went to watch rhinos v wakefield on new years day, followed on from carnegie v gloucester, lets just say during the turn around between the games there were plenty of the tweed jacket and polished brogue brigade that couldn't get out of the place quick enough, lest they dare set their eyes on the league game. It was actually quite amusing sitting back and watching them.

If I may chip in? I have tried and tried to get into Union,it just doesn`t work for me,as someone pointed out,the endless rucks,kicking the length of the field to each other,and a bar room brawl.Sorry not for me,but I take nothing away from those who can hack it.

For those who have an interest in how/why the 2 codes diverged, and the circumstances leading up to it, there is no better book than "Rugby's Great Split" by Tony Collins.
The decision to split by some northern clubs was not taken lightly and there are far more complex reasons other than the legendary broken time payments.

The history is interesting and full of what-ifs - particularly how things might have shaped up had the Welsh clubs joined the Northern Union.

As for the game, union produces a lot of quality outside backs (just look at the number of union players we had until the game went professional), and they can put on some great attacking play. However, the game is built around contested possession. That's what allows them to have the endless rucks and mauls, scrums and lineouts. It may be boring, but its what keeps scorelines tight - imagine the All Blacks threequarters vs England at RL, it'd be a massacre.

That would smack of ineqality if the first fifteen actually did any training.

Worth stressing that the history goes back to [ibefore[/i there was any rugby union. The RFU was a short (though important) stage in the history RL which was found lacking and discarded.