All the skills that Farrell, Edwards and Robinson learned in RL they took to Union. Sad news that Tuigamala has passed, a brilliant Union and League player. Both Farrell and Edwards now showing the world with Ireland and France ,
The excuse for the result of the match, that the Union players were not as fit as the League players is a poor one. Up until the formation of the Super League (1996) full time professionalism was in its infancy. League players had to have a "proper" job and had to fit in any training after work. We all know that the first League players were only compensated for missing a shift. Any animosity between the codes originates from the fact that working class players could not afford to miss work without being compensated but the middle class could. Any strident Union supporter should be ashamed of how it's administrators acted in the past. It's about time the French RU paid back the French RL the money it stole from them during WW2.
5 minutes? After 8 minutes Wasps were three tries to none. Good start but ran out of steam. Not a disgrace considering the quality of the opposition they were up against.
The difference was Wigan, and Rugby League, at this time were professional, training every day, getting paid to be pro rugby players. The Union guys were in transition from training twice a week as amateurs, then going back to their day jobs as whatever they were at the time.
Garry Connolly best defensive back Ive ever seen in either code.He was that good I think if he played on the wing v Lomu in 95, it may have been a different story
Wasps were a good amateur rugby union club side but Wigan were a world class outfit whether 7, 13 or 15 as they showed against Bath in the head to heads. I am from Leeds ( and support Leeds Rhinos ) but recognise just how incredible these Wigan players were. I went to both Wigan v Bath games and if the second game (Rugby union ) had of carried on for 15 more minutes Wigan would have won that too.
As a St Helens fan I had the “pleasure” of watching Wigan in their pomp and they often augmented an incredible side with stardust such as Brett Kenny, Gene Miles, Dean Bell and someone called Hanley!!! Someone mention how Connelly was underrated- Saints fans were gutted when he left for the Pies but he was a physical freak in terms of strength and speed as well as being as hard as nails.
So on the Wigan team there's England Rugby Union World Cup winner and finalist try scorer (Jason Robinson) One of Rugby Union's most successful coaches; several Six Nations as well as domestic league, cup and European cup honours (Shaun Edwards) Father of one of England's Rugby Unions current best players (Andy Farrell/Owen Farrell) It seems this Wigan side has had more an influence on Rugby Union than then Rugby Union team they are playing.
Martin Offiah learned his trade playing Union initially before he went to Wigan. I'm a Union man myself but I've followed League because if you're interested in Rugby you use all references to learn/improve. Connolly, Robinson, Farrell, Edwards were all fine players and brought skill and speed to their code. Remember the effect guys like Alan Bateman had when they came back to international rugby from League? He was phenomenal for Wales and B&I Lions. Thanks for loading this video.
Was a young Kiwi on OE in the stands loving this. Few beers next to bunch older gents in red cardigans and ties. You blokes ever been to NZ? Only to beat the All Blacks! Was guts of 1971 British Lions enjoying a reunion. Many more beers and stories followed great day.
It's reported that Sir Clive Woodward tried to tempt Kris Radlinski to join Jason Robinson in Union at the same time. If Radlinski had accepted the offer think how different England's 2003 World cup final XV would have looked!
Classic, ma boy shaun turns straight into a "flyhalf" and instantly kicks away precious possession, lol. Hard case. Great to see wigan win this. I grew up in S island NZ playin rugby. Started a league team in 88, played in christchurch comp. Union folks would not allow us to use their rugby grounds so the local council put us down by the local beach, absolute prime spot, got lots of community input, it was great fun.
Fitness was a factor, but also skill, League does the basics far better. When Bradford won it in the 2000s, fitness wasn't a factor, but still the League team trounced the union teams down to basic rugby skills.
Fitness was a factor as Bradford had played the night before against St.Helens, their coach had issues and they only got to London early hours of the morning of the comp and still destroyed everyone.
@@tonyfranklin8306 Union had more fitness, but also went too far on bulking up after they went Pro. Bulls had far too much skill. Fitness factor also helped. But the gap was far closer.
Totally agree. Terrible commentary. According to the microphone holding numpties Wigan's fitness was the winning factor. I'd like to add that they were quicker, stronger and possessed more skill. One in the eye for the elitist English RFU and their ilk.
