Ramrod
Reserve Grader
To All Kids Who Contemplate A Career in Rugby Union:
If young kiddies aspires a career in Rugby Union or to play Union Test matches for your country, let's face the facts.
1. You will be overlooked for a spot in place of Rugby League players.
2. Rugby League players will usually be paid more to play Union than established Union players.
3. Rugby League players will be promoted as the face of Union (thus enhancing the players' ability to earn more sponsorship dollars). You only have to watch the sports news and read the newspapers - always littered with ex League players prancing around in their new code.
* Just a few past and present examples: - Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor, I Folau, Berrick Barnes, Karmichael Hunt, Jason Robinson, Sam Burgess, Timana Tahu, SBW, Brad Thorn, Andrew Walker, Brian Carney, Ryan Cross, Benji Marshall, etc.
So, my advice is simple:
1. Play Rugby League first.
2. League will teach you how to defend and attack. It will enhance your skills to play Union later.
3. Crossing codes later will give you more chances of getting you more dollars than a junior Union player would by working his way up the ranks.
4. There's no need to learn Union rules as most Union players still don't know the rules, nor do the first time code hoppers.
5. At the end of the day, even if you're a flop in Union, you'd still cash in more than most of those Union juniors who worked their way up the ranks. It's a no brainer.
6. I've played both codes. I can't stand watching a game of Union. It's a total bore and that's the truth.
---
If young kiddies aspires a career in Rugby Union or to play Union Test matches for your country, let's face the facts.
1. You will be overlooked for a spot in place of Rugby League players.
2. Rugby League players will usually be paid more to play Union than established Union players.
3. Rugby League players will be promoted as the face of Union (thus enhancing the players' ability to earn more sponsorship dollars). You only have to watch the sports news and read the newspapers - always littered with ex League players prancing around in their new code.
* Just a few past and present examples: - Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor, I Folau, Berrick Barnes, Karmichael Hunt, Jason Robinson, Sam Burgess, Timana Tahu, SBW, Brad Thorn, Andrew Walker, Brian Carney, Ryan Cross, Benji Marshall, etc.
So, my advice is simple:
1. Play Rugby League first.
2. League will teach you how to defend and attack. It will enhance your skills to play Union later.
3. Crossing codes later will give you more chances of getting you more dollars than a junior Union player would by working his way up the ranks.
4. There's no need to learn Union rules as most Union players still don't know the rules, nor do the first time code hoppers.
5. At the end of the day, even if you're a flop in Union, you'd still cash in more than most of those Union juniors who worked their way up the ranks. It's a no brainer.
6. I've played both codes. I can't stand watching a game of Union. It's a total bore and that's the truth.
---