After being an RL fan since the mid eighties this is part of the reason why i now follow my local Union team. I can go to a game for a decent price, in pleasant surroundings, buy good quality refreshments, and can stand with people who can take their drink who don't resort to effing and blinding and general aggresive behaviour at every opportunity.

Very true rupert bear....... but don't let the chavs hear you say that....they'll be outraged!

I agree with a few on here. THe 1st Lions test was a good, intense game with some decent rugby. The 2nd was godawful - back to the boring kickfests that we all know and love. The fact that matches tend to be decided by who kicks the most or misses the most is ridiculous and a lot of my union-loving mates acknowledge this.

But because of the media love they're shown, you would think this was the greatest test series on earth. Inverdale on 5 Live the morning after the second test was bigging up that dross so much it was embarrassing but people will listen and believe it and watch the third test on the back of it.

I asked a friend at work bangs on about the union internationals, which of his local clubs he supports? He didn't have one! I wonder how many people that go to union internationals and talk about them actually support a club or have even gone to a domestic match? This is the kind of thing we're competing against - union is engrained in certain areas of society and it does my head in!

Someone posted the stats from the Aus v Lions 2nd test match.
The Lions didn't score a try and didn't make one clean break. That's like a soccer match where one team doesn't score a goal nor have a shot at goal all game.
In the Union game there'd have been 60 infringements and stoppages in play and that's why I don't watch it.
I accept that about Unions fans, though what puzzles me is that when the ref blows for an infringement and you ask them what it's for no one ever knows.

Have to admit that in yawnion, there is more of a sense that speccys go to enjoy the game, rather than slag off their opponents. Haven't been to many games but in a Bath v Gloucester, which is like Wigan v Sts, or Hull v HKR for rivalry, the banter was good humoured, as it used to be in RL. Good play was applauded by all on the very few occasions that it happened.

Lol, I can just see hkr fans applauding good play by hfc or visa versa! Union sounds like it has no concept of tribalism or rivalry?

I learned the lesson ages ago. Give it all a wide berth. (much) Hype over substance every single time.

Money makes the world go round and we have none. The players talked about wouldnt look at any SL offers. NRL possibly but then again i think they could survive without and find themselves in a warm sunny country playing the game they know well down in France where the salary cap is even higher.

We have MANY of the most recognisible faces in this country watching/tweeting/attending our sport and nothing is being done to coax them into a studio or a microphone on Sky to talk about it. Elite sports celebrities are the best people to network with and try and bring together, they get each other and they are often happy around people like themselves.
We have the biggest headline maker of the Olympics last year watching one of our biggest teams and the best we can do is an advert which I havent seen in months now.

The RFL are perhaps THE worst networking organisation in the world. From Wiggins and his SkyProCycling team you could get Jaguar, Gatorade and Oakley. From Rooney et al you could get Nike, adidas, Puma, DHL, multiple betting companies, Nokia, Ford, Coke, Pepsi, wine companies and more.
England RU have car sponsors, more than one communication sponsor, drink (both alcoholic and athletic) sponsors and more.

More sponsors would increase the profile of the game and bring more money in.All it needs is one person who can stand up infront of these companies and make a clear, sound succinct point selling our fantastic game. Shame we stick Nigel Wood infront of any would be sponsors and they get shot down because they dont fit the criteria that are allowed to sponsor RL.

Our game is a shambles compared to the organised and focused lot down there.

We have Irn Bru in our pockets you fool.

And dont forget Big Soup, cant get much bigger than that

Elephant Soup.