That was such a class Wigan team all the way through, Billy the Whizz, Farrell, Edwards, Tuigimala, Radlinski, Offiah etc. They would of given a national Fiji team a run for their money. Also to all the League men here beating down on Union don't forget firstly 7's is a very similar game to league, more so than the 15 side version, Union was only starting to turn professional and if Union was so poor how come you poached so many Union players from Wales and the north of England back in the day, didn't a certain Chariots Offiah start his days playing for Nottingham!
James Parrott Bradford repeated the feat of winning the RU 7s a full 7 years later and a full 7 years after Union had turned professional, Bradford actually won the tournament in more convincing fashion than Wigan did. Welsh Union players, even the very best of them, took quite some time to get up to League standards. Jonathan Davies unarguably the best Fly Half in World Union played his first games of League in the Widnes 2nd on the wing. He took a long time to become World Class at League, Gibbs took a similar amount of time to get to grips with higher fitness levels, intensity and work rate. Not all Unions glitter turned into gold, many couldn't hack the transition and went from international Union players to average League players. Back to the 7s, It's notable that Union won't ever invite a top quality League team to be a guest in the tournament ever again. They've had their fingers quite publicly burnt on two occasions and won't risk it happening a third time after 23 years of professionalism.They are clever enough to know that while Union has improved so has League and it's not the money, the full time training but the rules of the respective games that dictate League players are superior all round athletes as opposed to specialists in one discipline.
Some good points made Richard. Ultimately union and league are two different games tho it is no surprise that unions rules are being diluted to a create a more fluid open game ala league. For me I hope union continues to evolve but not at the cost of specialised jobs required of the props or locks. No doubt not all union converts were a success and vice versa where despite all the hype players such as Henry Paul, Andy Farrell and more recently Burgess were anything but amazing successes. A strong argument could be put forward that it was more the RFU was at fault for their fast tracking rather than player culpability. Lets hope union can keep learning and improving without turning into a league style game, I think there's room for both!
They won't invite them back because they don't do these tournaments any more. Sevens has now changed to an all international series and all the players are full time dedicated to the short code.
Never understood the dislike between union and league. Both are legitimate forms of rugby football. I go to watch the Huddersfield Giants but also make sure to watch Premiership and SuperRugby highlights. Both are entertaining in their own way for many reasons
As far as cross codes go, the seven- a-side format is probably as near as is possible for League and Union sides to play each other on equal terms. That Offiah try was a bit special ! Blistering pace that is rarely seen at Twickenham. Jason Robinson with his little legs going like bats wings ! what a comeback by Wigan from 0-15 down to win 38-15:
The older Connolly got the more he looked like Jason Bourne! Freakishly strong, deceptively quick, hard as nail and fearless. Typical St Helens lad really!!
Went to this tournament and had plenty of banter with the RU fans, some in the belief that Wigan didn't have the skills for 7's. But the Orrell RU lads who I knew quite well all said that Wigan would paste every team there. Could've put an England, NZ or Oz 7's team out there and that Wigan team would still have won. Fitness and skill levels were on a different planet. Now RU has been pro for over 20 years their fitness levels have markedly improved, as have their skillset. But what a lot of Union fans don't realise is that League hasn't exactly stood still. If it was played today it would be a much closer game. Despite the commentary and the comedy bias of Stuart Barnes, pantomime villain for League fans, he has gone on record saying that the most physical, skillful and intense game of rugby he has ever witnessed was played between New South Wales and Queensland, the State of Origin series which is played in that "bastard" code of Rugby League.
The dedicated 7s teams would tear Wigan a new one. You see it whenever a fringe 7s player plays in the premiership sevens, even though they are nothing special on the 7s circuit they are electric in the premiership sevens comp. A premiership sevens team without any dedicated 7s players would be much closer. The change in size and athleticism is huge, from mid 90's to now the average England player is about 2 stone heavier, fitter, stronger and faster. Would still be interesting to watch. IIRC Bradford won it in the early 200's
@@pedro1707 I know, I was there for the Wigan win. My point in my reply to Northern Soul was the growth in specialisation and performance in modern 7s, hence if played today the RL team would get pasted by a professional 7s side. The 7s game is almost a different game now to 15s. In the same way that the best premiership 7s sides are shown up even by bit part prof 7s players
Great to see a Legendary Wigan side kicking the ass of a top RU side at their own game. The total bias towards RU from the commentators was so snobby and disrespectful. It wasn't just that Wigan were fitter, their skills were far, far superior too. The likes of Edwards and Farrell have gone on to share their skills and knowledge to coach the likes of France, Wales and Ireland at the highest level, which in turn has majorly contributed to the vast improvement RU in the northern hemisphere.
