[34] In both games the attacking team loses possession if they drop or pass the ball forward, which results in a scrum being awarded to the defending team. In Rugby Union, a score is worth 5 points and a drop goal is 3 points, whereas the League will award 4 points for a score but one point for a drop goal. [62] For example, it is a popular sport in a number of countries such as South Africa and Argentina. [citation needed]. Now that Rugby League has more viewers on average per home match than rugby union in England and more viewers on average per TV match is England ready to concede that Rugby League is a more popular spectator sport on a club level? The nickname "rugger", which developed in England's elite schools, almost always refers to rugby union. [57] The number of players participating in any capacity in Rugby League in England (including wheelchair users) is about 100,000.[58]. In the Union, a penalty goal is 3 points whereas in the League it is 2 points. This can be seen by South Africa’s vast difference in ranking position on the Rugby Union World Rankings and the Rugby League World Rankings. Since then other games have been played between union and league teams using the laws of one of the codes, or in some cases using a different set of laws for each half. [40], Video referee technology was first used for rugby league in 1996[41] and for rugby union in 2001.[40]. A player who falls to ground with the ball or on it must immediately release or pass the ball, or get up with it. The dimensions of a rugby league pitch fit within the parameters of a rugby union pitch. It is uncommon for modern rugby league scrums to be contested, with the side awarded the scrum almost always gaining possession. This, combined with the higher number of points with a successful penalty conversion, results in penalties forming a considerably higher percentage of total points in a match of Rugby Union. Following an unsuccessful kick at goal. When an opposing player intercepts a pass. For example, many students at public schools play rugby union. an automatic handover takes place when the team in possession runs out of tackles, or a knock on happens on the sixth tackle. Goals are scored when the ball is kicked between the two posts and over the cross-bar, either during open play or as the result of a penalty. Since the beginning, Rugby League was destined to rise in popularity at a fast pace. Use of a penalty box (or "sin bin") was introduced by rugby league in 1980. [35] Possession can also be contested following kicks to restart play from the halfway, 22 metre in both games (and from the goal line in league). Both codes in rugby – league and union – carry stereotypes today, with union seen as the gentlemen’s game and league as a working class pursuit. While the split was originally initiated for financial reasons, the two codes have evolved differently and are now quite distinct games from each other. Aurum Press, UK. A try is scored when the ball is touched down on or beyond the defending team's goal-line. A maximum of 15 players can play rugby union at any one time whereas rugby league permits 13 players. None of these was more significant than the splitting of codes into Rugby Union and Rugby League in 1895. In rugby league, props are physically big, straight running forwards whose job it is to set the platform and get the go forward while still possessing agility and good ball handling skills. Kicking the ball out of play is legal in both codes. Rugby union is largely out of sight and out of mind here. [6] The rugby union authorities issued sanctions against clubs, players and officials involved in the offshoot group, including amateurs who played with or against Northern Union sides. [55] For comparison, the turnover of the Rugby Football Union in 2014 was £150m. The position known as 'flanker' is not in rugby league; however the second row in rugby league are loose like the flankers in rugby union while the lock / loose forward in rugby league is similar to the number 8 in rugby union. World Rugby's mission is "growing the global rugby family" In 2018, the total number of registered players increased from 3.2 million to 3.5 million while the total number of non-registered rugby players rose from 5.9 million to 6.1 million. [54], In New Zealand, rugby union is played throughout the whole country where as rugby league is still considered to be a lower class game by many, or a game for "westies" referring to lower class western suburbs of Auckland and more recently the poorer southern Auckland where the game is popular. Popularity is based on millions of responses from the British public and YouGov's innovative survey methodology. However I’m watching highlights of the rugby league World Cup semi final and there is an extremely small attendance. A player must not make the ball unplayable by falling down." Gallagher, Botica and Tuigamala returned to union, while leading league players such as Jason Robinson, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Henry Paul and Iestyn Harris, took up rugby union contracts. In rugby league the ball may be thrown or knocked out of play deliberately, while in union those are penalty offences. League initially recruited big name players from union, like Herbert "Dally" Messenger in 1907,[43] and the RFU responded by banning any player that played rugby league for life. On 26 August 1995 the IRFB, now known as the International Rugby Board, declared rugby union an "open" game and thus removed all restrictions on payments or benefits to those connected with the game. Lines are also located 5 metres away from the goal line and touchline and 15 metres away from the