71 replies to this topic

[HappyDave]

We are a Rugby Football code with our origins in Rugby Football. The Aussies really p' me off by calling us "League" and Rugby Union 'Rugby' as Rugby Union fans and 'Journos' do.

[AndyCapp]

We are a Rugby Football code with our origins in Rugby Football. The Aussies really p' me off by calling us "League" and Rugby Union 'Rugby' as Rugby Union fans and 'Journos' do.

You don't sound to Happy Dave.

[Marauder]

Not only the Aussies that call it league.

[Lobbygobbler]

We are a Rugby Football code with our origins in Rugby Football. The Aussies really p' me off by calling us "League" and Rugby Union 'Rugby' as Rugby Union fans and 'Journos' do.

Agreed. What strikes me as odd is that RL has been a much bigger code in Australia than union so I dont get why they didnt grab the use of "rugby" as we do in northern England

[Lobbygobbler]

Not only the Aussies that call it league.

The Aussie called it "footy" as far as I know. Only NZers call it league (a term which I find derogatory).

[Matt J]

League Rules Football is what we should have gone with many moons ago.

[Sir Galahad]

Seriously HappyDave the sport has so many problems what the Aussies call it should be the lowest of our priorities. You do inadvertently however raise a good point and that is the identification of our game. Personally I think using the term 'League' is the best way forward. Rugby Union has stolen the moniker 'Rugby' and there is nothing we can do about that after over a century of use. In any case after watching tonight's excellent sporting contest between two top teams we should do our best to dissassociate ourselves in the mind of the sporting public with the borefest that is Union as many associate 'Rugby' with this game. I agree with Matt J, we should have had the foresight many moons ago to change the name of the sport to give it its own identity. We can't have 'footy' in this country because of the association with football. I've always thought 'League' or 'League 13' was the best way forward. Any thoughts?

[kioli]

Agreed. What strikes me as odd is that RL has been a much bigger code in Australia than union so I dont get why they didnt grab the use of "rugby" as we do in northern England

As with everywhere the most popular code was simply called football. You would've heard Cooper Cronk referring to it as such in the post-game interview.

Now we have Aussie Rules marketing themselves aggressively as 'Australian' football and a few years ago Frank Lowy paid our two major news networks a shedload to call soccer 'football' in their reports, newspapers, etc.

'League' is a horrible term IMO. Would love to see the ARL take back ownership of the word rugby in Australia now there's a bit of coin in the game and they can afford a Lowy-like rebrand

Edited by kioli, 23 February 2013 - 03:03 AM.

[1jordy]

I don't really think it matters to be honest, I just call it Football.

[davewd]

Rugby League is played by 13----- Rugby Union by 15 ----------and footie is played by 11 simple!

[EastLondonMike]

Rugby all the way. adopting the term 'league' would just lower our visibility and awareness even more.

the reasons for adopting an alternative name would purely be for defeatest reasons.

[hindle xiii]

"Proper rugby" is my term. The full name is "proper rugby, none of that union shyte".

(apologies to the nice union peeps on TRL, but they probably won't read this anyway!)

[deluded pom?]

I agree with SG. The term rugby (despite both games having the same roots) is, whether we like it or not, inextricably linked with the union code in the minds of the general British public and elsewhere. How about calling it Super league?

[hindle xiii]

I agree with SG. The term rugby (despite both games having the same roots) is, whether we like it or not, inextricably linked with the union code in the minds of the general British public and elsewhere. How about calling it Super league?

You work on soccer am and I claim my £5. My only issue with the phrase "Super League" now is there are more and more competitions popping up with that name, women's football in UK, some Greek racing, Pakistan cricket, women's netball.

Even "Super League" is being ripped from us now.

[AndyCapp]

I just call it Rugby League or Footy, my Mates know what I am talking about, In Oz "Rugby" is owned by the other code and that is not going to change anytime soon.

[Bulliac]

I agree with SG. The term rugby (despite both games having the same roots) is, whether we like it or not, inextricably linked with the union code in the minds of the general British public and elsewhere. How about calling it Super league?

In the dreams of the unionites that may be the case but, in my experience, the vast majority of the (largely uncaring) public are very unsure about the differences between the codes anyway, so don't differentiate at all.

We all (soccer, union league and American football) share the same roots (the name 'football') anyway, and league sprang from union and shares the term rugby. If asked, I tell people I watch 'rugby', if pressed by someone a tad more knowledgable than average, I tell them I watch 'rugby league', just as I'm certain a union fan would have to say he watched 'rugby union'.

[Robin Evans]

Rugby League is played by 13----- Rugby Union by 15 ----------and footie is played by 11 simple!

Couldn't agree more owd cocker!

[l'angelo mysterioso]

Rugby League is played by 13----- Rugby Union by 15 ----------and footie is played by 11 simple!

they are all forms of football, it's quite legitimate to call any of trhem 'footie'


association football is called soccer by many people-it was even more prevalent in the past-'soccer' an nabbreviation of association.

the contentious point is the use of the term 'rugby. Rugby League is by far the most powerful form of rugb y in Australia, but was only established in the first decade of the 20th century. So rugbyunion was established first in Australia, and RugbyLeague's dominance means that the don't giv a frig, ad that people know what everyone means nobody gives a frig

in the uk it's err different


get ready frr it.

[Johnoco]

I know a lot of football fans (soccer) and something that strikes me is the lack of knowledge of sports history. 9 out of 10 just believe that it appeared one day from nowhere. They just don't either know or care about the history of their game. Most still tend to think soccer is an American term and baulk at its use. If you try and explain why Aussies sometimes call RL footy, they just can't comprehend it...its like you are telling David Ike there is no conspiracy of lizard people.

[l'angelo mysterioso]

We are a Rugby Football code with our origins in Rugby Football. The Aussies really p' me off by calling us "League" and Rugby Union 'Rugby' as Rugby Union fans and 'Journos' do.

we are a football code