[quote="Belle Vue":1k1mk36m]I was lucky enough to be in Australia in 2023 watching NRL games and looking at media and TV channels union looked as though it was on its Bankside over there…[/quote:1k1mk36m] League is a commercial monster over here... Each year it makes inroads into other sports and Union has been one of its victims. In '25 union is almost complete confined to being played by private schools (of which there are plenty), the alumni of said schools at a small number of clubs, and the armed forces. The Pacific islands and their populations have fallen under the thrall of the NRL, and even the union stronghold of NZ is seeing a shift of power. Only AFL currently is able to hold its own in commercial terms across the sporting business arena.

[quote="1315trinity":21fc23t8]It's a totally different game and although there is undoubtedly skill in union, I feel very few would successfully make the transition to league. It's changed like league has, and the players becomed honed to their particular game- the same applies vice versa, how many league players have tried union and looked completely lost. Up to RU professionalism ( official that is) the Union players seemed OK adapting to league - and I'm talking about backs now- you can probably count on one hand how many forwards made it! I remember Bryan West![/quote:21fc23t8] Which is exactly what I was saying, since open professionalism Union players have become fitter but they’ve also become more specialised with their skill set being peculiar to their role within a Union team. There are areas of commonality and that’s where they are behind their League counterparts. Union players simply don’t face the same level of relentless pressure and intensity and as a result their skills break down when put under the sort of pressure a top level League defence would impose.

[quote="1315trinity":2jcy197n]It's a totally different game and although there is undoubtedly skill in union, I feel very few would successfully make the transition to league. It's changed like league has, and the players becomed honed to their particular game- the same applies vice versa, how many league players have tried union and looked completely lost. Up to RU professionalism ( official that is) the Union players seemed OK adapting to league - and I'm talking about backs now- you can probably count on one hand how many forwards made it! I remember Bryan West![/quote:2jcy197n] Scott Quinnell and Paul Moriarty were the forwards who came to mind.

[quote="Shifty Cat":3s0fescs]Scott Quinnell and Paul Moriarty were the forwards who came to mind.[/quote:3s0fescs] counted about fifty from memory before my mind wandered off somewhere, including many from Trinity ... David Jeanes and Rob Valentine as examples

[quote="The Avenger":2mljhfid]Which is exactly what I was saying, since open professionalism Union players have become fitter but they’ve also become more specialised with their skill set being peculiar to their role within a Union team. There are areas of commonality and that’s where they are behind their League counterparts. Union players simply don’t face the same level of relentless pressure and intensity and as a result their skills break down when put under the sort of pressure a top level League defence would impose.[/quote:2mljhfid] You say that, but there is no recent example of Union player playing League to prove your point. Of course a player going either way has to learn the game, which Burgess proved. I've played both at a decent level and I've talked at length to a senior coach of both games (I assume it's the same one) A rugby union scrum half is always under pressure, can pass further than most and can kick. They still have to learn the game. You might even play them at hooker in our game if the are built like Duport. It isn't a case of not being skilled at all. You just have to fit the skill to the role. A winger or outside centre would be pretty easy to move across. A fullback is now harder because the league role has changed. Front row is almost an alien game in RU. But you'd play a number 8 at prop in league. Etc etc. Saying all that, some of the passing and catching skills in today's Ireland England game was schoolboy level!!

[quote="PopTart":333gqrb5] Saying all that, some of the passing and catching skills in today's Ireland England game was schoolboy level!![/quote:333gqrb5] Saw the result on the BBC website... So I took a quick look at the match report... I have to say I didn't recognise any of the players names on either side... But the report suggested it was a good game.