Take England, New Zealand and Australia, and no matter whether it’s rugby union or league that they are playing at an international level, they’ll all like as not be prominent contenders to win tournaments. Yet that cross-codes strength in depth just doesn’t prevail in Ireland and its provinces like Ulster.
If you want evidence of this, then look no further than the betting on the two sports’ upcoming World Cups. Whether you’re into league or union, the familiar nations are up there.
Australia, stronger in league than union at this juncture, are odds-on favourites for another Rugby League World Cup triumph in 2021 and a bigger price as they rebuild their union side in time for 2023. New Zealand and England, meanwhile, are right up there as challengers in either code.
Not so with Ireland. The disparity is huge. They are 10/1 to win the 2023 Rugby Union World Cup, yet the latest rugby league odds have them . . .
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