England Rugby Union & it's popularity...

[tidyman]

The thing I dont get with the bored comments is that I can practically watch any sport and get in to it. I was in Australia for the Aussie rules final, I had no idea what was going on and yet I was hooked while it was on. I find myself watching random sports and on Sky Sports and supporting the under dog even though it probably Lacrosse or some shit like that

I'm with you. I think.

I'll watch virtually any sport. Especially if I've had a bet on it.

You never hear anyone saying, I fucking hate tennis. It's so boring compared to motor racing.

But because the are essentially two versions of the same game, everyone who is into one, feels a duty to hate the other code with a passion.

Having said that, I've been watching League for over 30 years and do think it is a much better spectator sport than Union.

But that's just my personal opinion. I used to have a right good laugh watching my mate play Union for Broughton Park years ago when City had an off day.

 

[Fat Fairy]

Ah! It's good to see all the traditional rubbish spouted about Union coming out again.

Too much kicking? Well it is a version of football after all, although it is more fashionable at the moment. I remember an old Wigan stalwart who swore on his life that he'd watched a union match where there were 160 kicks. One every 30 seconds?

Which leads us to the next one. Scrums taking two minutes? There isn't time with all that kicking!

All old Etonians? Total rubbish. When the game went pro in the 90's, the Leicester XV included a scaffolder, a carpenter, an antiques restorer, two (beat) coppers, a teacher, a bank clerk three insurance salesmen, one bomber pilot, a narrow boat builder, and just to prove what toffs they were, a durham university graduate, an accountant and a stockbroker!!
Out of the XV, only two (the Underwood brothers) went to public school.

What about the rest of the teams? ;)

Don't know, I'm from Leicester and follow my home team. I knew these 'stats' from memory, but there is little information on the 'net from then. I reckon though, you're angling for a bit of Harlequins. Even in union, we reckon they're snobs :-)

 

[ell]

I went to college to study sport so had a mix of Union/league players in my class. The union lads were alright the league lads were bellends and thick as pig shit (even on a sports course they stood out for being dense)

Give me union over league every day

 

[Ancient Citizen]

League removed a lot of the tedious kicking from Rugby, which involved the crowd seeing more of the ball, plus took two men out, hence a much faster game with far more tries. It also ammended the points system, something Union had to copy, as drop goals had the same value as tries, which is ridiculous.
We all have our preferences and will never agree but for me, Union is only watchable at international level, club Rugby is shite, plus League players are far fitter IMO, some right fat bastards playing Union.

 

[BoyBlue_1985]

League removed a lot of the tedious kicking from Rugby, which involved the crowd seeing more of the ball, plus took two men out, hence a much faster game with far more tries. It also ammended the points system, something Union had to copy, as drop goals had the same value as tries, which is ridiculous.
We all have our preferences and will never agree but for me, Union is only watchable at international level, club Rugby is shite, plus League players are far fitter IMO, some right fat bastards playing Union.

Try's were worth no points when rugby started as the main objective was getting the ball over the bar hence why what is now a score is called a TRY as you used to earn the right to have a Try at kicking it over. Probably stating what most rugby guys know anyway

 

[Ancient Citizen]

League removed a lot of the tedious kicking from Rugby, which involved the crowd seeing more of the ball, plus took two men out, hence a much faster game with far more tries. It also ammended the points system, something Union had to copy, as drop goals had the same value as tries, which is ridiculous.
We all have our preferences and will never agree but for me, Union is only watchable at international level, club Rugby is shite, plus League players are far fitter IMO, some right fat bastards playing Union.

Try's were worth no points when rugby started as the main objective was getting the ball over the bar hence why what is now a score is called a TRY as you used to earn the right to have a Try at kicking it over. Probably stating what most rugby guys know anyway

True, but this was quickly replaced as constantly watching someone take kicks at goal is nowhere near as exciting as open play. League also offered the opportunity of payment to blokes who were, in the main, working class Northerners involved in the industries at the time, who could not afford to lose pay.
Unlike the poncey stuck up posh boys who could rely on Daddy's handouts, followed by a lucrative career in the Foreign Office, whilst they rolled their lard arses around the Twickers mud ;)

 

[Cheesy]

Let's be honest here, many who hate Union simply have a massive chip on their shoulder over it's preceived elitism.

 

[Ancient Citizen]

Let's be honest here, many who hate Union simply have a massive chip on their shoulder over it's preceived elitism.

Not me, hence my last tongue in cheek comment. I like both codes but much prefer League as it is much faster.

 

[Cheesy]

Let's be honest here, many who hate Union simply have a massive chip on their shoulder over it's preceived elitism.

Not me, hence my last tongue in cheek comment. I like both codes but much prefer League as it is much faster.

I did notice your comment was sarcasm :)

 

[Ancient Citizen]

Just an aside here, there have been a few mini competitions of 7 a side Rugby, both codes being played in competition by one side of Union players, the other comprised of League players. It was the League players who came out on top each time, as their overall fitness is superior.
This was some years ago and if anyone has seen anything recently where the Union players triumphed, I'd be interested.