Category: Sports History
Sports History
Why did the Rugby League and Union split?
The Rugby League and Union split in 1895 due to a disagreement over the issue of payment for players. Players who had been playing the game for free were offered payments for their services, which some considered to be a breach of amateurism. This sparked a split between the two camps, resulting in the creation of separate rugby league and union bodies. The league was intended to be a professional competition, while union remained strictly amateur. The split was also fueled by class tensions between the traditional working-class north and the wealthier south, as well as a desire to create a faster and more exciting game. The differences between the two codes remain today, with league being the more popular and lucrative form of rugby.