Be realistic those Wigan men where some of the best union and league players.....I was there on that day and Wigan were great. Plus Farrell and Robinson and Ofiah are universally known to be great athletes so get real
Don’t forget also, that this was right at the start of Union professional era. The posh boys had day jobs or had not long been professional. The Wigan team were absolutely dominant in League at the time. But what a line up on all sides! Three future World Cup winners (Robinson, Dallaglio, Gomarsall) plus Inger The Winger, Andy Farrell, Shaun Edwards - all of whom either had (or were going to have) a massive influence on the modern Union game. Then for good measure: Martin Offiah (legendary finisher), Gary Connelly and Kris Radlinski (great players). I was at Twickenham that day and the Wigan boys ran non-stop in all the games and fitness told in every game they played that day. Now I look back and realise what a privilege it was. With no eye for history, however, I got bladdered and chatted for some time with one of those pitch invaders.
@@niallbrowne9129 hahaha! Yes. If I remember correctly, Peter Winterbottom had a job in the City doing God knows what so he could turn out for Quins. But even so, not all players in a Union club in those days could have arrangements as formalised as they are now.
bent ref, how many bullshit penalties to get the kick n clap side over the line... double movement, knock on, whatever you like chaps.... proves everything we know about kick n clap
Fair play to Wigan. Yes, Union learnt a lot from League and League players. But let’s not forget, the Union game had only been professional for a year at this point and this unstructured format suits the league players far more. They are both great games with great players and the north south divide and class war stuff I’m reading in other comments isn’t relevant.
It was highly relevant for the longest time and we must never forget. League boys just wanted compensation for time away from work. The rah rahs were having none of it. Its afascinating story that deserves to be remembered. And those of us who experienced prejudicial treatment for playing amateur league here in NZ, we were threatened with expulsion from our beloved Maori rugby representation. I grew up playin union here in nz. We started a league club in 88. Union clubs would not let us on their grounds, so the council gave us a spot next to the beach in view of the main highway, brilliant, lol. I loved them both, games, havent watched rugby for years, games changed too much for me. And league is fast morphin into a more boring version of nfl, sorry americanos, lol. But it will always have a relevance, embrace it, learn your history or risk repeating misteaks. 😂
@@thesmithersy I'd say Union is more like NFL. The game is in play for an average of 30 minutes. They stop for 2 minutes just to form a scrum. Spilling of the ball is more lenient in Union than league. Amount of fumbles I've seen in Union and they just allow play on
Several posters have drawn our attention to the fact that in the past talented union players have succeeded in league. No one can cite a league player succeeding in union all those years ago. Despite league being played by more amateurs than professionals the Union administrators banned all who had played league from their game. There were a few exceptions, the armed forces and educational institutions. Fitness was a factor when the two codes met 20+years ago. This factor would not have been relevant at schoolboy level. The only reason Cowley School was so successful at the Manchester and London School boy sevens and considered themselves to have had a bad 15's season if they lost a match was because they were privileged to be born in a rugby league town.
Lapalad, yes that is also true now in the UK. Ireland is ranked top team in the world, I don't know if any ex league players are in their team but their coach was league. There are no barriers now to movement between the codes and players cannot be criticised for following the money. Unfortunately Union has a big financial advantage.
@@brianroberts5672 The no barrier is why Rugby league is shooting up in many countries around the world, I recently watched games of Rugby League from the African nations championship. I also refereed RL in Germany, Czech Rep and Serbia no longer can any Union player who fancies playing RL face a life time ban.
What a Wigan team, they did really well against the 8 man union side didn’t they? Whatever happened to them all? They look like they had a future unlike Wasps
If you were to pick the best 7 UK based rugby league players of the 1990s that'd more or less be this team. Not sure who you could add to improve things. Maybe Alan Tait, Scott Gibbs or John Bentley. Possibly Graham Steadman or Robbie Paul. Hard to argue the case though.
Just watched again what happened to the swing low boys. iff they played them now in the ahem pro era of union they would still get stuffed. Prawn sandwich any one LOL
Quinnell was injured as was Offiah, ref was bent as for two of wasps tries, knock on waved off, head high ignored, offside ignored. It wasn't the best team Wigan could have put out IMO.
