:54 pm  

Barnacle Bill wrote:

"It has probably taken over rugby league as a professional sport"

Not if yesterday's England v Italy game is anything to go by!

Half of 'em look as if they should be playing for the thirds in a local park.

Whilst it is a bitter pill to swallow for chip on shoulder rugby league fans, Rugby Union HAS surpassed rugby league as a professional sport.

By the way, the England team at the rugby league world cup, probably wouldnt have made the third team on a local park.

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 2:46 pm  

Eurob0y wrote:

Whilst it is a bitter pill to swallow for chip on shoulder rugby league fans, Rugby Union HAS surpassed rugby league as a professional sport.

I'm all ears.

Please do explain!

We could be in Titan territory here.

The floor is all yours.

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 2:59 pm  

I didn't realise that Lee Byrne ran out for the Blue Bullls in the RLC.
Now there's a Welsh player of Superleague quality. Pity he's running out as the best international fullback in World RU.
That's ironic for the Victor Meldrew brigade.

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:04 pm  

crucrucrusaders wrote: Tell me about it, have a look at this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7877034.stm The best bit is when Guscott says 'you don't even see that in schoolboy rugby'. didnt see the game yesterday, but that is comical. think about it, thats one of the best 6 teams in europe!! inverdale is a c0ck!

crucrucrusaders wrote: Tell me about it, have a look at this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7877034.stm The best bit is when Guscott says 'you don't even see that in schoolboy rugby'. didnt see the game yesterday, but that is comical. think about it, thats one of the best 6 teams in europe!! inverdale is a c0ck!

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:04 pm  

Leaguefan wrote:

I'm all ears.

Please do explain!

We could be in Titan territory here.

The floor is all yours.

Actually I would agree with his statement too.

Look at the amount of professional RU clubs around the world. There are far more clubs around.

They have professional clubs based in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and so on.

We have pro clubs in England, Wales, France, Australia and NZ.

They are capable of pulling huge crowds in for Internationals, and are now starting to do the same for some club games (see Quins 50k crowd at Twickenham, and Leicester taking a game to Walkers Stadium).

Their revenue streams also far exceed anything we have in league.

Just a pity that they have a dire sport!

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:05 pm  

crucrucrusaders wrote: Tell me about it, have a look at this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7877034.stm The best bit is when Guscott says 'you don't even see that in schoolboy rugby'. didnt see the game yesterday, but that is comical. think about it, thats one of the best 6 teams in europe!! inverdale is a c0ck!

crucrucrusaders wrote: Tell me about it, have a look at this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7877034.stm The best bit is when Guscott says 'you don't even see that in schoolboy rugby'. didnt see the game yesterday, but that is comical. think about it, thats one of the best 6 teams in europe!! inverdale is a c0ck!

: Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:06 pm  

Dave T wrote:

Actually I would agree with his statement too.

Look at the amount of professional RU clubs around the world. There are far more clubs around.

They have professional clubs based in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and so on.

We have pro clubs in England, Wales, France, Australia and NZ.

They are capable of pulling huge crowds in for Internationals, and are now starting to do the same for some club games (see Quins 50k crowd at Twickenham, and Leicester taking a game to Walkers Stadium).

Their revenue streams also far exceed anything we have in league.

Just a pity that they have a dire sport!

you cant compare a 'national' 'global' sport with a minority sport played in small pockets in a select few countries