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The future of rugby?


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An imaginary predication of the future of both rugby codes based on the current climate

Reports of a Super League TV deal valued at half of the current one makes for grim reading. With North American expansion ruled out and club finances impacted by the pandemic, rugby league in this country looks set to continue on a downward trajectory. Reduced revenue means less money for star players, less money for youth development and less money for stopping the best young talent from being poached by rugby union and the NRL. The result is a stale product on the pitch, more political infighting and crowd numbers that continue to decline. Future TV deals get smaller and clubs struggle for existence. Semi-professionalism becomes the inevitable destination for many Super League clubs.

Meanwhile legal cases by ex-players with neurodegenerative disorders become more frequent in both codes. Research into this area is published and establishes a direct link between tackling and collision in rugby with long-term brain disorders. Calls for tackling to be banned completely are eventually heard. Rugby union, now on the brink of ruin from numerous settlements with ex-players, decides to completely overhaul its game. It not only bans tackling, but also removes scrums, rucks and mauls. Tag rugby becomes the only safe and viable option left. The biggest rugby league clubs in England, now disillusioned with the state of its own game, are approached by rugby union to join a new professional league of hybrid tag rugby. Self-interest takes priority and the clubs agree to the move. Rugby league as we know it, is dead.

The hybrid tag game is fast, fun and high scoring. But above all, safe. Participation numbers go up in schools as star players emerge and more parents allow their children to play the game. Older generations moan and reminisce about the gladiatorial nature of the game of the past. Younger generations of a more sensitive nature dismiss this with knowledge and understanding of the devastating health effects it caused. Rugby, now a single code, finally has the combination of an attractive, simple to understand game on the pitch, with the influence and resources off it to market it properly. This winning formula results in long term growth and expansion. Rugby one day finally rivals football for popularity and revenue.

I hope I am wrong though!

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2 minutes ago, League of XIII said:

An imaginary predication of the future of both rugby codes based on the current climate

Reports of a Super League TV deal valued at half of the current one makes for grim reading. With North American expansion ruled out and club finances impacted by the pandemic, rugby league in this country looks set to continue on a downward trajectory. Reduced revenue means less money for star players, less money for youth development and less money for stopping the best young talent from being poached by rugby union and the NRL. The result is a stale product on the pitch, more political infighting and crowd numbers that continue to decline. Future TV deals get smaller and clubs struggle for existence. Semi-professionalism becomes the inevitable destination for many Super League clubs.

Meanwhile legal cases by ex-players with neurodegenerative disorders become more frequent in both codes. Research into this area is published and establishes a direct link between tackling and collision in rugby with long-term brain disorders. Calls for tackling to be banned completely are eventually heard. Rugby union, now on the brink of ruin from numerous settlements with ex-players, decides to completely overhaul its game. It not only bans tackling, but also removes scrums, rucks and mauls. Tag rugby becomes the only safe and viable option left. The biggest rugby league clubs in England, now disillusioned with the state of its own game, are approached by rugby union to join a new professional league of hybrid tag rugby. Self-interest takes priority and the clubs agree to the move. Rugby league as we know it, is dead.

The hybrid tag game is fast, fun and high scoring. But above all, safe. Participation numbers go up in schools as star players emerge and more parents allow their children to play the game. Older generations moan and reminisce about the gladiatorial nature of the game of the past. Younger generations of a more sensitive nature dismiss this with knowledge and understanding of the devastating health effects it caused. Rugby, now a single code, finally has the combination of an attractive, simple to understand game on the pitch, with the influence and resources off it to market it properly. This winning formula results in long term growth and expansion. Rugby one day finally rivals football for popularity and revenue.

I hope I am wrong though!

Why ?

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I posted something to this effect on the Tag/Touch thread, with the difference that it all relates to the amateur game. We would still have elite pro competitions as a spectator sport. But these, and maybe a carefully controlled, legally water-tight amateur sliver, would be the only remaining parts of the contact game. Everything else in our clubs would be non-contact.

The awkward part of my scenario is how the players for the pro game are produced if there is no junior contact game.

If more than 90% of "Rugby" becomes Tag, the game as played will be Tag Rugby League, not Tag Rugby.  So the official name of the game should be Rugby League, just as the title of this thread should be "The future of Rugby League".

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1 hour ago, GUBRATS said:

Why ?

because its the off season and people are bored? 

a few threads that are already going on, lets bring it together and form yet another one where the same arguments are hashed up.. 

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1 hour ago, League of XIII said:

An imaginary predication of the future of both rugby codes based on the current climate

Reports of a Super League TV deal valued at half of the current one makes for grim reading. With North American expansion ruled out and club finances impacted by the pandemic, rugby league in this country looks set to continue on a downward trajectory. Reduced revenue means less money for star players, less money for youth development and less money for stopping the best young talent from being poached by rugby union and the NRL. The result is a stale product on the pitch, more political infighting and crowd numbers that continue to decline. Future TV deals get smaller and clubs struggle for existence. Semi-professionalism becomes the inevitable destination for many Super League clubs.

Meanwhile legal cases by ex-players with neurodegenerative disorders become more frequent in both codes. Research into this area is published and establishes a direct link between tackling and collision in rugby with long-term brain disorders. Calls for tackling to be banned completely are eventually heard. Rugby union, now on the brink of ruin from numerous settlements with ex-players, decides to completely overhaul its game. It not only bans tackling, but also removes scrums, rucks and mauls. Tag rugby becomes the only safe and viable option left. The biggest rugby league clubs in England, now disillusioned with the state of its own game, are approached by rugby union to join a new professional league of hybrid tag rugby. Self-interest takes priority and the clubs agree to the move. Rugby league as we know it, is dead.

The hybrid tag game is fast, fun and high scoring. But above all, safe. Participation numbers go up in schools as star players emerge and more parents allow their children to play the game. Older generations moan and reminisce about the gladiatorial nature of the game of the past. Younger generations of a more sensitive nature dismiss this with knowledge and understanding of the devastating health effects it caused. Rugby, now a single code, finally has the combination of an attractive, simple to understand game on the pitch, with the influence and resources off it to market it properly. This winning formula results in long term growth and expansion. Rugby one day finally rivals football for popularity and revenue.

I hope I am wrong though!

lets look at the NFL.. they have settled the case once for anyone who has issues and played the game pre 2011. 

Since then they have put things in place to minimise the risk, people are now aware of the risks of playing (due to the court case and settlement) and are still playing... (this choice mitigates some of the culpability)

That is in the USA where suing is a national past time and the NFL lawyers and Insurers have signed this off as OK to protect them over the same "multi case" scenario as you predict.. 

One class action will potentially mean a pot of money (maybe very big, maybe very dangerous) being put to one side, by the RFU/WRU?WorldRugby and maybe the RFL if they get brought in, for anyone who can prove xyz before date xx/xx/xxxx. There will not be multiple cases.. 

 

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