Wigan just the best team in the world in any code in the 90,s without a doubt, Only need to look at a few of the Wigan team that have gone on to transform R,U ,n make it a better game, even now though though a R,L team would beat a R,U team hands down, R,L as moved way ahead,
Are top tier Union club sevens still played? Would be good to see current Super League champs compete today against current Union crop of professionals.
Would be the same result, we need learn off union though on how to attract the crowd. League is dying unfortunately. Should go back to the old rules and fuck sky off and put it back on BBC to get more interest
Demolish them one by one,as once a French union coach said league players are a different level to union players lol. And he is frenchie union coach lol
@@manly4ever913 Maybe that's what Matt Rogers thought in the split second before took on Josh Lewsey. NRL players would wipe the floor with any rugby union side at league. In Union, they'd not get the ball. But as 'demolishing' players. No NRL players couldn't do that.
Unfortunately modern day professional union has become bogged down in technicalities, so much so the crowd are applauding the interruptions I'm afraid apart from a few highlights this years six nations has become another bore fest and England are the chief culprits
No name, union has improved enormously due to professionalism and law changes. The law changes, if I may point out to you, ape rugby league. No kicking directly into touch (except from inside your own 22); tap penalties (except back healing); have you seen a straight scrum feed recently?; knock ons formally just a fumble changed to readjustment. I'm old enough to have played Union when you had to play the ball with your foot in general play before picking it up. Union until recently valued kicking as much as a try; indeed there was a time when a drop goal was 4 points and in the very early days a try was 0 points. Union has more components to its game, line outs, mauling, rucking and whilst they require special skills they also produce penalty after penalty and stoppage after stoppage. League is a much simpler game, is much faster and has always lays emphasis on handling the ball because that is the essence of the game and what spectators want to see. It is not surprising that many of the lads who played Union at school in a league town wiped the floor with other team but still described union as punt and grunt. Nevertheless I am pleased to see the changes in union.
3:05 “Wasps in their traditional black” Sorry, but the talkieoverman seems to be getting Wasps bemuddled with Saracens. Wasp’s traditional colours are (unsurprisingly) YELLOW AND BLACK HOOPS. Why would two traditional Londoner Union clubs both play in all black. Traditionally.
Men against boys. Best bit was Wigan scoring and starting the rout just as the rah rahs had broken out a stirring rendition of their ode to slavery, smugly thinking the likes of dallagio and scrivener had got the better of inga and chariots 🤣
Why so much gloating here? If you ever have a chance to speak personally to Tuigamala and Robinson they have nothing but respect for Dallaglio and Gommersall and the union boys. Having watched an interview with Andy Farrell the other day i wager he also has the same opinion. Yet some fans seem to have some outdated class war agenda which is just bollocks nowadays. But fans never have to do the work and shed the blood eh? Just spout opinions
@@cre8scapeYT That Wigan team was a very special team - with a lot of ex rugby union players in it, or players that had experience of rugby union. I remember the Bath versus Wigan match in the rugby league game. Wigan won easily, but the person I remember the most was the Phil de Glanville. That guy gave 120% and earned my respect that night. He gave everything. This from a Wigan RL fan. I grew up in South Africa, but came to Wigan in the early 80s. Didn't know what RL was, but eventually learned to love the speed of the game. Nowadays I prefer RU, but I agree - there is a place for both codes.
@@seanroocroft1684 Great post. PdG was not the best player in his position but he made up for it with nous and grit. His son is now playing for bath. I came back to this post having watched the outstanding Aus vs NZ RL semi-final yesterday A really great match and better than most of the recent RU internationals i have watched. I think real rugby fans like you can appreciate rugby full stop. forget the code...
Edwards and Farrell I wonder where they are now took working class league players to show union how rugby should be played it's about passing running and tackling not kicking the ball out that's the wimps way
The world cup in 1995 was the begin of professionalism in rugby union ,in France , the players were paid,certainly, much less than they are now, but it was more than the average French salary
Hahaha. Part-time amateurs actually thought they could beat a team of professionals. Middle-class arrogance. All I can say is that the union boys were lucky that they turned professional after Billy Boston had retired.
Check your history books pal, at the time Wigan had already pasted Australian teams in the world club challenge and previously had gone over to Aus and won the 7s comp. This was a weakened Wigan side playing two crocked players and a bent ref.
