Now the original reason for the RU/RL split has gone away (open and transparent payments to players) I wonder if there is a basis for a re-unification of rugby under a single set of laws - to create a game to start to challenge soccer globally.

All that has to happen is for RU to irrevocably reduce the number of players from 15 to 13 (get rid of 'wing forwards') and scrap line-outs and we are on.

"It will never happen" they will say - but so they did about the Berlin Wall coming down and Russia and China converting from Communism to Capitalism.

Sam Burgess is so good that despite having limited experience in Union and even more limited as a centre he completely eclipsed Jamie Roberts and shut him out of the game. On the other hand Roberts struggled to contain Burgess and needed assistance by way of Wales adjusting their defensive structure to put 2 players on Burgess.

This is the much lauded Jamie Roberts, one of the best centres in World Rugby Union, veteran of almost 150 Top Tier Club games, 72 Test matches for Wales, 1 Barbarians appearance and 3 X a Lions Rep. COMPLETELY SHUT OUT BY BURGESS!

England were twice 10 points up and still 7 points ahead when Burgess left the field, only morons and bigoted idiots with an agenda would blame Burgess for that loss.

We got him back! Welcome home Sam!! I knew it was only a matter of time (& Sam achieving an ambition to play in the RUWC) when I saw his face during his Union debut as explained in OP.

well, many of us said he only went to play in this WC and that he had had assurances he would be in the squad as part of the deal to move.despite being rubbished by many other people it now appears that was correct.

1 years 'rest' from the rigorous NRL, time in the spotlight worldwide and a bag full of cash to return still with his prime years left.Whatever way you look at it i doubt Sam Burgess regrets his year out.

Oh yes!