I think you have taken that a bit too personaly flower.

My point was about the best British player looking poor on the international stage and I was agreeing with you more than anything.

Of course there is. Its' called Sam Tomkins.

Just keep the useless Leeds players out of his way and the 4 nations, ashes and World Cup are ours for the taking.

However, all the kiwis have to do is button up their shirt collars and he won't be able to make a tackle.

No offence taken, and glad to hear someone agrees with me. Maybe I should have clarified by putting "particularly w**k". Long in particular was less able than most to translate club form to international level IMO.
Myabe that's the difficulty all halves have?

Work is ongoing, but it takes time. I know in Nottingham, a lot of the guys at the club do work in schools, and are actually getting the schools playing the game.

But this is mainly due to dedication of certain individuals to get the word spread about the game. A large proportion of guys who come down to Outlaws are union converts, who very quickly realise that League is a game worth playing.

However, I am tempted to think that although stuff works well in Nottingham, its a fairly rare case, certainly outside of the heartlands.

the RFL needs to target clubs in cities like Nottingham, and get more kids playing the game.

Indeed. Ours is one of the biggest comp schools in the area and attracts kids from all our neighbouring villages from 5 years to leaving school including a 6th form college and even though their are a few in the school who support Leeds and Saints they school only plays Union. My lad has even asked the school if they could try it only to be told no one would understand it.

I went to school in Pudsey in the 80s and the head of PE would only allow union to be played. It put a lot of us off playing completely. This was in Pudsey FFS not somewhere outside of the RL heartlands.

In the end a protest by lads a few years younger than me meant he had to give in as they refused to play union for him and the school team was seriously weakened. One of them went on to join the Rhinos.

judas.

The comp in Garforth also only plays Union.. it's a disgrace. It's a huge school in a Rugby League hot bed and it plays fecking Union.....

I was never a disciple in the first place

Does anyone know actually why these highschools play Union not League ?? Especially those located in RL hearlands.........It baffles me...