@@tonyfranklin8306 Yes Wigan were a great team in the 780's an d90's because they had all the stars and the other teams were weak. But when they played the Aussie teams in the Super league era they got hammered. In fact the weak Aussie teams were bashing all the English teams. And that was the era we had the breakaway competition, Super league and the original NRL.
All the skills that Farrell, Edwards and Robinson learned in RL they took to Union. Sad news that Tuigamala has passed, a brilliant Union and League player. Both Farrell and Edwards now showing the world with Ireland and France ,
Cannot believe the English RFU didn't move heaven and earth to get Edwards when ge left his job with Wales.
The prawn sandwich Range Rover blazered buffoonery of Twickenham.
That Wigan team was packed with legendary players. They really put on a show after they got warmed up.
Literally a legends side for Wigan, what a team they had out. I feel like Gary Connelly is a little under appreciated but what a fantastic player
Not by me he wasn’t
@@garfieldbraithwaite8590 Gary Lager as moz calls him
The excuse for the result of the match, that the Union players were not as fit as the League players is a poor one. Up until the formation of the Super League (1996) full time professionalism was in its infancy. League players had to have a "proper" job and had to fit in any training after work. We all know that the first League players were only compensated for missing a shift.
Any animosity between the codes originates from the fact that working class players could not afford to miss work without being compensated but the middle class could. Any strident Union supporter should be ashamed of how it's administrators acted in the past. It's about time the French RU paid back the French RL the money it stole from them during WW2.
Yes, in the late 80s & early 90s I worked with quite a few pro rugby league players on building sites.
Not really the case. By the early 90s clubs like Wigan and Leeds were full time professional.
@alanpartridge1385 Not full time I worked with a few Rugby League players
Some absolute legends of the game playing for Wigan there
For 5 minutes 7 rugby union players thought they were the match of Wigan and RL.
And then they weren't.
5 minutes? After 8 minutes Wasps were three tries to none. Good start but ran out of steam. Not a disgrace considering the quality of the opposition they were up against.
@@angusdunn5417 but they played a different sport and still beat them
Wigan were nearly all ex union player? Inga makes up for two by himself
The difference was Wigan, and Rugby League, at this time were professional, training every day, getting paid to be pro rugby players. The Union guys were in transition from training twice a week as amateurs, then going back to their day jobs as whatever they were at the time.
@@billbonnington7916 ..like working in the City.. or personnel directorships! Come on..its not like they were down the pit..
That Wigan team is full of champions 💪
My favorite British team. WIGAN OF THE 90s. AWESOME..
Garry Connolly best defensive back Ive ever seen in either code.He was that good I think if he played on the wing v Lomu in 95, it may have been a different story
Wasps were a good amateur rugby union club side but Wigan were a world class outfit whether 7, 13 or 15 as they showed against Bath in the head to heads. I am from Leeds ( and support Leeds Rhinos ) but recognise just how incredible these Wigan players were. I went to both Wigan v Bath games and if the second game (Rugby union ) had of carried on for 15 more minutes Wigan would have won that too.
Radlinski was so underrated and Connelly hard as nails. If only we could still have these games! Epic
Who is this sad mu fan?
@J G wank#r
@J G obsessed 😂😂😂
@J G
Why don't you stick to soccer, then? Neither rugby code needs the likes of you.
Pip pip!
@J G obsessed 😂😂😂
the ref had a great game for wasps
The Wasps' boys tried their best to stop Wigan winning, so did the ref and even the streaker.
As a St Helens fan I had the “pleasure” of watching Wigan in their pomp and they often augmented an incredible side with stardust such as Brett Kenny, Gene Miles, Dean Bell and someone called Hanley!!! Someone mention how Connelly was underrated- Saints fans were gutted when he left for the Pies but he was a physical freak in terms of strength and speed as well as being as hard as nails.
tuigamala passed away yesterday,25/02/22,so i had to watch this and man what a great memorial to inga the winger.
So on the Wigan team there's
England Rugby Union World Cup winner and finalist try scorer (Jason Robinson)
One of Rugby Union's most successful coaches; several Six Nations as well as domestic league, cup and European cup honours (Shaun Edwards)
Father of one of England's Rugby Unions current best players (Andy Farrell/Owen Farrell)
It seems this Wigan side has had more an influence on Rugby Union than then Rugby Union team they are playing.
Tuigamala played for the All Blacks prior to joining Wigan too.
