'"

There is always the chance that League and Union might merge although personally I doubt it will ever happen. But if things had been slightly different in the early 1890s, there might have been just one code of rugby in this country and equally internationally. This is a theme that a recently published novel by London League Publications explores. It is based on answering the question "what would have happened if before August 1895 the Northern clubs had been in the majority and had control of the game". Written by Peter Lush it is fiction but it is possible that things could have gone that way. What a pity it didn't. More details on "Rugby Football: A United Game" shown on www.llpshop.co.uk.

There is always the chance that League and Union might merge although personally I doubt it will ever happen. But if things had been slightly different in the early 1890s, there might have been just one code of rugby in this country and equally internationally. This is a theme that a recently published novel by London League Publications explores. It is based on answering the question "what would have happened if before August 1895 the Northern clubs had been in the majority and had control of the game". Written by Peter Lush it is fiction but it is possible that things could have gone that way. What a pity it didn't. More details on "Rugby Football: A United Game" shown on www.llpshop.co.uk.

RL as it is but taken on by the clout of the IRB. RL has the game, RU has the backing and marketing men.

This. It's absolutely right.

But it'll never happen!

All comes down to the way the ball is recycled in possession. Everything else is window-dressing.

If you are allowed to retain the ball in the tackle, then you can take more risks without fear of losing possession. You also have far fewer penalties and scrums because of breakdowns in play, as rucks and mauls are always going to be very prone to errors and infringements.

How to re-start - lineouts, competitive scrums, drop-outs etc - the scoring system, the number of players even, these are all issues which could be adapted. But as long as there is a requirement to release the ball in the tackle, and no secure possession, then you will have a game which is essentially about kicking for territory and hoping to score from a setpiece, peppered with lots of stoppages for scrums and penalties.

The decision on possession would essentially decide whether the game was league with amendments, or union with amendments. There is no middle ground.

Excellent observation RH.

IT's just that it is so galling that our (RL) players do not get the appropriate level of recognition or media coverage.

For example Will Carling was, in relative terms, not fit to lace the boots of contempories such as say a Garry Schofield in his pomp. But look at the unfair disparity in general recognition in this country.

There is already a hybrid game, it's called "Super Series", or as I call it "Rugby League with Line Outs".

In "Super Series" the way the laws are 'interpreted' (or in some cases 'ignored') means that if you're going forward you can pretty much do what you want at the ruck as long as the ball comes out quickly, while if you're defending you're hardly allowed to counter-ruck or touch the ball. Furthermore the maul is ref'd in such a way as to pretty much outlaw it.
All done to speed up the game for TV and compete with RL and Aussie Rules.

Trouble is, it's not really Rugby Union. It strikes me that people who are into union want to watch union, not some ised hybrid resulting from wholesale re-interpretation of the laws.

Similarly, those of us who love Rugby League first and foremost want to watch League, not some derivative.

Is Jerusalem in Salford?

...you really are mistaking your juvenile wishlist for facts.

53,250 was the crowd average for the Wanabbees in 2014, with 37 the average at Home over 7 tests.

Players could play League rules at club level and Union rules at international level...what? It's not as if we don't already play under different rules internationally!

.

A merger would be pointless for both parties in Britain as it would be a union takeover. RL spectators would just watch football. Wigan is already a football town as is Leeds.

Merger would be pointless ,because you would have fan teams popping up as RL teams the same as Fc utd of Manchester are to football now

The only people interested in a merger would be the TV companies.

I am a fan of both codes and I don't want a merged game.

You may see more dual code players, given the seasons alignments, but I very much doubt I'll see a merged game in my lifetime.

There maybe one attempt at a merged game, on TV. It'll make the headlines, but be a rubbish spectacle, watched only by the curious.