Quote Gijou="Gijou"Nice attempt to revise the history.
What actually occurred was:-
1. The original code of rugby split into (later named) rugby league and rugby union.
2. Rugby league players were paid, openly and honestly, via the introduction of professionalism.
3. Rugby union also paid players, under the table and without paying tax, via the introduction of shamateurism.
4. At the same time, rugby union claimed the privileges of amateurism while persecuting rugby league, usually via the manipulation of politics, for its professionalism. Rugby union thereby permitted a gross outrage in the name of sport.
5. Rugby union then went professional itself, an act of breathless hypocrisy, without apology to rugby league for over a century's misbehaviour and lying, in 1996. Incidentally, this was instituted by the southern hemisphere rugby unions because of the fear and concern that rugby league was about to completely take over all southern hemisphere countries circa 1995 (especially with the introduction, so it seemed, of News Limited dollars). [For all southern hemisphere countries read "Australia, New Zealand and interestingly South Africa".
6. Rugby league has never interfered with the free gangway of players transferring from one code to another. Rugby union interfered with it for over 100 years.
The question is, Clive Woody: why would rugby league start now when it is in fact your code that has interfered with a free market economy for decades on end?'"
What has the above got to do with this topic?
RL has never had any problems converting star RU players and it continues to this day - some of the greatest RL players started their playing careers in RU
Stick to googling Art Gallaries!!!
