Although that everyone seems to think that rugby league is on its uppers, and is struggling to survive against the the threat of rival codes, yet still RU seems to be learning from us, Watching the highlights of a French RU game the other day, I saw the attacking side barge over and be held up. 5 metre scrum, I thought. But no. The commentator said something about the 'new rules', and the defending side did a drop-out just like in league! I was chatting to the sole RU fan in my local, who was an ex-ref , and is pretty genned up about the rules, and he said, yeah, that's right, and they're also bringing in an 40/20 equivalent.

They learn from us, can we not take advantage?

I noticed the drop out rule the other week for a held up in goal.
It was a All Black's game against Australia. Wasn't aware of the rule till then . Its a good rule for RU as 5 metre scrums can take forever and you can loose the will to live at times

There that's more accurate

its pretty obvious:

1 - Look at how their international game is viewed, watched/attended and marketed / international game as a whole
2 - Participation levels in schools across the country
3 - Participation levels at amateur level across the country

Outside of the Football world and even thereonly at the top level all soprts have suffered massively over the last couple of years. The pandemic has shown the fault lines in the ecconomics of most sports, for many years now, outside of the football top divisions, sponsorship/tv money and advertising revenues have been falling.

RU for all it likes to potray itself as a successful sport is far from it outside of the Intrnational game is actually not that wildy popular in that does not have a high prifile for the club game on TV really any more so than RL as a general viewing option outside of fans of the sport.

I suspect that a lot of sports (other than football which is the darling of the TV & media companies) are falling victim to competition from other activities especailly among younger people - it would be interesting to see a breakdown of the crowds at RU games and see if they are having the same aging fan base as RL is I suspect hthat would be the case.

I think that's very true, and a lot of the people who might regards themselves as union fans are only really interested in the Six Nations and other internationals, rather than caring that much about Bath or Harlequins. But of course that only points up the weakness of the international game in league,

But the broader point is surely this: I can't be the only person who thinks that rugby union would be a much better sport all round if they played the existing rules but had one or two less players on the pitch. The rules were codified for an amateur game way back when when the forwards were the fat lads who couldn't play football. I'm not saying they should do this, or that I want them too, just that if they did, they would be a greater threat to league than they are now.

Since Union went professional and formed leagues and european cup competition, their game is now not just about International rugby like it was prior to 1995.

You only have to look at their increases in attendances and the resultant expansion of ground capacities in their Premiership.

Even Sale Sharks are after buying the AJ Bell Stadium.

I'm not convinced that most union fans really want to see the 'keep the ball tight' tactics,. Unless they're Exeter fans! The top try-scorers in union are now loose-forwards, not wingers! That may be fine for a few diehards, but it won't attract new fans, surely?

Basically I'm saying we agonise about making league more exciting and more attractive to watch than union, but it already is, by some distance. And these rule-changes are a sign that the authorities realise there is something wrong with the game, and are trying to give a bit of a corrective action to encourage attacking play.

I honestly think the best thing for both the sports would be to come back together.

League is sadly pretty much dead in the U.K. yet thriving in Aus where union is on its uppers

Surely with the challenges of covid, pressures on both sports, you could get enough money thrown at a coming together- similar to the murdock SL breakaway and unions professionalism.

Both codes gain, we just need some sensible dialogue on rules...but what we lose on the negotiating table here we gain in Aus.
Personally I’d even keep rucks and mauls but limit them to two players from each team to keep quick recycled possession.

In fact, 13 players, 4ptbs followed by mini rucks and mauls would give you the best of both sports and some very interesting tactical battles...less technical teams kicking for territory after their guaranteed set etc, with the stronger technical teams chancing their arm etc.

I’d also be happy to go back to a 5m retiring defensive line as a compromise...imo the 10m hit em up style of league has made this game much worse over the past 20 years as all about high impact running into each other and shallow offloads in the line than clever deep attacking running lines....when union occasionally get the ball out to play a bit of rugby their deeper attack (forced by a non retiring defensive line) can be better to watch (for all of the 5 seconds the balls in play)

Imagine a SL of our strongest 6 northern clubs and their strongest 6 southern clubs...potential to drive that to 20k average gates for all in the first 5-10 years and have a truly National game neither code can really claim atm

I'm a fan of both codes and I've thought this for a long while now. A combined, single code wouldn't challenge football but it would still be a global powerhouse.

Shame there's more chance of world peace.

I certainly don't want a combined code. Fortunately, there's next to no chance of it happening.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the rules of rugby league as it is, thank you.

If Union do away with 2 players, rucks and mauls, line outs, 3 point drop goals and penalties, half their rules and introduce a limit of 6 tackles, I’m absolutely all for it.