As I said on another thread, I'm afraid we may need to cut that link.

Not through bloody-mindedness, but because we can't afford to let the likes of Farrell in particular anywhere near our clubs or training camps, as he hasn't proved himself trustworthy enough.

Okay, we can't stop them going to matches, going into players' bars etc, but surely the days of having them making motivational speeches in dressing rooms and handing out shirts have got to be over? As long as these guys are held up as paragons of RL excellence they are gong to be an influence on young, impressionable players. And when the reality is that they are plotting the game's downfall, they shouldn't be welcome at any official level.

I think the main reason for Burgess’s decision is cash, but you’d have to ask him; there may also be the thought of a higher personal profile, and better known place in sporting history if he does do well. If he said it was just for a new challenge in a different sport that was behind his decision, then I would doubt that one myself. As for RU v RL then I’ve said it here many times before, we are not fashionable enough, even the “dark side” RU, a much more fashionable sport than ours, can’t compete with football, football is so big even the old school ties can’t bridge that sporting chasm. Football is one sport that has done what RL has never done, or been allowed to do, that is become fashionable from the working classes up. How the RFL well do it I have no idea, it’s much easier said than done when the dark side has its trendy hand-made Italian size tens push down well and truly on the throat of RL. RU has done a very good job for decades in portraying themselves as an upper-middle class sport, while RL is a sport played by the sons of illiterate flat-capped beer swilling, whippet dragging, pigeon fancier ex-miners, and my flat-cap’s off to them; they’ve done a great job of it!

I don't think RU enjoys a good reputation across the board. Most football fans I know mock it for being the preserve of ex-public schoolboys, and while players might be well-known in RU areas, I'll bet there are vast swathes of British society where no-one could give two hoots about them. I'd also question whether Sam B would be any more in demand for the after-dinner circuit in Britain as an ex England RU man than he would in Sydney as an ex-RL star, and at least in the latter case he'd know he'd earned the accolade.

I think it's almost as weird as it's disappointing. But I'd love to hear some kind of official response from the RL authorities rather than the stock "we can always find another one" tosh that we get treated to whenever this happens. I'm fed up to the back teeth with their bloody inertia in the face of this problem.

I'm going to answer this as a RL player who has played both sports. I'll put myself in SB shoes.

Rugby League
- Super League
- NRL
- 4 Nations
- Ashes (rarity these days)
- World Cup (3 teams with a decent shout)
- GB Lions Tour? (essentially England)
- Decent media coverage
- Decent wages
- Half filled stadia unless big games (applies internationally as well)

Rugby Union
- British & Irish Lions Tours
- 6 Nations
- Calcutta Cup
- World Cup
- Heineken Cup
- Packed out stadia
- Heavy media coverage
- Obscene wages

It's a no brainer. I would rather play RL but internationally give me RU any day. That's why he's gone, not to play Aviva Premiership with Bath but the chance to play 6 Nations, GB&I Lions, Heineken Cup. The chance to play an actual meaningful international game in packed out stadiums. You can't tell me you've not been sat at home watching England at Twickenham, seen it packed out, heard the stadium singing to Swing Lo' Sweet Chariot and thought "I wish RL was like that". I do.

I don't blame him TBH. I'm gutted but it's a testament to the poor state of RL internationally and at SL level that this has occurred. I'd say it's time for a complete overhaul at RFIL but that time has been and gone.

It would be interesting to compare a top NRL players salary and a top premiership rugby union player i bet its not much different at all, one thing is they have just poached England rugby leagues best player and they know he will attract a hell of a lot of media attention so i wouldn't be surprised if he's being paid more than some of the England RU stars.

I would also predict he won't be in union for the 2019 world cup. He is going over there to play in the 2015 world cup and 2016 olympics 7s and then will leave.

I’ve often wondered why the six nations are so well frequented seeing as the game is so obviously mind numbingly boring, and all I can come up with is that for the blokes anyway it’s a top day out with the lads for a blow out, and booze up, and there’s nowt wrong with that. But don’t tell her indoors.

I reckon if you quizzed all the people who watch an England RU game at Twickers more than half wouldn't have known what happened during the game.

When it pans to the crowd you have an upper middle class couple in their 40's wearing wax jackets or a cricket jumper wrapped over their shoulders with a floppy haircut actually turn around from chatting to Giles and Gloria to actually realise there's a game on and their on TV and start singing "By jove, ho rah, swing low swift claridges, coming 40 acres by jove'. Rah, rah, rah" Much like John Inverdale.

I thought this was a stereotype until I saw these types (of which there are many). A lot were seen on the car park of Twickers. Parked up in their brand new top of the range 4x4's, back doors open....chairs, blankets, straw picnic boxes quaffing and drinking Pimms / Champers.

Lets just say, theres more of those types than there are the Northern sterotype of bloke stood at rugby league events with whippet, ferret on a string, betting slip in one hand and pint of bitter in the other, woodbine in corner of gob!

In all seriousness I think the time has come for both codes to amalgamate. Come under one banner of 'Rugby'.

The hybrid rules should be 4 points for a try, 2 for a conversion, 1 point for a drop goal, 5 tackles and a play the ball (defence 10 metres back), no line outs, 13 players a side and uncontested scrums.

I know I'm going out on a whim with all the die hards but I think the time has come, thoughts?

During the WC I chatted to more than several Tarquins who hadn't a clue what they were about to see (the walk down to the Leyther's ground sticks in the mind with a bunch of students "down from London" - why is it always "down" from London - I digress - & me & a bunch of others explaining the rules).

I wonder what's been done to cultivate those who were seeing the game for the first time. Or is it the depressing fact that the RFL have lost the initiative yet again & any converts have been left wanting & will simply gravitate back to the better organised & promoted (if mind-numbingly tedious) other code.
Not helped of course by the Barnet Pony Club being the only example south of Warrington they've got as reference.

I think if he's in with a shout he'll be in RU for the 2017 Lions tour to NZ. You ask most British and Irish internationals and they will place a Lions cap above any other they can achieve and to be a winning Lion would give you legend status for life in RU circles.