The differences between Rugby Union and Rugby League
Sam Burgess has played internationally for both codes, Rugby Union and League
©PA
Rugby Union and Rugby League are considered as variations of the sport of rugby. They are two of the most popular sports in the world today and are part of the betting offer of some of the best betting sites found on LatestBettingSites.co.uk.
There are many players who can play one form of the sport, but there are also lots of players who only play one code of the sport in their entire playing career.
History
Rugby was first started in England in the 19th century. It is said that in 1823, while a school football match was being played, William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and started running with it.
The divide and the start of the two separate codes of Rugby happened in 1895. In that year there was a problem regarding player payments which was more pronounced in the North of England. That was the issue over which two fractions with divided opinions created what we now know as the Rugby League and the Rugby Union.
As time passed, the rules of the Rugby League were changed in order for the game to be more dynamic and more interesting for fans and Rugby Union remained more traditional.
Rugby Union became a professional sport in 1995 and from then on the two codes have divided opinions as to which of the two professional codes of the sport is more interesting and more popular.
The Differences
In Rugby League there are 13 active players whereas in Rugby Union there are 15 active players in each side. In terms of substitutions, Rugby League allows teams to make 10 substitutions and Rugby Union only 7.
The numbers of tackles being allowed during a match are also different in both codes. In Rugby League there is a finite number of tackles allowed and this makes the game much quicker and more dynamic.
Rugby Union still keeps the original rules when it comes to the number of tackles being allowed and there is no limit as to the number of tackles a team can make before losing possession.
There is also a difference in the number of players involved in scrums. In Rugby League this number is 6 people whereas I Rugby Union it usually is 8 people.
Finally, the scoring method differs in both codes as well. In Rugby League a try is 4 points, a goal 2 points and a field goal or drop is worth 1 point.
In Rugby Union a try will bring the team 5 points, a penalty kick or a drop goal earns 3 points and a conversion kick is sanctioned with 2 points.
Popularity
In terms of popularity, Rugby League is more popular with working-class people and Rugby Union is more popular with better educated people who played the sport while attending grammar and public schools and universities.
Consequently, Rugby League is more popular in the North of England where there are more working-class people and Rugby Union is more prominent among the affluent middle class living in the South of England.
