The difference between Super League, League, and Union?

Question

Hi, I'm about to join a rugby team here in Los Angeles. I'm new to the game and excited about getting out there, kicking butt, and having a great time. However, I have no idea what the difference is between Super League, League, and Union. I've heard the guys making reference to these divisions and it's totally over my head. Someone please explain. Thanks.

Answer 1

There are a lot of answers to this question, and some were expressed by Cliff.  In 1895, the Rugby Football Union (the governing body of rugby in England) split, with the Northern Union going its own way over the issue of professionalism.  They called themselves the Rugby Football League, and their game evolved to be somewhat different.  Eventually, it was the more popular code in Northern England and in Australia, but Rugby Union is more popular everywhere else.  

For the next 100 years, the top level of Rugby League allowed open professionalism, while in Rugby Union it was forbidden.  Of course, those rules were not always honored, but they were there.  Even in League, the majority of players weren't professional.  Amateur and youth leagues were (and are) strong as well.

However, there's another answer that is equally important in your case, because you are playing rugby in Los Angeles.  Rugby Union is FAR more popular in this country than League, though League has a small presence on the East Coast.  In the United States, with rugby not super popular and the country so big, rugby has always been kind of diffuse.    Clubs would compete in local and regional competitions and then the top teams from each area would compete in a national championship tournament.  

There were several problems with this setup.  For one thing, the top clubs would be frustrated with the lack of decent competition.  For example with 27 senior mens' clubs in Southern California (for example) only 2-3 could expect to beat the top team.  Another 5-6 might give them a respectable game, but not actually threaten to win...all the rest would be destroyed by 100 points or more.  Another thing was that with so few opportunities for top teams to play other top teams, it was tough to select players for the national team, as you'd like to see how players respond against good competition.

So, about 10 years ago, a number of clubs (18 now) from around the country formed the Rugby Super League (which plays Rugby Union).  This gives them the good regular competition that they need.  Southern California has 3 clubs in the Super League:  OMBAC (San Diego), Belmont Shore (Long Beach), and Santa Monica.  Each of them competes in the Super League and in Southern California Division 1.  (OMBAC also has a team playing in Southern California Division 2).  

If you tell me which club you are going to be playing for, I can give you a good idea of where they fit in the grand scheme of things.

Answer 2

Super League and League are the same thing: the 13-a-side Rugby League code.  Super League was formed in 1997 as a breakaway private venture from the Australian Rugby League (now known as the National Rugby League).  Super League collapsed in Australia, but is still going strong in England.  Rugby Union is - well - Rugby in its original form, played with 15 players a side, and with a much more extensive world-wide competition.  The original split between the Rugby codes, was over the issue of professionalism:   Rugby League players were paid to play, but the Rugby Union forbade its players to accept payments.  For the past decade or so, Rugby Union has been professional as well.

Answer 3

AUSTRALIA RULE THE WORLD IN RUGBY LEAGUE ! Although Super League is an English competition, we had a tial run of that here along with the former ARL, but now have a combined NRL, much like you NFL. We are to be honest the 3rd Best Rugby Nation in the world, it's a different code altogether, but by the end of the World Cup we will be number 1.

Answer 4

To answer it in a slightly different way Super League/Rugby league is similair in concept to American football . We get six downs to either score or punt the ball up the other end. Though the ball must be passed backwards.

Rugby or Rubgy Union or Union or the game they play in heaven does not have the down concept i wont accept to explain rucks or mauls but both games rely on the forwards to do the work and the backs to get the glory

I think most unbiased supporters would say rugby league can be a better game to watch... because the current rugby rules make the game technical and boring... unless youve been in there and can appreciate it

For a slightly different look at league check out the era of the biff link

For more on history of Rugby league try the link