will be interesting to see what, if any, effect wales win against scotland will have on celtic.

This post and others (and Gatland's comments) seem to misunderstand the meaning of the word "professional" - they all focus on the imprtance of money but there's more to being a professional than being paid for doing the job (I'm sure we all know some work mates who take home the paycheck but are not at all professional in their work). There's no doubting that there's more cash in Union and that it gets far more media coverage but it is no more professional than Rugby League. Indeed, if Gatland's thoughts really reflect the situation in Wales I think you could argue that the WRU is clearly not very professional ie. doing a good, effective job. Pointless argument - let's get back OT

There's no reason why Wales couldn't become another New Zealand, Union being the dominant game but RL carving out a great niche for itself and being a strong vibrant sport

NZRL doesn't seem to lose players to NZRU as far as I know, and if anything there seems to be less hostility between the codes in NZ because Union doesn't feel threatened The fact that Gatland was even talking about the Crusaders shows the massive strides that have been taken, and probably the future is closer co-operation rather than player poaching

There will be kids out there in Wales who have no interest in RU and may only want to play RL, just as upto now many kids prefer to play soccer or other sports.

Provided they can earn a good living in League there will be no reason for them to cross over to union.

The biggest sport in South Wales is as ever Soccer, Cardiff average 18k and Swansea 15k. They represent a bigger threat to the success of the Crusaders than RU teams and any player poaching.

eusa_clap.gifeusa_clap.gifeusa_clap.gifeusa_clap.gif

RU is dying in Oz, S14can't get on FTA TV as no one wants it, they are reliant on signing RL players to prop up their ailing national team and even succesful clubs like the Force are seeing a big down turn in finances and memberships.

I'd like to see the RFL really hit Wales hard and put in some serious financing to get development officers, school porgrammes and marketing happening. Taking MM away was a big mistake and the poor Welsh national team at the mo don't help.

yeah those competitions are still going though in nz the crowds are fairly poor now.

all the money is in the Super 14. without it all the best players would either be in the nrl or in union overseas.

Change these for the UK and SL and we are very similar

nope. they were warned. every time we went and for cup finals there was a certain anti-league feeling. hotels ripping fans off, prices raised in bars, pubs etc. we even had the bus driver tell us the saturday games had been called off

did you ever go to a cup final or millenium magic weekend in wales?
i know you're on the other side of the world so it might be have been difficult but believe me the league atmosphere was almost entirely down to the visiting fans. celtic's games on the friday nights didnt attract thousands of locals spurred on by the weekends rugby league spectacle.
im glad the rfl have moved the event to scotland. murrayfield isnt my favourite ground but at least they treated the fans properly.
celtic and rugby league in wales will have to stand on its own two legs and fight. if it depends on one weekend a year for its survival then it's a very sad state of affairs indeed.

how's league going in western australia?

Soccer and RL go hand in hand in the heartlands, what a great opportunity to offer a deal to Cardiff and Swansea FC season ticket holders. I know many Cardiff FC fans have a dislike for Union. Pity the franchise isnt in Cardiff, university, soccer club and all.