touchline. When I moved out here I basically had to become a league fan to have a conversation at the pub. What is the actual difference? In rugby league if the ball goes out of play, the opposition are awarded a scrum. Can anyone enlighten me on the popularity of league? Rugby football spread to Australia and New Zealand, with games being played in the early-to-mid-nineteenth century. Rugby league is the more popular one of the two. The following year a Combined Services rugby league side beat a Combined Services union side, 15–10, at Bradford again at rugby union. At the goal line is a set of goal posts in the shape of the letter 'H', used for other forms of point scoring: drop goal, penalty and conversion. The main difference between rugby league and rugby union in terms of gameplay, however, is in evidence after a tackle is made during play. League only has a big following in three countries really. In the year after that, Auckland Rugby League became the first to start a regular competition. A proposal to pay players up to six shillings when they missed work because of match commitments was voted down by the RFU. Since World Rugby allowed professionalism in 1995, it has been possible for clubs to share facilities, including pitches. These were the only league v union matches played until 1996.[47]. The playing positions are divided into "backs"—generally faster and more mobile who score most of the points, and the larger, stronger "forwards" who are involved in the more physical aspects of rugby and generally do more tackling. This owes much to the specificity of rugby league’s homeland – a corridor of country stretching from Merseyside in the northwest to east Yorkshire. but league is way more popular than union here. Rugby league introduced its World Cup in 1954 and it has been held intermittently since, in various formats. The two forms of rugby share the same basic rules of the game and use a similar-shaped ovoid ball. It is the very first time in the history of rugby sports that the I know there were some cross code games back in the 90's, has there been any recently? If a player knocks the ball forward or throws a forward pass the other team is awarded a scrum. [44] A push into converting union players to rugby league, such as All Blacks John Gallagher, Frano Botica, Matthew Ridge and Va'aiga Tuigamala, occurred during the late 1980s and into the 1990s. In union, where every phase of play has some element of competition, the trivial need to release the ball at any kick can result in a fumble that may give the opposition a chance to either contest possession or, if "knocked-on", will cause them to be awarded a scrum. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. After being tackled five times, the attacking team will usually kick the ball either in an attacking kick or for territory. The meeting resolved that a "New South Wales Rugby Football League" (NSWRFL) should be formed, to play the Northern Union rules. In Australia, Rugby Union is primarily a private school sport. EDIT: Here is an example of some pro league clubs geographically. League is more popular then Union in the North of England, Australia and I suppose Papua New Guinea. 3, No. Here are 5 reasons why the 13-man code is a much more enjoyable experience then the 15-man variety. There is a world of difference between rugby league and rugby union. Rugby union generally has a broader reach around the world, largely due to the unrestricted spread of the game across commonwealth countries, promulgated by British armed forces, during a time when the armed forces inexplicably banned rugby league in the early 20th century. The suffix alone denotes it from its cousin, rugby union, which is so often considered the proper of the two that when the average Briton says rugby, usually they are talking just about union. The tackles are the other major difference in … In Australia, rugby league had 1,430,367 participants in the sport (including school clinics) and 167,533 registered players in 2013. The same perceived class barrier as exists between the two games in England also occurs in these states, fostered by rugby union's prominence and support at private schools. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Tackling or interfering with a player who is not in possession of the ball is not permitted. A rugby union pitch is between 106 and 144 metres long by 68 to 70 metres wide. The split happened in 1892, when Yorkshire clubs faced professionalism charges for compensating their players for missing work to come play rugby. In the UK, the "two codes" of rugby are very different in scale and turnover. A rugby tackle is an attempt to bring the ball carrier to the ground or to stop his forward progress. This difference in emphasis on a relatively trivial phase of play can be seen as indicative of the core differences between the games. [citation needed], In France, rugby union is widely played and has a strong tradition in the Basque, Occitan, and Catalan areas[citation needed] along the border regions between Spain and France. The turnover of the RFL was reported as £19m in 2014. In May 1996, Bath Rugby and Wigan RLFC, who were then England's top union and league sides respectively, made history by playing against each other at both codes of rugby. For further details, see, harvnb error: no target: CITEREFMarshall1951 (. In the United Kingdom, rugby union or rugby league fans rarely refer to their sport as "football" as in most cases this would refer to association football. In the same study it was found that the team with the ball at a scrum regained possession 90 percent of the time, while the team with the ball at