Description
This article is from the Rugby Union
FAQ, by roelofs@f2s.com (Mees Roelofs) with numerous
contributions by others.
2.4 Rugby Union and League
Many flamewars and long discussions have been held on this topic. League
separated itself from Union in 1895 after a dispute over player payments.
League therefore has been 'open' from its very start. The code is
particularly popular in Northern England and Australia. Thirteen players
play in each side, hence its French name 'Rugby a Treize'.
The main difference is that, in League, the scrum is a merely a restart
(instead of a contest) and line-outs don't exist. When a player is tackled,
he is allowed to get back onto his feet and play the ball, while in Union
the ball is going to be contested in a ruck or maul, possibly resulting in
a turnover. In League, however, the ball has to be kicked after the fifth
tackle.
Much can be said in the favour of either side. The Union fans adore the
somewhat complex rules of their code and regard things like scrums, rucks
and mauls as essential for Rugby. League fans will say these make things
way too complicated and think rucks, mauls and scrums are a waste of time.
They regard Union as the battle for a ball you don't get to see. The RSRU
subscribers obviously have chosen Union, despite some of them following
both codes.
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