Rugby should MERGE union and league to save the game we all love, argues CHRIS FOY

Let alone a merger of leagues into union, it is time to be much more radical, by considering a merger between league and union. Reunite the codes, after more than a century apart.

That’s not a typo. It’s unthinkable to most, but officials in rugby’s historical divide should consider the possibility of creating a single version of the game as a way to stay vibrant and relevant.

Stop fighting for a piece of the sports market, in a time of volatility and change. Any honest assessment, where sentiment is taken out of the equation, would conclude that there simply isn’t enough room for two codes to thrive – and both have their value.

Union brings a much better international dimension, but league offers a significant stronghold in Australia – where league vastly outstrips union in terms of followers and finances – along with pockets in New Zealand, the Pacific and the North of England. There is a lot of tribal fervour along the M62 corridor that is unrecognised outside that catchment area.

The Super League regular season is drawing to a close – just as the Premiership is about to begin – with Wigan, Hull Kingston Rovers and Warrington battling it out at the top of the table. These clubs, along with others such as Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and Hull FC, have a fanbase comparable to most Premiership clubs and the Super League Grand Final attracts crowds of 60,000-70,000, a not far cry from the high Premiership Final attendances of recent times.

When it comes to social media followers, the codes are closely related. Leeds have far more followers on X – 206,000 – than any other union club, with Leicester leading the way with almost 170,000. Wigan and St Helens also have healthy digital fanbases. Average attendance figures are similar in both codes, although the Tigers are the clear leaders when it comes to matchday ticket sales.

Union has garnered the most attention, but league appears to resonate more with younger ‘Gen Z’ audiences. According to data collected late last year, the 13-man code was in the top 20 sports for engagement in the UK, for 18-24 year-olds, while union was not in that category. That supports anecdotal evidence about union’s ageing fanbase in the country.

In an age where sport is increasingly consumed via apps and online content, amid a flood of data about shrinking attention spans, there is clear appeal in a simple format. League is far more satisfying than union, with its reset scrums, laborious line-outs, collapsing mauls, messy breakdowns and nuanced laws. A large section of the audience can identify with the essence of a run, catch, pass, tackle game, but are put off by greater complexity.

English players often attend league games when they are on tour Down Under and are blown away by the physicality and skill level. It was the same for the Welsh squad who went to this year’s State of Origin decider in Brisbane and were shocked by the relentless intensity. League desperately needs a broader profile but brings a gladiatorial character that appeals.

There is scope for both sides of the divide to benefit from a merger, in myriad ways. Union’s domestic power base is too limited, and League’s even more so – plus the latter code has a small global footprint and can benefit from Union’s reach across Europe, Africa and South America. Meanwhile, with the Premiership and RFU looking for new clubs to emerge and bolster their elite following the recent demise of Wasps, London Irish and Worcester, imagine adding Wigan, St Helens and Leeds, along with all the superpowers Down Under, to secure rugby’s future there.

Leicester Tigers are the clear leaders when it comes to match day ticket sales

How would it work, unifying the codes? It wouldn’t be easy – not least because league is a summer sport in these parts, while union operates in the winter – and should only be a goal at professional level. While many of the league staples, including 13-a-side, could work, there’s no reason why a set-piece element couldn’t be incorporated, with line-outs and contested scrums in a reduced format. Flankers could thrive in a fast-paced version of the game that emphasised their dynamism and defensive prowess, while removing the ruck battle that carries such an injury risk.

Union changes its laws so often that creating a hybrid format shouldn’t be too taxing for those who spend their time tinkering in the quest for box-office nirvana. Plus, there’s so much coaching crossover and adoption of league principles on offense and defense, it shouldn’t be too much of a culture shock for many fullbacks; whether they’re decision makers, distributors, runners or finishers.

Traditionalists will be furious at any argument that challenges the status quo and it threatens the ‘game for all shapes and sizes’ point of difference cherished by the union. But the biggest threat of all is to the future existence of rugby, amidst rapid shifts in the sporting landscape.

Together the codes can be stronger.

No to a new merger

As for a potential merger between the Premiership and elements of the United Rugby Championship: no thanks.

The Italian and South African teams would be left isolated, although the latter group should be able to take advantage of the oval-ball boom in their countries to create a vibrant domestic event without any need for outside help.

A British and Irish competition would hasten the demise of the faded Champions Cup, on dubious grounds. Ireland’s provinces are rarely at full strength, especially away from home, so their rotation policy won’t put bums on seats in Premiership grounds.

Much more logical would be a two division Anglo-Welsh competition with the top two Welsh teams playing in the Premiership and the other two in the Championship. There would also be an option to add RGC 1404 from the north to open up that region.

That’s the best way to tackle the waning interest in Wales, where the sport is in real trouble. Their fans don’t just embrace short trips to Bath, Bristol and Gloucester, as has been seen in recent years by the hordes of Ospreys fans at Saracens or Scarlets fans at Harlequins. Great atmosphere, fierce tribalism. It just works.

Premiership returns

The new Premiership season kicks off under the lights at The Rec and Kingston Park on Friday night, with plenty to live up to after a thrilling, narrowly-concluded 2023-24 campaign. More of the same drama, the same excitement and the same entertainment, please.

Relegation is unlikely to be a factor as the system is still stacked against Championship teams trying to make the leap, but let’s hope Newcastle are transformed so that the league is competitive from top to bottom. Bath are certainly the fringe title favourites as Northampton start life without the superhuman Courtney Lawes.

The new Premiership season kicks off on Friday night under the lights at The Rec and Kingston Park

Time will tell whether the loss of Owen Farrell and the Vunipolas will have a major impact on Saracens’ prospects, but they could drop back into mid-table given the testing demands for Maro Itoje, Jamie George and others.

Sale will be back in the mix, with George Ford managing them cleverly as he targets an England recall. Leicester have so much potential for Michael Cheika to exploit and unleash, but this column could see play-offs involving Bath and Sale, plus two each from Bristol, Exeter, Harlequins, Leicester, Northampton and Saracens. It’s wide open again, which is great news.

The last word

This is certainly the right time to bring Shaun Edwards home. The RFU can find the money to buy out his contract with France, given his track record of helping teams win titles.

An unrivalled defensive guru, he would offer the kind of experience and pedigree that could be the missing piece in England’s set-up. The Lancastrian is not just another emerging prospect who worked for Steve Borthwick and shares a similar vision; he has the stature and conviction to be his own man.

Additionally, Edwards is known for his management skills and emotional intelligence, which would complement the head coach’s attention to detail, work ethic and analytical qualities.

It would also be a statement to make – showing that Borthwick is not afraid to have a high profile figure around him; reflecting a greater security in his own position and authority. The RFU hierarchy may want a direct say in this appointment, after Borthwick opted to bring in Aled Walters and Felix Jones and they both chose to jump ship.

Joe El-Abd is the favourite to replace Jones and has a strong resume in French rugby, but bringing in Edwards would be a stunning coup that would change the mood around the England set-up. The RFU would have to move heaven and earth behind the scenes to make it happen.