Whats the difference between Rugby league and Rugby Union??

Question

Whats the difference between Rugby league and Rugby Union??

Answer 1

Quicker to tell you what's the same - basically an oval ball (although not the same size) the goalposts and not much else.

League is basically played until a tackle is made, it then stops and the player has to release the ball.  With union the ball stays in play when the player is tackled (although he still has to release it) and only stops after a foul or score.

Answer 2

Rugby Union - contested scrum, bigger forward pack, constant attempts at tries, 15 players on field, more ball movement, line-out, player's need to be more aware of ball security, different scoring system, more of a world game, many many more differences

Rugby League - uncontested scrum (apparantely to speed the game up), smaller faster paced forward pack, 13 players on the field, 6 tackles until the ball is handed over to the other team, ball is played by placing the ball on the ground in between their legs to another team mate (dummy half), generally no serious attempt at a try until the 4th or 5th tackle, in a 2 on 1 tackle situation the 2 cannot strip the ball from the 1 (not as much need for ball security), different scoring system, not really internationally played and many other differences.

I watch both codes almost religiously; however, my favourite code is Rugby Union. It excites me alot more than League. It's more of a man's sport IMHO. I'm glad my hubby plays Union. It's a great sport :)

Answer 3

rugby league is for the MEN and the northerners.

rugby union is for the wimps in the south of the country.

Answer 4

Watching union is like watching paint dry, boring, one team kicks the ball to the opposition and then the other team kicks it back! forward passes, knock ons and stamping are all allowed in union (or so it appears). 3 points for a drop goal inevitably leads to a Territorial game, once a team gets into the opponents half its a drop goal.

League is much more professional, players are fitter, the game is faster and the enthuses is on scoring a try.

In league when a player is getting old and can no longer command a place in the team he usually swaps codes and plays on at top flite union for a few more years.

Answer 5

Not a lot  us English cant win in either

Answer 6

the ball is different for starters, in league after the 5th tackle you usually kick back to other side as after 6th tackle its automatic possesion, not as many in the scrum as in union also no rucks or mauls in league so not as much ball competition. Niether is really better as which you prefer is completly personal but I grew up in a strong league town and have recenently converted to union  ( but then the wife is welsh).

Answer 7

I can sit through any rugby league match even when the Rhinos my team lost at Huill KR but union is so boring I have to switch it off before I end up in therapy. That is the big difference in the games.

Answer 8

rugby league you only have 6 attempts to get the ball over for a try

Answer 9

rugby union is a mans game rugby league is for a big girls blouse

Answer 10

Union is the proper game..15 men,a contested scrum and you can compete for the ball in a ruck and maul.League has 13 men(no flankers),a farce of a scrum, a tick-rugby type mentality..you can't rip the ball off an opponent you have to let him pass it back between his legs..yawn.

There is no line-out in league.scoring is different too.

Try..union 5pts..league 4 pts.

Conversion 2 pts each.

Penalty..union 3pts...league 2pts.

Drop goal..union 3pts..league 1 pt.

Union is the more popular game as shown by the popularity of the World Cup.Many more countries play union.

Answer 11

in rugby union you can be tackled a million times and still have the ball but in rugby league u can only be tackled 5 times and then you have to give the ball to the other team. Rugby union is also played with 15 players, rugby league is only 13

Answer 12

2 players, and different rules...Too numerous to mention..

Answer 13

Rugby league is similar to Touch rugby in terms of rules - although, needless to say, the tackle is a tad more brutal...

Answer 14

In Rugby Union, it is often seen as a great feat to kick the ball deliberately off the field and then clap whilst celebrating and grinning like a loon. The ability to kick and clap is what defines rugby union.

Answer 15

It's getting less and less.  Union used to be non-professional but like League it is now professional.

The 'Code' is different and the number of players on the field is different. Union field 15 players and League field 13. Lots of other features are different but the way to learn is to watch!

I know which I prefer - Union - it's faster.