If correct who could have thought that Andy Ripley - being a lumbering, gigantuan back-rower had a prayer V a perfectly proportioned athletic type in Keith Fielding?

I doubt League could take too much credit from that.

I recall when Ed Moses was allowed to run V Fielding in the 100 meter at an International Superstars event. I thought it might be interesting .... it weren't. The true athlete was cantering .... no-one else in the frame.

Even more shocking Malcolm Macdonald was quicker (than Fielding) but not as quick as Des Drummond.

*Please note none of the above probably happened anything like I recall it.

pedant mode on

first kick and clap wc was 87. 91 was over here, i 'stewarded' at the USA v Italy game at cross green.

off

Ah you were the jobsworth back in that October Saturday.

Was that the one where Kevin Keegan fell of his bike or Jodie Schekter got caught putting olive oil on his socks during the squat thrusts ?

I would be interested to see how he played tonight, scored two tries but I wonder how much involvement he had in the rest of the game.

As a fan of both codes, it will be a loss to League but I would be happy if he is as successful as Ashton in Union. Though I think someone has mentioned before, Ashton had the chance to learn his trade in a lower league which was ideal and now we are seeing the benefits. Good luck to him.

Andy Ripley died last year I believe (aged just over 60) of prostate cancer.

In my example not sure if Fielding, Macdonald and Drummond ever competed directly but seem to recall they had each (in that order) set record Superstars times for the 100 Meters.

Didn't Macdonald once run a 11 second race on Superstars but it was ruled out as someone was disputing the start so they marched back up the track, re-set and went again. This time Macdonald did a 10.9 ...... that's good going.

I think Drummond eventually did a 10.85 out in Japan or such like.

There were some right shinanigans with the dips and squat thrusts. Jonah Barrington springs to mind here for some reason. Much better watching David Hemery's facial contortions from his 6th dip onwards than Brian Jacks pecking bird impressions.

Keegan was in a mess but good on him for getting back in the saddle. Can't imagine many footballers would do likewise these days.

the current equivalent in footballing terms would probably be Rooney? maybe we don't have anyone of the equivalent standing in european football that keegan had at that time, can you imagine the insurance premiums these days?

I can't but it can't be much more than what Robert Kubica is paying for his Skoda Fabia.

No I don't think that Drew got his full Scottish cap. I seem to remember he played in the trials and for South of Scotland so was close to becoming a full International.


__________



No I have said nothing to support your case. I simply listed eight England Internationals who became GB RL Internationals of note.

In fact you also have to go back more than 2 decades to find more than a handful of Welsh Internationals that converted to League.

There was a challange to name 5 England RU Internationals that coverted to League in the 70's, 80's & 90's. Well in my list are 3 (5 if you include the late 60's) that converted during that time to which I will add Mike Lampkowski (Wakefield Trinity) and Nigel Heslop who signed for Oldham in the 90's so that makes 5.

Back in the pre-pro RU days, the reason that there were more Welsh RU International players than English that converted to League is nothing to do with what League could afford to pay or that the English RU produced less talented rugby players.

The motivation for the Welsh to convert was for better financial security as the typical Welsh International came from a poor mining background. Whereas the typical England RU International came from a wealthy / public school / establishment background with excellent future career prospects so money was not the motivation.

However in the North of England there has always been a cross over and RU has been a rich breeding ground for many talented RL players who learnt their basic rugby in the RU code. eg Offiah, Atkinson etc

With the advent of pro RU the pendulum has swung in their favour for the converts. Whist it means we lose some of the most talented players it does have a side benefit that raises the profile of League on a National level.

With Jason Robinson and now Ashton our code gets TV & Press mentions every time they score. Add to this the success as RU coaches from former League players from Larder to Shaun Edwards it is not all bad news. Maybe some of the new Ashton/Robinson fans will realise that League produces some unique talent and star to follow our game as well.

Even easier if he were from Castleford.

Didn't stop you incorrectly including him before moving on to the non-Internationals.




If only. You listed six + one who didn't make his full England RU debut until after leaving pro League + one that Rothman's has never even heard of (Thomas Holiday at Oldham?)

As far as making contributions of note for GB (as you claim) I'm not sure any made more than a literal hand full in total. Hardly what many would call 'GB Internationals of note.' Unless the note in question was hastily scribbled on the back of a beer mat during a pub quiz.



Post 1990

Which were the three from your original list of eight? Keith Fielding, John Bentley and which other?

Bev Risman - 60's
Ray French - 60's
Mike Coulman - 60's
Jim Brough - 20's
BJ Mather - Ineligable
Thomas Holiday - Does he even exist?



Yes I agree to an extent, although England RU did use to cap a hell of a lot of talentless dross (still probably do) who wouldn't have lasted five minutes in League. [i'Can this lad play?' 'No, not really but his old school tie will look nice on the team photo.'[/i



Yup don't disagree with that. Although some might argue what Offiah brought came more from the track than the rugby field. First time he played at Headingley he covered the width of the pitch and got tackled into touch .... twice and to much amusement amongst the 'A' crowd faithful. He soon learnt though and we weren't laughing much after that.

Just a pity that crossover was a one-way street for 100 years with players victimised for mixing with fellow amateurs.



At last something we can agree on ..... unsurprisingly as I said as much earlier in the thread.

Has this been confirmed yet?

If as (seems certain) this goes ahead I hope he does well - as Tvoc says successful converts only serve to advertise our game.

However, I'm not confident - to me Eastmond has the hallmarks of a poorly thought out Union sighing (like Iestyn, Farrell, Paul etc)...where will he play? No chance of ever being a Union half back as the tactical difference between the games is so vast, little chance in the three-quarters as union has gone down the bigger is better route (eg Sonny-bill as a centre, ) so that leaves full back...does Eastmond have the kicking game to play there in Union? (I know Jason Robinson was a success playing mainly at full back but frankly he's a unique talent so not a viable comparison)

All in all I think it'll be a real shame if he goes to union - a real lost talent from a British RL point of view but likely to be a wasted talent in the other code (even if he is ultimately a sucess I can't see him ever using his full range of attacking talents in the kicking code)

On the Sky coverage from Wheldon Road last night it made reference to a Saints official (could have even been Simmons) hoping Eastmond would declare his intentions soon. So it still sounds unofficial at the moment.



I tend to agree but I'm fairly ignorant when it comes to the ised version of League. If he goes I suspect he'll be back sooner rather than later.

Incorrect. I did not say Drew Broatch was an International. See my quote below.

"Wales RU of course produced a conveyor belt of talent and Scotland chipped in with a few as well - the great Dave Valentine (Huddersfield), Ronnie Cowan, Drew Broatch & Alan Tait etc"

You mentioned no timescale limitations!

However if you want another Scottish RU International convert then there is the actor Roy Kinnear's father Roy Muir Kinnear who also played 4 times for the British Lions before joining Wigan where he scores 81 tries in 182 games and also was a GB League international.






Wrong again tvoc

What are you talking about?

All these were rugby players of note in both codes. The number of caps a player achieves is not the way to judge his talent. In bygone days their were few Internationals compared with today. You asked for "proven International talent" which all this list have.

eg

Like I said you have to go back more than 2 decades to find more than a handful of Welsh Internationals that converted to League.