Totally agree. I just don't buy into this idea that sending our best players to the NRL is good for the game.

How is it good for the game?

They won't improve the Aussie competition and their loss will weaken ours.

In Test match terms, we might have a few players who are used to a slightly more intensive competition, but I haven't yet seen a huge contribution at Test level from those who currently play in the NRL.

Could be that the higher ups realise RL has gone as far as it can go, at least as a professional game and Yawnion has reached a dead end as far as entertainment goes, especially at club level. Might be the first steps towards some sort of amalgamation. Either way I'm not worried about a game like this leading them trying to poach our players. Rugby Union is a small world as is Rugby League and I'm pretty sure that coaches and scouts from both codes are fully aware of who the best players are. We need to make sure we've got the funds and the game has the exposure needed to keep our best players in League. As a stand alone game, I'm not sure if that is possible, so maybe a hybrid is the way forward.

If it was global and everyone bought into a joint code... it would be the best way forward. It would be huge.

The international game would have potential to rival football and the global club competition would be better than what football have now.

Quote GazDunn="GazDunn"I unlike most like the idea of the Hybrid game. Leeds are planning it too www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... 195719138A I think it would attract loads of attention which is great for our sport to showcase the attacking qualities our game brings. Would be great if sky build these games up too. I also agree we could learn bits and bobs with other sports training methods. But its the official partnership i don't like the sound of. We wont learn too much (apart from how to put in decent kicks!)'" A hybrid game makes no sense. League has already stripped all of the best parts of Union out. What could they possibly offer us?

Quote GazDunn="GazDunn"I unlike most like the idea of the Hybrid game. Leeds are planning it too www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... 195719138A I think it would attract loads of attention which is great for our sport to showcase the attacking qualities our game brings. Would be great if sky build these games up too. I also agree we could learn bits and bobs with other sports training methods. But its the official partnership i don't like the sound of. We wont learn too much (apart from how to put in decent kicks!)'" A hybrid game makes no sense. League has already stripped all of the best parts of Union out. What could they possibly offer us?

I've always thought this, Rugby League was just the natural progression Union should have taken to make it a more competitive, open and exciting game. Going back to messy rucking that most of the time that frequently in a penalty is a massive step backwards. Hybrid games are nothing but a gimmick and will die out very quickly.

UInfortunately, I fear that money may speak more loudly than your common sense.

I'd imagine that a global rugby brand, with the best players from both codes pitted against each other in massive international competitions would have phenomenal cash potential.

In the first instance though, I suspect there'd be all sorts of bitterness and recrimination, and at amateur level I'm sure that both RL and RU would dig their heels in. At a personal level, I don't know if I could stand the idea of Wigan RL playing a hybrid code, though I have a nagging worry that British RL has now bumped its head against the ceiling in terms of our own financial development. Worrying times.

My view too.

My opinion is do not trust anyone from rugby union, they look down on us and always will, all this nicey nicey dosn't wash with me!!I could tell a lovely tale about a letter we received from Twickers HQ.

Go on then!

Been trawling through some of the stuff on VT about a potential Leeds Vs Leicester match. Its seems the general consensus is that scrums could be fairly dangerous if one side does not know how to properly use them. Now i know extremely little of RU, but if this is the case then a potential game against Sarries cannot go ahead. We cannot put our players in a position where they dont know what they are doing and by doing so causing serious injuries

Didn't they agree on "uncontested" scrums for the Wigan v Bath games?

As for a hybrid game, I can't think of one single facet of union that I would want brought in to league. Most of the differences result in a slower, less skillful game. I was reading an interesting article the other day, though I can't seem to find it atm, about the time the ball is actually "in play" during both codes. It compared the NRL to the Super 14 and it was something like 55-65 mins for RL and 35-45 mins for union.

Come on mate share your info and let all the do gooders who like union what they are really like,please mate come on.