My mate reckons professional rugby union teams regularly get eaten at their own sport when playing against their league counterparts. I get the feeling he’s just talking about his pub’s sunday league teams but I could be wrong. Do league vs union matches really take place, and if so who normally wins?
It happens now and then — usually its a half-and-half affair set up as some type of fundraiser.
And the result is what you would expect. League dominates under League rules, Union under Union rules. Although the skills in each game may transfer relatively easily for backs, the forwards cannot cope. When — for example — would League forwards ever need to develop the specific skills needed for contested scrums, lineouts or rucking — areas which are absolutely necessary for a successful Union side. And I’m sure the reverse it true as well.
in may 1996….Wigan RLFC and Bath RUFC played against each other at both codes..the first game under league rules finished 82-6 to Wigan….whilst the game under union rules finished 44-19 to Bath…
Wigan also became the first rugby league side to win the Middlesex sevens tournament…
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The above user is correct with Bath having an easy win in the rugby game and Wigan having an easy win in the league game.
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It happens now and then — usually its a half-and-half affair set up as some type of fundraiser.
And the result is what you would expect. League dominates under League rules, Union under Union rules. Although the skills in each game may transfer relatively easily for backs, the forwards cannot cope. When — for example — would League forwards ever need to develop the specific skills needed for contested scrums, lineouts or rucking — areas which are absolutely necessary for a successful Union side. And I’m sure the reverse it true as well.
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he’s most probably talkin bout the converts that have come from league to union.
the likes of tuquiri,Palu,elsom,farrel,SBW,Gaznier Thorn etc have all made thier mark early in the union code after switching and most are regular internationals
IN union League forwards would not be as tech as their union counterparts if playing Union but would be as fit or even fitter
In League the union forwards would take a bit to keep up wit the pace of the game except loosies you could play a whole team of loosies as your forward pack,proprs and locks too immobile in league.
Imagine
8 Sione Lauaki
9 Piri Weepu
10 Henry Tuilagi
11 Pierre Spies
12 Ryan Kankowski
13 Maa Nonu
tht be a handy League forward Pack
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