The big draw in RU will always be the internationals -look the six nations crowds and tv coverage, for what are often poor viewing spectacles. Add in the interest in home nations versus Southern Hemisphere teams as well.

Sadly RL killed the international scene several years ago, is there really that much interest in England v Wales or England v France (look at the crowds) and with no GB v AUS or Lions there is nothing to compete. The RL world Cup actually generated interest - sadly this will fade quickly as there is no follow up to cash in on the interest.

RL will never compete with RU now for the following reasons

1.Salary Cap
RL stick to it - RU has various get outs such as central contracts/sponsorships, so not a level playing field. RU can pay vastly more by various dodgy deals - players in RL have barely seen their salaries keep pace with inflation (or even drop in real terms).

2.Profile
RU has a much higher profile - outside of the NW of England RL is seen as a minor sport, RU is big in large parts of England, France, Scotland, Ireland,Wales and even Italy. RL can't even expand out of the M62 corridor to any extent just look at London's travails.

3. Sponsorship
RU attracts big name companies with serious money - what do we get? A utility company barely anyone has heard of and that is an improvement on last year. Says it all really. Still RL manages on a regular basis to shoot itself in the foot - is there really any confidence in the leadership of the game or the parochial attitudes of various chairmen (and no IFL is not exempt in this)


RL has been in major decline since the 80s - the formation of SL give it a brief burst of life but that faded and the professionalism of RU has seen it forge ahead - except for issues in Wales. The gulf is getting larger year on year and if RU can raid players from the NFL then things are worse than ever.

I have been reading the comments on Burgess and most of the comments and ideas are good. The reality is that he left Souths for the money. However the idea of scrapping the cap I think is crazy. You will get clubs trying to live the dream and sending the clubs bust. As Wigan supporters I imagine you look back at the days in the 90s when you won everything, however it bust the club, what has happened to Central Park, you are now don't have a ground, nor do Fax, look at Swinton. If the cap works it forces clubs to be sensible

1 - Foden
2 - Ashton
3 - Tuilagi
4 - Barritt
5 - Strettle
6 - Ford
7 - Eastmond
8 - Robshaw
9 - Care
10 - Lawes
11 - Tomkins
12 - Twelvetrees
13 - Farrell

The cap hasn't stopped lots of clubs going bust.

We need better financial regulation that encourages clubs to grow, not a salary cap that encourages clubs to do nothing to improve their finances. (Players are paid over 30% less in real terms than they were pre-cap, this is just not sustainable, we are heading for a semi-pro future.)

Winning everything didn't bust the Wigan club. The new stand at CP ran millions of pounds over budget, that's what did for us financially.

Comparing us with Halifax and Swinton is hilarious. We've just seen more Wigan fans go to Sydney than most clubs take to nearby away grounds. We are the cup holders and SL champions and along with Leeds get the biggest attendances at home (in the ground we don't have...).

I can't believe you can be so blind with what is happening to top flight RL in this country.. It's being raped of all its top players!!!! What happened 30 years ago is totally irrelevant....

Whoahh...we won't have facts on this forum thank you very much.