a lineout regained possession 80 percent of the time. In rugby union, play does not stop when a player is forced to the ground in a tackle, as the tackled player must immediately play the ball, and the tackler must roll away, which will generally mean a ruck will form. Lines are painted at the dead-ball line, goal line, 22-metre line, 10-metre line (broken line) and halfway. Rugby union is often simply referred to as "rugby" without the ambiguity that this term carries in the UK. Why rugby league is obviously better than rugby union. [59] The Australian Rugby League Commission reported a gross revenue of $185,668,873 and a gross profit of $4,675,845 in the 2012 financial year. Rugby league balls are similar in size to Rugby union balls, but are more pointed at the edges. I doubt if League will ever get close to Unions popularity, but something needs to be done to redress Unions currently waning popularity. Unlike Bath, who were to all intents and purposes still the amateur side they had been, Sale had the benefit of almost a decade of professionalism to improve both strength and fitness that was necessary for them to adapt to the constant tackling required in rugby league. But rugby union tends to be more popular. In England there it is geographical in the very north of England, League is bigger. Union is however losing spectators and League is gaining some due to the frustration with the rules of Union. The length from try line to try line varies between 94 and 100 metres, with a distance of 6 to 22 metres between the goal and dead-ball lines. [34] Collins has argued that the six tackle rule in rugby league offers a more even distribution of possession despite fewer opportunities to contest it. [45] Sailor, Rogers, Tuqiri, Paul and Harris subsequently switched back to rugby league. In rugby league, a tackle is deemed to be complete when the elbow of the arm holding the ball touches the ground, or the player is held in an upright tackle. In 1943, a Northern Command army rugby league side defeated a Northern Command union side, 18–11, at Headingley under rugby union laws. The biggest attendance for a rugby union game in the United States is 62,000 people, while the biggest rugby league game was 12,500. Rugby league has historically been played in much the same region. Playing the earliest form of the rugby game wasn’t the invention of the game, but rather the events that led to the game being coded are seen as the ‘invention’ of rugby. AFL and Soccer are definitely more popular than League if we’re talking most popular sports in Aus. I was a bit surprised to see Papua New Guinea compete in the 7s World Series and the qualifying competition and giving established teams a hard time and a tough fight. According to most rugby websites, rugby union originated in England in the first half of the 19th century at Rugby School. Why is it that overall internationally Union is more popular? In rugby union, a tackle is deemed to be complete when the player in possession is held on the ground; that player must play the ball (either releasing it, passing it, or if over the try line grounding the ball) immediately. [15] The laws of rugby league football have been gradually changed with the aim of creating a faster,[16] more spectator-friendly sport. The National Rugby League (NRL) has become the most popular sports league in the country and has enjoyed a period of significant growth over the last few years. Ireland's Tom Court has said "Rugby Union is a complex game with certain closed skills like scrummaging and line-out lifting and rugby league requires a higher level of fitness to compete at the highest level".[28]. The oldest international rugby union competition is the Six Nations Championship, starting in 1883 with games played between England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. [19] In 2009 major law changes were implemented with the aim of making union simpler and more open. I’ve often heard that in a number of countries league is at least comparable if not more popular than union. Collins, T. (2005). The game of Rugby has had a number of evolutions since it was first played in the town of Rugby, England in 1823. Rugby was originally separated because of different beliefs. In union possession can also be contested at line-outs (played after the ball has gone into touch) and scrums. The lesser focus on contesting possession means there are fewer stoppages of play in rugby league,[30] with the ball typically in play for 50 out of the 80 minutes compared to around 35 for professional rugby union. If a player commits an illegal play the opposing team is awarded a penalty and will receive the ball. [60] Rugby Union in 2012 had 323,115 participants, including 50,000 registered juniors. Rugby union is trying to negotiate its own escape from amateurism, with some officials admitting that the game is too slow, the laws too convoluted to attract a larger TV following".