never heard of him but if hes a big name in wales union then a good move just for publicity

hell pay back his wages via higher crowds very quickly

When union players crossed over to league, the mantra was that the first season was a right-off because they weren't expected to do much more than adjust to the game.

Good on Alfie for giving it a go (if this is true) but I'm not sure that at his age and the fickleness of the modern fan that he will get a chance to make much impact.

Welsh rugby union isn't of much interest to many English league fans. I've heard of him and would recognise him if I met him but it's not so hard to believe that many Englishmen wouldn't.

Noble feels Thomas can crack the codes www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 029772.ece

Noble feels Thomas can crack the codes www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 029772.ece

If you've not heard of Gareth Thomas you must obsessively avoid the tabloid press, the sports channels, BBC1 and ITV and be generally ignorant of current affairs.

This is potentially dangerous for rl if fans ate not kept in check. As an out player in ru the response ofthe public was so what. I'd like to think he would have no hassel fromthe stands in rl however I'm not convinced and you just know the ru press would pounce on this to trash the image if the game.

There are no words to explain how wrong you are and for it's worth they could be world class curling champions for all I care so they add to the entertainment value of our game.

I remain to be convinced that this is the principle of Rugby Union.

I wish him all the best and hope at the very least he can generate publicity for the Crusaders. If he can do a Henry Paul, get himself fit and have two good seasons playing RL at a venerable age then it's all good. And if it does happen I see no reason why other RU stars wouldn't follow thus raising the profile even more.

I'd never heard of him....but was aware that a Welsh player had "come out". To say that the aim in Union is to score tries is a little strong. I believe that even the most ardent Union supporter would argue that the aim is to threaten to score a try such that your opponent gives you a penalty in preference.

Wooooooooaahhhhhhh! Just hang on. Better at what? It's a different game. Some are faster, some can pass longer passes and some can kick better......but that doesn't mean they are better rugby league players. When you see how many tackles actually take place in a game of rugby union, and how many times the winger gets to run with the ball etc, any union convert is going to have to work hard to convert. I do agree there is bags of potential in Union to pick good players out but to say "At second row he could do okay. He is big and strong and would be able to tackle all day" is basically showing you do not understand the subject.

if you said "some" english rugby league fans you might be right but he is a high profile sportsman, and if you know many rugby union players he would be higher on the list tahn most. The very fact he has played for and Captained the Lions puts him in the higher profile than any current rugby league player.
I don't like it but it is true. It is a reflection on Rugby League more than a reflection on him.

Or more likely you don't read the articles on rugby union, anyway he is more commonly referred to as Alfie (over a quite striking likeness to a children's TV character).

i've never heard of him - but then again i have absolutely no interest in that other game with the same shaped ball - is he like a top, iconic world player or something then?
not been patronising just wanting to get a sense of how big this would be for the Crusaders

Oh there are probably loads of sportsmen more famous than him that I haven't heard of. If you take no interest in a particular sport then somebody would have to be Pele to be known to you.

When it comes to soccer, I only care about Leeds United and England. I've no idea who plays up front for Liverpool these days.

IMO it is comparable to Farrell crossing codes though Farrell stood more chance of making an impact as a player.