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I enjoy watching both! I'll bet most Americans would have an easier time grasping league play, since it's a little more like American football. Then that can be their gateway into union.
I totally agree it would be an excellent gateway. My first exposure to rugby was union and I learned to love all the aspects of it. The lack of a ruck just makes league seem pointless to me. In fact, faced with the choice of league or gridiron, it's no contest, gridiron is much more compelling football imo.
Well, with all the different ESPN networks that are available now, you should get coverage. My gosh, if they can do poker, then they can certainly do rugby.
Well, with all the different ESPN networks that are available now, you should get coverage. My gosh, if they can do poker, then they can certainly do rugby.
Dude...tell me about it. What were they thinking?!?! Poker? There are so many great sports out there to cover it's a shame to waste airtime on stuff like that. Not that there's anything wrong with poker but I mean, I just don't get watching it.
Well, with all the different ESPN networks that are available now, you should get coverage. My gosh, if they can do poker, then they can certainly do rugby.
Well, one would think so. It's ridiculous that I've had to order a foreign sports network (Setanta) to enjoy any kind of significant rugby viewing!
I totally agree it would be an excellent gateway. My first exposure to rugby was union and I learned to love all the aspects of it. The lack of a ruck just makes league seem pointless to me. In fact, faced with the choice of league or gridiron, it's no contest, gridiron is much more compelling football imo.
It is a strange thing to watch, for sure. The first rugby I saw was league, because I remember the players getting up after a tackle and rolling the ball back with their feet. When I finally saw union, I was totally confused. Why are they punting the ball already? Why are they lifting those guys up to catch the ball? What's a ruck? What's a maul? Now I've seen so much union that league seems like the odd bird.
What's the relative popularity between the two, I wonder? I know union is more widely followed, but as a typical American isolated from the rest of the world, it's hard to gain a proper perspective. Is league more popular in certain regions? Is it more of a niche sport?
It is a strange thing to watch, for sure. The first rugby I saw was league, because I remember the players getting up after a tackle and rolling the ball back with their feet. When I finally saw union, I was totally confused. Why are they punting the ball already? Why are they lifting those guys up to catch the ball? What's a ruck? What's a maul? Now I've seen so much union that league seems like the odd bird.
What's the relative popularity between the two, I wonder? I know union is more widely followed, but as a typical American isolated from the rest of the world, it's hard to gain a proper perspective. Is league more popular in certain regions? Is it more of a niche sport?
The way I understand it, league is more popular in northern England and Australia. It isn't played in Kiwiland or South Africa or Ireland or Scotland or France or even here in America. League was a response to the early rugby board not wanting to professionalize the sport. It was born in the industrial north and remains most entrenched there. Not sure why it's popular in Oz. Union was the first code. As I understand it, the League concept of the 6 tackles was borrowed from gridiron so you might boldly call it the Americanized version!!
The way I understand it, league is more popular in northern England and Australia. It isn't played in Kiwiland or South Africa or Ireland or Scotland or France or even here in America. League was a response to the early rugby board not wanting to professionalize the sport. It was born in the industrial north and remains most entrenched there. Not sure why it's popular in Oz. Union was the first code. As I understand it, the League concept of the 6 tackles was borrowed from gridiron so you might boldly call it the Americanized version!!
Ha! I can get on board with that. I mean, even the field looks like a gridiron field, with lines painted every 10 meters.
As for the Aussies, who knows. They're probably more interested in their Aussie Rules game anyway.
The way I understand it, league is more popular in northern England and Australia. It isn't played in Kiwiland or South Africa or Ireland or Scotland or France or even here in America. League was a response to the early rugby board not wanting to professionalize the sport. It was born in the industrial north and remains most entrenched there. Not sure why it's popular in Oz. Union was the first code. As I understand it, the League concept of the 6 tackles was borrowed from gridiron so you might boldly call it the Americanized version!!
League is most popular in Australia,New Zealand and England. Rugby League is probaly Australia's most popular sport at the moment espically with State of Origin coming up.
League is most popular in Australia,New Zealand and England. Rugby League is probaly Australia's most popular sport at the moment espically with State of Origin coming up.
I just saw a 'State of Origin' game on TV yesterday. Can someone explain what this is all about?
Be patient, please. I'm still learning.
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Why Not?
Now I've seen so much union that league seems like the odd bird. 
Is league more popular in certain regions? Is it more of a niche sport?
