Some years ago at Cardiff Arms Park, a man was considering a question from a young boy about the difference between the two codes of rugby. Eventually he replied: “It’s like comparing chess and draughts.”
Union resembled chess in its greater complexity and tactical variation. League was more like draughts with its desire to get on with play: fewer components meant the referee was involved less. As simplifications go it was not outrageous, although it reflected the disdain in which league was held in a part of the country where many players had received a one-way ticket to the north.
Written by Paul Rees
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/oct/04/premiership-entertainment-attendances-the-breakdown-rugby-union under the title “Premiership provides entertainment but is struggling to boost attendances | Paul Rees”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