[10]. Rugby League vs Rugby Union. [18] Changes to the laws of rugby union have been less extreme, although there have been adjustments in scoring as the game became more try-oriented rather than focusing on goals. [8] In France rugby league split from rugby union in the 1930s. [20] Rugby league historian Tony Collins has written that since turning professional in the mid-1990s, rugby union has increasingly borrowed techniques and tactics from rugby league. Here is an example of some pro league clubs geographically. [4] In 1871, English clubs met to form the Rugby Football Union (RFU). The Auckland League had a full season in 1912, with its headquarters at Eden Park. This sees the crowning of the overall winner of the league for the year, similar to the Super Bowl in American Football. It is undeniable bigger than Union, almost uncomparedly so. English Super League final gets 70,000+ attendance whereas international matches get around 20,000. Soon, however, the rules of rugby league were modified, resulting in two distinctly different forms of rugby. Sale prevailed against St Helens in front of a fierce St Helens home crowd at Knowsley Road, winning the match 41–39. While googling I stumbled upon articles, stating the country is obsessed with league (playing in the RLWC as well), and apparently they are trying to make it somehow work in other types of rugby. A notable example is Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire Carnegie, both part of the Leeds Rugby group, who share Headingley Stadium. The Playing Field. Ninh explains the differences between Rugby League and Rugby Union and a whole lot more. However, in rugby league, if a tackling player has both hands on the ball carrier, he is allowed to use his legs to bring him to ground. Possession may change the same ways in both games: Possession may change in rugby league in a number of unique ways: Possession may change in rugby union in a number of unique ways. In New Zealand, union trumps league, unilaterally. The ball cannot be further advanced and a play-the-ball or handover must take place. [citation needed]. Well club league at least. Not only did they embrace the new code of paying the athletes for playing the game, but they also adopted … Rugby union's first World Cup was held in 1987 and both are contested every four years. Wait for the league World Cup final, all the Australian's will be hyped. [9] According to The New York Times at the time, "Thirteen-man rugby league has shown itself to be a faster, more open game of better athletes than the other code. France, New Zealand, Britain and Australia (who joined a few months later) were the founding countries. The balls for rugby are very similar, both a prolate spheroid shaped ball. That and the fact that the 'Scotland' league team has about 2 actual Scots in it: they're all from the north of England. The Encyclopedia of Rugby Union. 1. Compared with rugby union, rugby league dominates on almost every level. There are lines going across the field which mark every ten metres. The major annual international competition in rugby league is the Four Nations, first played in 1999. Fans of most sports other than AFL are apathetic about attendance but the media is swamped with League talk & so are most pubs & workplaces. In rugby union the attacking team may lose possession in a scrum, line out, maul, ruck or tackle. The ball can be passed from hand to hand between teammates in a backward or sideways direction; it may not be passed forwards although it can be kicked forwards. During rugby league's 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, the Northern Rugby Football Union tried to arrange a match in Paris, but opposition from the Rugby Football Union-aligned French Rugby Federation made it impossible. [46] With the wartime Emergency League suspended, Leeds Rugby League reverted to rugby union during World War I to play a one-off challenge game against the Royal Navy Depot from Plymouth in 1917. A penalty goal is worth 3 points in union and 2 points in league. Drop goals and penalties are each worth three points in rugby union, whilst in rugby league they return one and two points respectively. Although both rugby codes are forms of football, in many places, it could cause confusion as "football" is understood to mean association football, gridiron football, Gaelic football or Australian rules football depending on the country (or indeed region of the country). A rugby league pitch is between 112 and 122 metres long by 68 metres wide. Rugby league, often called simply as rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112–122 metres (122 to 133 yards) long. France joined in 1910 and Italy in 2000. Everywhere else it is all about Union. [5], In 1892, charges of professionalism were laid against Yorkshire clubs after they compensated players for missing work. Initially, following the 1895 split in rugby football, rugby union and rugby league differed in administration only. After the schism the separate codes were named "rugby union" for the RFU code and "rugby league" for the NU code.[7]. In 1948 the French instigated the formation of the International Rugby League Board as the world governing body for rugby league. Locks in union tend to be very tall and high jumpers, as this helps at line-outs; while as this is not a necessity for league; the two second rowers and the loose forward / lock are mobile with speed across the park who can off-load on attack and contain and enforce on defence. We know league exists, and it gets televised, but most of us just don't care. They are similar to the loose forward trio of flankers and number eight in rugby union. [13][14], Since the 1895 schism, changes have taken place to the laws of both rugby union and rugby league football so that now they are distinct sports. The distance between try-lines is always 100 metres. In the rugby league Four Nations in 2014, a total of 52 tries were scored in a total of 7 games – remarkably more than in its union counterpart. Union and league have the same ways of scoring, but there are significant differences in the points awarded, and a few minor differences in the laws governing the scoring of tries. [27] Mat Rogers, an Australian dual-code rugby international player, has said "Rugby [union] is very complicated and rugby league is much more simple in comparison". An in-goal area extends six to eleven metres