The ARU showed they are no mugs when it comes to the public relations by making up some test ending injury 6 hours after an arrest warrant was issued for digby ioane and basically halted it becoming a major media talking point.

RU is run by some very clever, media savvy people...its top to bottom full of people that know how to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear....all on message....all pulling together to pull the wool over peoples eyes. If only we had 30% of their PR machine in this country.

Their job is made 100 times easier with sympathetic media and companies.

It is genius. It's the most godawful spectator sport in the world, apart from womens soccer, yet the occasion is something else.

Its probably because RU is played by and sits in the higher echelons of society both in the UK and Aus and has intelligent people at its heart.
Unlike the overweight toothless goons we see running and watching league.

I could see North would be a sucess in League...but Farrell, as mentioned, doesn't really offer enough to make the top grade. He has a good kicking game and is solid in defence, but lacks pace to break the line.

North though.....what a monster. Just watch is try verus the Aussies in the first Lions test. The guys he out paced and stepped around are world class defenders. No mean feat.....also love how he picked Falou up and just ran with him on his shoulders.

He is only young (21 I believe) so could move on after his 3 yr deal at Northampton ends.

The issue is that league doesn't even come close to the global game of union. Until League can step up and produce a worthy international tournament and game, players will stay in union....the Lions, RWC and 6Nations is massive money, business and most importantly to the player....exposure. League unfortunately can't even come close to that.

Probably because the fans don't go to representative games with the sole intention of booing players who don't play for their club. They go to enjoy the occasion and the game, and to support their team. Something that rarely happens in British RL

Fully agree. I can't stand Yawnion, but have found myself watching the Lions Tests. Got to admire how they sell the game, I've been suckered by the hype!

Same. I watched the first test and actually enjoyed it. The 2nd test was absolutely appalling though. There was tension towards the end given the close scoreline but it was about as interesting to watch as most of the games I've seen over the years...I give it chance after chance to impress me but on all but maybe a couple of occasions it fails.

Works for Sinfield although Sinfield would not survive in the NRL, perhaps more of a standard if SL issue.

That's partly because well over half the people who go to RU internationals don't support a club. But the point still stands why should the media get all excited by international RL when the average fan doesn't.

To get a ticket to England RU at Twickenham (unless it is against a mediocre team) you need to be a member of a club. Most people who are members of clubs locally would support their nearest local professional team. The fans don't boo the team/players because they aren't of the football fan mentality (which I sadly say is the challenge the RFL are starting to face with SL supporters now). There is a difference between being vocal/supportive in order to create an atmosphere....and then being plain chavy and abusing the players/officials etc.

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!