The only worries are if the Roos get involved too. After all, you'd think Australia would be desperate for medals in 2016, and they have the best rugby players in the world by some margin. Players like Slater, Barba, Inglis, Hayne and so on would destroy anything in 7s.

ETA: I don't buy the guy above, it's damn similar. If players can go from 13s to 15s in a year, it'll take a week max to get to 7s. They have all the skills already.

buggo and shiny are way out, they betray the sort of misguided thinking that got the RU lads to make the mistake of inviting a RL side to the Middlesex Sevens. They won't make the same mistake again.

Quote: Ferocious Aardvark "We have no right, true, the question is though, do we want to win? I remember the Bulls doing some work in Union 7s at Twickers, when they utterly humiliated all-comers. I find it outrageous to suggest that if RL got involved, there would be even a single RU player worthy of a place in the Olympic team. The RL lads may not know how to play RU very well, but as the Bulls showed, it doesn't actually matter. Still one of the most enjoyable days out I can remember, that was www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4piQYfzAzI First try is hilarious he literally stops and pushes the little Wasp's lad down

Quote: Ferocious Aardvark "We have no right, true, the question is though, do we want to win? I remember the Bulls doing some work in Union 7s at Twickers, when they utterly humiliated all-comers. I find it outrageous to suggest that if RL got involved, there would be even a single RU player worthy of a place in the Olympic team. The RL lads may not know how to play RU very well, but as the Bulls showed, it doesn't actually matter. Still one of the most enjoyable days out I can remember, that was www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4piQYfzAzI First try is hilarious he literally stops and pushes the little Wasp's lad down

I loved the Wigan and Bulls victories in Middlesex 7’s but we have to realistic here – the game of Union 7’s has developed a lot in the last 5 years or so and is now full of big strong athletes who have been selected because of their suitability. I don’t doubt that any decent RL team would put together a side to challenge the best 7’s teams but it isn’t a given. What I do think though is that they would change the way that 7’s is played – the teams still try and go round the opposition too often with lateral passing whereas the league teams go straight and break the line through off loading

Anyway, take a look at how many of the Wigan side that won the Middlesex 7’s ended up in Union and be careful what you wish for

Its not just about athletic ability.

It also includes handling skills, passing skill, offensive awareness, offloading, having the skill to turn in the tackle to find the offload, support play, being able to see the space in the defensive line to break.

This is where the league boys are head and shoulders still even against the specialist England seven players

Which is pretty much what I meant when I said they would change the game is played. Out of curiosity, what is the difference between ‘handling skills’ and ‘passing skill’? Or , ‘offensive awareness’ and ‘being able to see the space in the defensive line to break’? Or for that matter, ‘offloading’ and ‘having the skill to turn in the tackle to find the offload’?

I did realise a few of them after I posted haha..oh well

Wish for? What did I wish for?

How many did? I only remember Jason Robinson of any note, and fair play to the lad, I entirely saw why he did it, he became a household name in Union, and made a bundle.

Apart from him, who else? Andy Farrell had most certainly had all his best days in league, and the more so in spades with the 34 year old Henry Paul, most of whose genius we had had the privilege of seeing at Bradford and in league.

Of the Bradford winners, I recall Vaikona and Vainikolo ended up in Union but only once they were pretty much busted and couldn't have stood up to another year of top level league.

Tomkins
Hardaker
Watkins
BJB
Charnley
Broughton
Yeaman
Briscoe
Myler

Would be worth a go at 7s I reckon...

I'm pretty sure a journo will have asked him first. I strongly doubt he just wandered into the room and went into a rant about how great all other sports are compared to League...

Tuigamala (destroyed it there and won accolades), Scot Quinnell (already on his way back to Union though IIRC), Connolly (brief stint), Edwards (technically 'ended up' in Union).

Farrell was clearly one of our top ever players - but, towards the end at Wigan, he had to move up to prop as he became less mobile.

Had to smile, a couple of years later, when he was playing in the centre for England RU in their world cup!

But you have guys who represent England, Wales, Scotland all year in 7's tournaments. Wouldn't it be a bit unfair to dump them for RL players just for the Olympics. I know people will say we want the best chance of winning but surely these guys are deserving of competing in an Olympics just as much as anyone.

Also given the timing of the olympics I don't think owners/coaches/fans would be too impressed at losing key players for several weeks.

It was more of a general statement than to anybody in particular. All I am saying is that if, as a sport, we showcase our best talent in a competitor sport that is able to pay higher wages then there is only one logical outcome