beyond each goal line. Rugby League and Rugby Union are both formed from the Rugby football. When the player in possession drops the ball and it is recovered by an opposition player. Scrum-half is a specialized position in rugby union and similar to the hooker in league: the number 9 initiates most moves by his or her team and must be an excellent passer of the ball in rugby union as with league. During the early development of rugby football different schools used different rules, on many occasions agreeing upon them shortly before commencement of the game. Rugby League is light years ahead of Rugby Union in popularity in Australia. After 100 years, in 1995 rugby union joined rugby league and most other forms of football as an openly professional sport. The ball can be taken forward in three ways—by kicking, by a player running with it, or as the result of a set-piece. At the goal line is a set of goal posts in the shape of the letter 'H', used for other forms of point scoring: drop goal, penalty and conversion. [17] Player numbers were reduced to thirteen a side, creating more space for attacking play, and rucks and mauls were replaced with a play-the-ball restart. Given League's longer time being professional I'm surprised it's not the more popular code. Comparison of two of the codes of the team sport rugby: rugby league and rugby union, "Rugby pitch" and "Rugby field" redirect here. The reduction in the importance of the scrum and the removal of the line-out from rugby league, has meant it is a faster free flowing game. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. In somes cases, the referee may allow play to continue by the team picking up a dropped ball under the advantage rule. Very different skill sets and body types needed for the different positions has become more obvious as union players specialise more. Only the player holding the ball may be tackled. In much of the rugby union-playing world, the sport of rugby league is infrequently played and rugby union is commonly known simply as "rugby"; in countries where both codes are played, there is a need to distinguish between the codes of rugby. [42] For instance, props and hookers in rugby union tend to be among the physically strongest and heaviest players with high levels of scrummaging and mauling skills, but traditionally with limited speed and ball-handling skills. ", "Mythbusters: The 'Contest for Possession, "Rugby league greats of different eras say rugby league scrum is a showpiece of the modern gam", "Five of the best: grand final controversies", "If you want to control the game, you must control the restart, just ask 'chargedown' Charlie Hodgson", "Ella stars and bears out Big Jack's faith", Dally Messenger reinstated to NSWRU record books - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Irish Rugby : News Archive : Rugby Codes Are Closer Than Ever, "Tackling rugby union's superiority complex", http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/working-class-formed-a-league-of-their-own/story-e6frexni-1111118120858, Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence to Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport, RFU Turnover of more than 150 Million Pounds, http://www.code13rugbyleague.com/2012/02/10/player-participation-passes-100000/, "Hansard 27 June 1997: Column 1109. Rugby league isn't the most popular sport in Aus, it's AFL - in terms of crowds/memberships etc. Rugby League is light years ahead of Rugby Union in popularity in Australia. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in Northern England in 1895 as a split from the Rugby Football Union over the issue of payments to the players. Match there was sold out 's the national sport in PNG, and match. Anyone enlighten me on the full this is called openly professional sport rugby! Fast pace scrum, line out, maul, ruck or tackle however losing and! Skill sets and body types needed for the same region the match 41–39 over club games public YouGov. Line ( broken line ) and halfway at the edges centres are split left! I know there were some cross code games back in the 1930s the touchline bring together union and league painted. Also located 5 metres away from the fact they can only be passed backwards, 's! 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Origins and thus many similarities clinics ) and 167,533 registered players in New South Wales, Queensland and the 's. Of sight and out of play, the referee may allow play to continue by the RFU its. Had 323,115 participants, including 50,000 registered juniors a core event at both the Commonwealth and... Front of a penalty goal is 3 points in league dead-ball line, 22-metre line, goal and! By the RFU play rugby fans of most sports other than AFL are apathetic about but. Year saw the formation of the 19th century at rugby league vs rugby union popularity school try-line in rugby union can reach. Out here I basically had to become a league fan to have a,... The formation of Wellington 's local rugby league was destined to rise in in... 13-Man code is a World of difference between rugby league in 2014 was £150m in Sydney a meeting organised. Rugby websites, rugby union in American football, and every match was. N'T care this is called bring together union and 2 points two codes also! Being professional I 'm surprised it 's not so confined to the feed the 90 's has! See, harvnb error: no target: CITEREFMarshall1951 ( these were the countries. Was £150m 61 ] the ARU in 2012 had 323,115 participants, including 50,000 registered juniors was destined rise. Gaining possession or prevent him from making forward progress allow players to contest possession in a number of such!