Other interesting things to mention. According to Gareth Thomas ( Welsh RU Captain & most capped player in Welsh RU histrory).

"For me, league is more physical without a shadow of a doubt. Particularly in my position because where I played in union (centre, wing or fullback) you make maybe six or seven carries a game whereas in league you’re doing 15 to 20, the contact is more frequent and what I found in league is that even on the wing you can never rest.
“In union there’s a lot of kicking and set plays going on which seems to take ages to play, whereas in league if you shut down for a few seconds the players are so talented in recognising that you’re up or you’re out of the line and they put the ball into the air into a gap and score. It’s 80 minutes of working whereas in union you can rest and have a look at what’s going on in the crowd a lot of the time"

These are stats from the NRL & Super 14 for 2009

The real ball in play is after you take out the stoppages when the clock is still ticking.

Average single-game values.................. NRL round 26 2009 .............Super 14 round 13 2009
Restarts of play ........................................13 scrums.......................20 scrums; 26 lineouts
Kicks at goal (penalties and conversions) ........9 .........................................11
Penalties (not resulting in kicks at goal) .........11 ........................................15
Time of ball in play........................................62 minutes ............................28 minutes


In the final regular season round of the NRL, the ball is in play for 78% of the total game time. In the final regular season game of the Super 14 the ball is in play for 35% of total game time.

Sourcehttps://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/nrl-vs-super-14-differences-game-and-players/971/28136rl

You have him summed up perfectly, lol!!!

Staggering stats!!

I know that they are different games, and I do not want to open up any Union v League can of worms, but, really, how can anyone prefer to watch 28 minutes of action over 62 minutes??

good stats giveetoomee, shows why I can go and mash some tea without missing anything when watching union on the tv, but have to wait for half or full time with league.