I am not suggesting in any way that RL will die but since the move to a professional game, Rugby Union has moved strides ahead of RL. When there was once a time that the League clubs could attract the top Union players, the shoe is now firmly on the other foot these days.

What I did notice, however, was that the fans were absolutely terrific in the tournament. OK, you still get the "Swing Low" brigade, mainly at "HQ" as they like to call it and Scottish fans are indeed usually the toffee-nosed ones from the Lothian and borders regions but the atmosphere created in the RUWC was tremendous, and a big surprise to this viewer.

The problem for RL is that it is a minority sport, only played (seriously) in four counties on the planet in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Queensland and NSW. In terms of appeal from spectators etc, it sits alongside Hurling and Gaelic Football, both minority sports, as enjoyable as they are.

RU is a worldwide game and as the game evolves (FA called it spot on - the introduction of RL tactics) it is becoming an excellent game to watch. It will continue to grow.

One benefit to English based RL sides however is the frankly awful treatment of Sam Burgess who was the scapegoat from the start. A big part of me thinks the the English Unionites were delighted that their side went out so that they could blame the "convert". (Curiously they never mention the "convert" in Jason Robinson who scored the (ultimately matchwinning) try in the 2003 WC). I am sure that some of our own RL may well be put off given that the media will have them as the sitting ducks for any future "failure".

RL should pretty much drop the word "Rugby" from the name. They are now two completely different sports and as long as the title stays in the name then the comparisons will inevitably follow.

(Ironically, the Grand Final got more than its usual coverage on the BBC this year only because the Union side were playing a "dead rubber" on the other side of Manchester.)

Although the RFU's wheeze in deliberately scheduling an England WC match in Manchester in a pathetic attempt to devalue the GF is probably the perfect illustration of the attitudes that are entrenched in that organisation and the perfect answer to RU trolls who say RL types are paranoid and make it all up. Much is deliberately done to try to harm RL, and even resorting to blaming the miserable failure of their national team on RL converts and coaches. Sam in particular didn't deserve the Unionite bagging he got (especally as they were winning and defending well until they took Sam off).

What is actually quite amusing is that I firmly believe that they deliberately played the game in Manchester so that if they won the tournament they could not have been accused of "only winning because they played every game at Twickenham" like they often say about the Football boys, at Wembley, in 1966.

So whilst they faced Fiji, Australia and Wales at Twickkers, I reckon they arranged to leave their home comforts only to face the group whipping boys.

Just a shame it was all over by then......

There is a "Stigma" surrounding RL and this has to be changed. The reinforcing at every opportunity that RL is a working class sport and generally watched by such an audience is debilitating. Only the other week, a women was speaking on the radio about the economy and I quote said " The working class of the North" as if that is all that makes up a region.

RU already had bases to grow, because RU was a travelling show and embedded through the Empire.

The RFL is entrusted to make the correct strategical and political moves to develop the game with limited finances. Clubs have financial constraints I understand that but RU have been there too.

The RFL and clubs "Together have to be smarter".

To Edit:- Sky could employ a smarter and more technical panel to cover games (Sorry Stevo and the other fella your great guys really )

As a side note ITV were better at covering a Rugby World cup than the sp coverage we got of the BBC.

FWIW, this was sent to people who bought tickets for the RUWC at the Olympic Stadiumhttps://i.imgur.com/xWB7mpJ.jpg" >

Doubt it was the RFU directly, and initially thought the RFL had bought the mailing list, but judging by the links at the bottom it's whatever third party company was doing the RUWC ticket sales.

^
That's interesting

No argument against any prior posts really...

But I feel quite upbeat at the moment - despite the RFL being absolutely useless - I think the sheer quality of our game is gaining growth in recognition.

Every day brings a Sam Burgess mention and a twitter rush - and every time he is talked about - so is Rugby League.

RL gets mentioned on Radio 2 via Simon Mayo and this morning Sean O'Loughlin was on the Chris Evans show.

Ticket sales for the internationals are healthy, the product has once again delivered (so far) and there is a passion in the crowd for our national team.
(I know it didn't come over on TV - but I was there and it was great to see and be part of)

And finally, I think its dawning on some (but never admitted in public) - that the Sam Burgess story so far proves that;

The level and intensity that Sam played at with Rabbitohs was far above the levels he needed to drop to for England RU.

In other words - he had to go backwards - and thats just not Sam.

While the media, Inverdale and their ilk had a field day - I think they have made themselves look s.

Unlike some other failed moves to RU, Sam's abilities have been well and articulately documented by Russell Crowe - plain for all to see.

You could watch RU for 10 years and not see the likes!

And now Slammin Sam heads back to Sydney - Rugby League is all over the news headlines today - could he be playing against the Kiwis on Saturday?

Radio 2 are leading with this story right now..

Well that's not a surprise. His Autobiography will make good reading when he brings it out.

"Homesick". FFS.

Diplomatic though

Why didn't he sign for us. What has Sydney got over Bradford..........................Er, maybe not!

Sounds better than "treated like crap".

As I suggested earlier, I firmly believe that some people within the halls of "HQ" were secretly hoping for a failure from England so that they could blame the "convert". He was a dead man walking from the start and I am not surprised he has gone back to a game and a team where he is appreciated and adored.

Sam Burgess did not cost England a shot at the RUWC whatsoever. It was caused by a mixture of arrogance, bad decision making and pre-historic tactics that tend to avoid doing the things that often helps win games of rugby - scoring tries.

Despite playing all the meaningful games at home, they lost two out of three (scoring a massive 2 tries in the process against the bigger nations of Australia and Wales) and, quite frankly, are nowhere near as good as they think they are.

Every tournament with an England team (in any sport) is the same. They get over-hyped by the media, balls it up, then the same media point the finger of blame at someone in order to "save face." Burgess was the obvious and easiest target as he was not an Old Etonian.

He is absolutely spot on. England Rugby Union have always been an utterly loathsome organisation. This is an association that continued to make a drug supplier their captain and still employ him in some capacity. They look after their own and seem to have deep suspicion of all "incomers".

Unions' loss is Leagues' gain.