Quote: orangeman "In a nutshell, you've accidently outlined exactly why the game remains a local hobby and not a national sport.'"
It's not a national sport because when the highly successful Rugby in the north positioned itself to develop across the country the midland and southern clubs refused to follow, the welsh did follow but withdrew.
The game planned and pitched to become a modern professional national game years ago and it was the Union people in the south and midlands that refused. It was brave of the Northern clubs to carry on and carry on we have for over 100 years during which time Union followed.
By all means criticise and drag the game down, but it has led where union has just followed............e.g rule changes....