Yep. It's the same in York. There are more kids playing at York RUFC than there are at Heworth, Acorn & New Earswick combined.

And that's without adding the schools in. The majority of whom play Union and not League.

I've said it before on here, but around 6 of my school mates make at least 1 trip to Twickers per year to watch England RU. Only 1 of them was interested in Union due to parents, the rest were introduced to it at school and then played on and off for York RUFC for a bit. But that interest was generated, so they go to Twickers and put money into the game.



If they'd been introduced to League at school, and the local amateurs were as friendly and welcoming as York RUFC are (which sadly a lot of them aren't) then they'd be interested in League and not Union.



Yeah we've probably not missed out on another Sam Burgess but we've missed out on a decent amount of money and lots of word of mouth publicity.



Don't get me started on the over 16's side of it. There's no comparison. York RUFC have 3 full adults teams and a Seniors team. Plus a full u19's and u17's.



Most RL clubs are struggling to find a 2nd team let alone 3rd, 4th and u19's.



Amateur RL & schools RL is an entry point to the sport for people and it's failing. Schools because they're not getting into enough schools, and amateur because it turns people away from the sport.

So what you are saying is that despite a predictable league, the same teams at the top each year, and a product that produces no excitement, there is still a lot of interest and crowds unaffected.



So what's the point of this thread again? A lot of nonsense from the doomsayers. League has nothing to worry about.

Swings n round abouts. Castleford knottingley and pontefract union clubs don't have much junior rugby if any at all. Fev don't have a union club at all. But league at junior level in Those towns is huge. In north Leeds there are a few union clubs but nothing in South, east, west Leeds or Wakefield and dewsbury at any age group.

Couldn't say about the other areas but i know West Leeds has a union club and its quite established.

Apart from burley which can't think of any other union teams. League has stanningley, Milford, queens

LOL

There are more than a few in North Leeds, and for the rest, as well as West Leeds there is Bramley and perhaps you should ask the Lost Loiners where they practice in South Leeds ?



As for Wakefield, one of the most successful Yorkshire League clubs of recent decades play there, if you really want to know where all of the senior clubs play then look here [urlhttp://yorkshirerfu.pitchero.com/[/url, most of those clubs will have teams in every age group from 8 years old upwards.



One of the biggest RU clubs in the calder area is run by John Bentley (you've probably heard of him) and

Castleford RU have four open age teams and teams right through the age groups h[urlttp://www.pitchero.com/clubs/castlefordrugbyunion/[/url, Ponte have three open age and two junior teams - if you seek out the information you'll find it.



Its a huge sport even in areas that you assume are dominated by League clubs, my brothers RU club for instance struggles to host all of its league matches on its own (fully owned) five pitches every weekend and on a Sunday morning there will normally be 70 or more under 15s playing for the home teams, most of those being cultured from local schools which are not your typical "toffs schools", far from it actually - this is mainly because they make their presence known there and one of those schools plays RL as its main sport, my nephew plays both.

Bramley Phoenix, Burley RU and Morley RU ring any bells to you? If they don't please open your eyes

Back on topic - the defence today was excellent - especially against a potent attacking player like Chase. Leeds held Salford up three times over the line in the first half.



To not concede in the second half was a great achievement.



The really test will come on Saturday - let's hope the team show the same level of commitment.

There are a few token teams kicking around. But there are far more league clubs. Most union clubs 3rd & 4th teams are vet sides or social sides, I no people who have quit playing league in the mid 30's and played a bit of union into there 40's as the game is so easy. I know one guy pushing 60 and still playing union in 3rd team.

Pontefract and castleford union clubs do not have junior teams much younger that u15 and neither run have run a fourth team for years.

"Token teams"? What are the Rugby League teams that are in these areas then?

You're pretty clueless really aren't you ?