I am a huge Welsh rugby (union) fan and also supporting the Crusaders - and some of the stuff written in this thread is bollox.

First the general feeling among Welsh rugby fans towards the Crusaders is either supportive or at worst disinterested. There is very little animosity, and certainly no worry or fears about RL success.

While there is always an element of an alternative sport competing for spectators cash. the fact that the two seasons do not overlap much has largely eliminated this concern.

I think the real purpose of gatlands statement was to assure any budding youngsters that if they wanted to give League a try it would not preclude a future union career.

Because the second point is that Welsh rugby, while not awash with money, is very well off - the WRU collected 18 million from the Autumn internationals, another 12 million from the 6N games, and another 4 million from the European TV money. Sure they have a 40 million debt in the bank, but that is secured against 120 million Millenium Stadium.

That leaves a lot of money for player development and funding to the 4 regional sides - who each have their own revenue streams.

While Soccer is genuine competition - RL is barely a blip on the graph, and will never get in the way of RU. The WRU are openminded about the Crusaders and recognise that they can live with them and can even benefit. But nobody is worried.

And once more - I am a Crusaders fan and am not attacking RL - just the views of some posters.

That all sounds very complicated. Very Rugby League.

It's remarkably simple for rugby league! When I played up north I often wondered if BARLA was really necessary. Now I run a development area team, I know that it isn't!

I honestly havent given the time to look into how it all works, but from the little bit of info I gather in reading news, I get the feeling that BARLA was set up to make certain people feel very important about themselves.

I would suggest thats how its turned out, not why it was set up.

BARLA has very little to do with Amateur RL outside of the heartlands.
The politicing and hostility to development from some, has meant that the RFL runs the summer Conference.