RUGBY has never been good with the unintended consequences of change and the knock on effects were considerable. Let’s go through a few.
In the seven years between 1932 and 1939 the number of registered French Rugby Union clubs declined from 784 to 473. The biggest expansion in the game’s history had been strangled at birth by the Home Unions. And where did many of the players go? They went largely to newly formed French Rugby League teams where they could earn an honest franc or two.
The British and Australia Rugby League sides played an exhibition game in 1933 and the...