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Never mind the merger of leagues into the Union, it is time to be much more radical and consider a merger between the League and the Union. Reunify the codes, after more than a century of separation.
This is not a typo. Most consider it unthinkable, but referees from all corners of rugby history should consider creating a version of the game as a way of keeping it dynamic and relevant.
Let us stop fighting for a share of the sports market in a time of volatility and change. Any honest assessment, without taking into account sentiment, would conclude that there is simply not enough room for two codes to thrive, and both have their value.
The Union provides a much greater international dimension, but the League offers a significant stronghold in Australia – where the League completely eclipses the Union in terms of supporters and finances – along with pockets in New Zealand, the Pacific and northern England. There is much tribal passion along the M62 corridor, which is not recognised beyond that hinterland.
The regular Super League season is winding down, just as the Premiership is about to get underway, with Wigan, Hull Kingston Rovers and Warrington battling it out at the top of the table. These clubs, along with others such as Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and Hull FC, have fan bases comparable to most Premiership clubs and the Super League Grand Final attracts 60,000-70,000 spectators, which is not far off many Premiership finals in recent times.
The time has come for rugby to consider a merger between league and union.
When it comes to social media followers, the codes are very much in line. Leeds have far more followers on X (206,000) than any of the union clubs, led by Leicester, who have almost 170,000. Wigan and St Helens also have healthy digital fan bases. Average crowds are comparable across both codes, although the Tigers are the clear leaders when it comes to matchday ticket sales.
Union attracts greater coverage, but the league appears to resonate more with younger audiences, “Generation Z”. According to data collected late last year, the 13-man code was among the top 20 sports with the highest participation in the UK among 18-24 year olds, while Union was not in that category. That supports anecdotal evidence about the ageing of the Union fan base in this country.
In an age when sports are increasingly watched through apps and online content, amid a raft of data about shrinking attention spans, a simple format has obvious appeal. League ticks that box far more than Union, with its reconfigured scrums, laboured lineouts, collapsed mauls, messy breakdowns and nuanced rules. A broad section of the public can relate to the essence of a run, catch, pass and tackle game, but are put off by added complexity.
English players often attend league games when they tour Australia and are impressed by the level of fitness and skill of the players, as was the case with the Welsh team that went to the State of Origin final in Brisbane this year and were shocked by their relentless intensity. The league desperately needs a broader profile, but it brings a gladiatorial quality that is appealing.
Both sides of the divide have a lot to gain from a merger. The Union’s local power base is too limited and the league’s even more so; plus the latter has a small global presence and can benefit from the Union’s reach into Europe, Africa and South America. Meanwhile, as the Premier League and RFU look for new clubs to emerge and improve the elite – after the recent demise of Wasps, London Irish and Worcester – imagine adding Wigan, St Helens and Leeds, along with all the superpower teams from Down Under, to secure the future of rugby there.
How would unifying the codes work? It wouldn’t be easy, especially as the league is a summer sport in these areas and unification works in the winter, and should be a goal only at the professional level. While many of the basic elements of the league, including 13-a-side football, could work, there’s no reason why an element of set-piece play, with line-outs and scrums contested in a small-sided fashion, couldn’t be incorporated. Flankers could thrive in a fast-paced version of the game that puts an emphasis on their dynamism and defensive prowess, while removing the ruck battle that carries a high risk of injury.
The Union changes its rules so often that creating a hybrid format shouldn’t be too complicated for those who spend their time experimenting in search of box office nirvana. Plus, there has been so much coaching transition and adoption of league principles on offense and defense, so it wouldn’t be a culture shock for many backs, whether they’re decision-makers, distributors, runners or finishers.
Traditionalists will bristle at any argument that questions the status quo and this represents a threat to the union’s cherished “game for all shapes and sizes” point of differentiation. But the biggest threat of all is to rugby’s future existence amid rapid changes to the sporting landscape.
Together, codes can be stronger.
Leicester Tigers are the clear leaders in matchday ticket sales.
No to another merger
As for a possible merger between the Premiership and elements of the United Rugby Championship, no thank you.
Italy and South Africa would be isolated, although the latter contingent should be able to take advantage of the oval ball’s popularity in their country to create a vibrant domestic event without the need for outside assistance.
A British-Irish league would hasten the demise of the Champions Cup, for dubious reasons. The Irish provinces are rarely in top form, especially away from home, so their rotation policy will leave no one without seats in Premier League stadiums.
What makes much more sense is a two-division Anglo-Welsh league, with the top two Welsh teams in the Premiership and the other two in the Championship, with the option of also adding RGC 1404 from the north to open up that region.
That is the best bet for dealing with the decline of interest in Wales, where football is in serious trouble. Its supporters are not limited to short trips to Bath, Bristol and Gloucester, as the hordes of Ospreys supporters at Saracens or Scarlets at Harlequins have shown in recent years. Great atmosphere, fierce tribalism. It just works.
The Premier League is back
The new Premiership season kicks off under the Friday night lights at The Rec and Kingston Park with plenty to do after a thrilling 2023-24 campaign, which saw the margins cut so close. More of the same drama, tension and entertainment, please.
Relegation is unlikely to become a factor, given that the system remains littered with teams trying to make the jump, but let’s hope Newcastle transform themselves, so that the league is competitive from start to finish. Bath are certainly marginal title favourites, as Northampton begin life without superman Courtney Lawes.
Time will tell whether the loss of Owen Farrell and Vunipolas will have a savage impact on Saracens’ prospects, but they could slip to mid-table given the Test demands on Maro Itoje, Jamie George and others.
Sale will be in the crosshairs again, with George Ford steering them shrewdly as he seeks an England call-up. Leicester have plenty of potential for Michael Cheika to tap into and unleash, but this column can imagine the play-offs featuring Bath and Sale, plus two from Bristol, Exeter, Harlequins, Leicester, Northampton and Saracens. It’s wide open, again, which is great news.
The new Premier League season kicks off under the Friday night lights at The Rec and Kingston Park
The last word
This is certainly the right time to bring Shaun Edwards home. The RFU can find the money to terminate his contract with France, given his track record of helping teams win trophies.
As the unrivalled defensive guru, he would offer the kind of experience and pedigree that could be the missing piece in England’s structure. The Lancaster player is not simply another emerging candidate who has worked under Steve Borthwick and shares a similar outlook; he has the stature and conviction to be his own man.
Additionally, Edwards is recognized for his personnel management skills and emotional intelligence, which would complement the head coach’s attention to detail, work ethic and analytical qualities.
RFU can find money to terminate Shaun Edwards’ contract with France
It would also be a move that would make a difference, as it would show that Borthwick is not afraid to have a high-profile figure at his side, reflecting greater confidence in his own position and authority. The RFU hierarchy may want to have a direct say in this appointment, after Borthwick decided to bring in Aled Walters and Felix Jones and both have opted to leave the team.
Joe El-Abd is the favourite to replace Jones and has had a solid career in French rugby, but the signing of Edwards would be a stunning coup that would transform the mood around England. The RFU would have to be moving heaven and earth behind the scenes to make it happen.