Rugby is one of the most popular sports in the world, but when you think of the game – unless you are a diehard fan – it is probably Rugby Union that springs to mind, rather Rugby League.
That is because Rugby Union is the far more popular code than Rugby League, both in terms of participation and viewership. There is a multitude of reasons for this, some of which are tangled up in politics with governments actively banning Rugby League to stop workers from going against the establishment.
The Birth of Rugby Union and Rugby League
The first set of rules was written at Rugby School in 1845 and then the Cambridge Rules were published in 1848. In 1863, the Football Association (FA) set about writing universal football rules and codifying them, in which players were banned from running with the ball in their hands (which was allowed as per the laws set out by the Rugby School.
Several clubs left the FA in protest as they favoured the Rugby Schools’ rules and the FA’s rules became known as association football. Clubs that left the FA formed the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in 1871 and their rules became known as rugby football.
The RFU would be the sole governing body for rugby until 1895 when the Northern Rugby Football Union (NRFU) was formed following a dispute between northern clubs, who felt that they were underrepresented on the RFU’s committee. One of the main key points of the dispute was the prevention of broken time payments, by which northern clubs, who had enjoyed success, were banned from compensating players for missing time at work by the RFU, to enforce the sport’s amateur principles.
Northern clubs had a predominantly working-class foundation and players, who worked as coal miners, mill workers and in factories, were unable to play with without receiving compensation for their time. In contrast, players at southern clubs tended not to have the same issues as they lived in more affluent areas and could afford to play for their clubs without compensation.
The first Challenge Cup final was contested at Headingley between Batley and St Helens in 1897, with 52 clubs taking part in the inaugural competition. Over the next 15 years, more than 200 clubs switched codes from the RFU to the NRFU, which would assume the name of the Rugby Football League in 1922.
How Many Players in a Rugby League Team?
Upon the formation of the NRFU in 1895, the body used the same rules as the RFU and, thus, each side had 15 players. This was the case until 1906, when the NRFU reduced team sizes down to 13 players.
Over the years, as each governing body has refined its own set of rules, there have become clear differences between Rugby Union and Rugby League in terms of how the game is played and as a spectator sport. With only 13 players on a side and, due to fewer stoppages in play on average, Rugby League has been perceived as being the more physically demanding of the two codes – although this certainly isn’t without debate.
Rugby Union and Rugby League Main Differences
Aside from the number of players on the pitch, the other main difference between Rugby Union and Rugby League is how points are scored. While points can be scored for tries, drop goals and penalties, the number of points awarded is different.
While a try is worth five points in a game of Rugby Union, it is only worth four points in Rugby League (a conversion in either code is worth an additional two points). A drop goal in Rugby Union will score three points, as will scoring a penalty, while you will only score one point for a drop goal and two points for a penalty in Rugby League.
The number of allows substitutions also differs between the two codes. Rugby Union teams can use eight substitutions (not including temporary blood replacements) while Rugby League sides can name four designated substitutes with eight interchanges allowed between the 17 named players.
The casual fan will immediately notice that Rugby League is freer flowing than Rugby Union, with rucks not existing in the League’s set of rules. When a player is tackled in Rugby Union, a ruck is formed with a player from each side contesting for the ball whereas, in Rugby League, the tackled player rolls the ball back with their feet, called a chicken scratch or play the ball.
In Rugby League, there is a tackle limit in play. Teams can be tackled a maximum of six times before giving the ball to the opposition (usually kicking the ball to push the other team as far back down the pitch as possible). In Rugby Union, there is no tackle limit in play, and this means that team can often have periods in possession with upwards of 30 tackles without giving up the ball.
The other key difference that spectators will notice is that where Rugby Union has line-outs, Rugby League does not. When the ball leaves the field of play possession is contested by way of a line-out, while six players will contest a scrum in Rugby League.
Have Players Switched Codes?
There have been many instances of players swapping codes, usually with players jumping from playing Rugby League to Rugby Union as the latter has more money (although this was not the case up until 1995 when Rugby Union was still officially an amateur sport). Beforehand, the trend was for Rugby Union players to make the switch, rather than the other way around, as they were offered money by interested clubs.
Many players have struggled to adapt to their new code, even if they had been considered one of the best in either Rugby Union or Rugby League. Sam Burgess is one of the best examples of this. Having been regarded as one of the best players in the world, backed up by his inclusion in the National Rugby League’s team of the decade in 2019, he never reached the same heights when he switched to Rugby Union in 2014. The lock spent just over 12 months with Bath, making five appearances for England, before deciding to revert to Rugby League in November 2015.
While some players struggle with making the switch, others thrive and the best example of that may well be Jason Robinson, who made a permanent switch to Rugby Union from Rugby League in 2000 (following a temporary spell in 1996 during the Super League off-season). Robinson enjoyed seven years with Sale Sharks, becoming the first player to have won both the Super League and Premiership league titles in that time. He is undoubtedly most fondly remembered for being part of England’s World-Cup winning squad in 2003, scoring a try in the final against Australia.
Rugby League v Rugby Union
Rugby Union is without a doubt the most recognisable form of the game worldwide, with the code being the first to be played in most countries as it is the older of the two (and due to Rugby League being banned for some time in Rugby Union playing countries). Rugby League, by and large, is limited to England (predominantly northern England), Australia, New Zealand, Wales, France, and other island nations (such as Papua New Guinea, where it is the national sport).
Both codes have long histories that are to be celebrated and games to be enjoyed. Here at Fen Regis Trophies, we are proud to have supplied awards and trophies to both Rugby Union and Rugby League clubs and leagues.
For more information on our range of rugby trophies, please get in touch with us today and a member of our friendly team will be more than happy to assist.