General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

OC

There has always been a class element between the two rugby codes. Rugby union was effectively forced to go professional with the introduction of Sky tv in the UK. When the players saw the amount of money players in other sports were getting from televised matches RU player power started to campaign for professionalism. You may recall Will Carling’s speech when he described the English RU management as a bunch of ‘old farts’.
Historically rugby union clubs recruited from the grammar and public schools where union was part of
school life, including grammar schools in working class areas. Des Seabrook was a working class lad educated at Wigan Grammar school who reached the top in rugby union. He became part of the England coaching set up and masterminded the historic win of the North of England team he coached against an All Blacks test side.