Union or League

[BoyBrumby]

I dunno if this has been asked before on cricketweb, but it hasn't whilst I've been here.

Which is the superior code? As a southerner I played Union exclusively when growing up, but always preferred watching League on telly. Before it went pro Union at club level was pretty dire stuff, all kicking, rucks and mauls. League was (and is) more about running & using possession. I also hated Union's arrogance; once you'd played League professionally there used to be no way back to Union.

However, since it went pro the entertainment value of Union has increased no end & it does have more of a genuine international flavour than League. Union has taken on board some of the best bits of League (a spread-defence, superior fitness and offloads in the tackle), stolen some of its best players (its worth noting that both try scorers in the 03 Union World Cup Final were originally League men!), but has maintained its unique method of recycling possession. League definitely needs to sort its scrums out!

So I vote Union. Just.

 

[thewizard1o1]

Ok i'm comming at this from two point of views....

Firstly playing, having played quite a bit of both codes, League is by far and away my favourite game to play. I just don't find getting stuck at the bottom of a 'pile' of 6+ guys enjoyable. League is much more open and much nicer to play. League should just scrap scrums all together, a tap would do fine.

Secondly watching, i can't sit through a whole game of union....it just has no appeal for me at all. Its ok when the backline gets a bit of ball but to many mauls and crap for my likeing. Watching league is much the same as playing it, more open, quicker etc.

League hands down for me...but then again i was brought up with it and people who have played union all their life will no doubt disagree with me.

 

[steds]

League by a country mile. How could a St.Helens lad say anything else?
IMO, Union is boring as sh!t. What's the point of every time you get possesion kicking the ball into touch or sticking it up your jumper and all the other team stands on you?

 

[Langeveldt]

saying League or Union is like saying North or South..

Im sure I would prefer League if I ever heard anything about it down here, but it doesnt really exist..

 

[superkingdave]

saying League or Union is like saying North or South..

Im sure I would prefer League if I ever heard anything about it down here, but it doesnt really exist..

TOTALRL.COM Rugby League Conference Tables 2004

South West

Team P W D L F A D PTS
Somerset Vikings 10 9 0 1 526 154 372 18
Gloucestershire W 10 8 0 2 434 200 234 16
Bristol Sonics 10 5 1 4 340 334 6 11
Oxford Cavaliers 10 4 1 5 254 416 -162 9
Telford Raiders 10 1 2 7 178 340 -162 4
Worcestershire 10 1 0 9 202 490 -288 2

I vote league

 

[Langeveldt]

I vote league

Somerset are winning something! And I've never even heard of that!

Err, why are we called the Vikings?? Wouldnt Normans be more apt?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Cos you're a lot of whale-eaters.

 

[Anna]

Union all the way!! Where else would you see a guy like Lawrence Dallaglio cross the try line with 3 Welshmen clinging to him?

 

[steds]

Where else would you see a guy like Lawrence Dallaglio cross the try line with 3 Welshmen clinging to him?

And you'd want to see that because...?

 

[superkingdave]

Its not as if you don't get it in league either, would you fancy trying to stop Vainakolo or Mason?

 

[age_master]

Union by a country mile, more skilled players, more tactical options, better both to watch and play

 

[Anna]

And you'd want to see that because...?

It was just an example.....I'd much rather watch the Bath boys play

Union by a country mile, more skilled players, more tactical options, better both to watch and play

Exactly

 

[Langeveldt]

And you'd want to see that because...?

just, dont start it..., please.

 

[Anna]

He he

Here's a pic I took at the Bath v Sale match last season.

 

[marc71178]

It was just an example.....I'd much rather watch the Bath boys play

Stan Collymore disagrees

 

[Craig]

I like both games, having played both but I tend to watch rugby when the Test matches are on. So I prefer to watch league.

If I went to a private school, then that would be different.

 

[Linda]

We dont really hear much about league in WA, but we do hear alot about union. So Im going with Union.

 

[Smudge]

Union - it's the game for everyone - not the robotic hit-up, hit-up, hit-up, hit-up, hit-up, kick and repeat job that league is, and all shapes and sizes can play.

Not to mention I am a New Zealander and union is in my blood.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Is the playing of League dictated by geography in NZ like it is in England & Oz?

In England League is pretty much solidly concentrated around the M62 corridor that runs from Hull to Lancashire & seems to be the main winter sport in NSW & Queensland in Oz.

Is there an enclave of League in NZ?

 

[Smudge]

Is the playing of League dictated by geography in NZ like it is in England & Oz?

In England League is pretty much solidly concentrated around the M62 corridor that runs from Hull to Lancashire & seems to be the main winter sport in NSW & Queensland in Oz.

Is there an enclave of League in NZ?

There's certainly strongholds - much like in the UK, it's based around the working-class areas. South Auckland, the Hutt Valley (including Wainuiomata where guys like John Lomax and even the All Black captain Tana Umaga come from), and Hornby/Addington in Christchurch.
It used to be pretty big on the West Coast of the South Island as well, when the coal mines were going strong. Players from there in recent times include Quentin Pongia and former Kiwi prop Brent Stuart.

At a guess, I would say league here is holding firm - not making progress, but not losing too many players by the same token.