@@JP1234815 he returned to union for Newcastle and was a better player than before
Quinnell, Offiah and Tuigamala - all ex-Union.
@@Fredders88 And only Tuigamala was fit, Offiah played for Rosslyn Park a low grade team 10 years previously as a 21 yr old.
@@tonyfranklin8306 Rosslyn Park were a decent outfit in back in the day - Andy Ripley RIP played for them too.
The southern clowns singing Sweet Chariot when they were 15 up. So funny.
Martin Offiah learned his trade playing Union initially before he went to Wigan. I'm a Union man myself but I've followed League because if you're interested in Rugby you use all references to learn/improve. Connolly, Robinson, Farrell, Edwards were all fine players and brought skill and speed to their code. Remember the effect guys like Alan Bateman had when they came back to international rugby from League? He was phenomenal for Wales and B&I Lions. Thanks for loading this video.
Willie Duggan Great comment. I love both codes.
Offiah went to Widnes from Union Yiu twat !
Even fat John Bentley became a Lion. Offiah scored 10 tries v him in a premiership semi final.
Willie Duggan of all the guys that swiched during the mid 90's Bateman was the one that impressed me the most here in Sydney, he was class.
Willie Duggan - THE Willie Duggan?
Nothing wrong with that Offiah try
That was some Wigan team. Awesome lineup who could beat anyone. Would have loved this Wigan side to play Fiji or AB 7s side
fiji would have been too good in the contacts and clears outs but still would have been great to watch
Well as a pro side I’m sure they would have done well against any Amateur Union team.
Was a young Kiwi on OE in the stands loving this. Few beers next to bunch older gents in red cardigans and ties. You blokes ever been to NZ? Only to beat the All Blacks! Was guts of 1971 British Lions enjoying a reunion. Many more beers and stories followed great day.
It's reported that Sir Clive Woodward tried to tempt Kris Radlinski to join Jason Robinson in Union at the same time. If Radlinski had accepted the offer think how different England's 2003 World cup final XV would have looked!
Great result and a huge win for Rugby League
It was and the scoreline flattered Wasps greatly.
What a line up for Wigan !
Classic, ma boy shaun turns straight into a "flyhalf" and instantly kicks away precious possession, lol. Hard case. Great to see wigan win this. I grew up in S island NZ playin rugby. Started a league team in 88, played in christchurch comp. Union folks would not allow us to use their rugby grounds so the local council put us down by the local beach, absolute prime spot, got lots of community input, it was great fun.
what club did u play league for in christchurch?
What a great side Wigan were in the nineties.at any code!
I believe they won the league and cup double 10 years in a row or something similar. Ridiculous.
from 85 to 95 they were winning at least 1 trophy a year sometime 4!!
Yep, that 7s team above has some of the best rugby players Britain has ever produced.
Fitness was a factor, but also skill, League does the basics far better.
When Bradford won it in the 2000s, fitness wasn't a factor, but still the League team trounced the union teams down to basic rugby skills.
Fitness was a factor as Bradford had played the night before against St.Helens, their coach had issues and they only got to London early hours of the morning of the comp and still destroyed everyone.
@@tonyfranklin8306 Union had more fitness, but also went too far on bulking up after they went Pro.
Bulls had far too much skill. Fitness factor also helped. But the gap was far closer.
Such a pleasure to watch
What a biased commentary! There was clearly downward pressure on the ball from Offiah in his first half try.
Totally agree. Terrible commentary. According to the microphone holding numpties Wigan's fitness was the winning factor. I'd like to add that they were quicker, stronger and possessed more skill. One in the eye for the elitist English RFU and their ilk.
He even said there was a finger or two on the ball when grounded...then said again there wasnt downward pressure...totally biased.
class outfit that wigan team then, not many teams could live with that line up, they shut the posh boys and horray henrys up pretty quickly.
stevo charlie tea and scones for the what what and pies and chips for the real man
@@iamnotyou1609 Stand on your head and speak up, we'll be able to understand you !!! I should get a chip for the other shoulder to balance you up !!!
Yeah that was a Great WIGAN TEAM . With Great Player's . The COMMENTATOR as usual is Terrible .
This tournament cemented the, correct, decision for Union to go professional.
It's basically watching a pro team play an amateur team! Amazing how union has advanced since becoming professional. That Wigan team was so good.
Yet Union's still more popular!
It always has been!
Sure, they were amateur!
@@thesmithersy not in Australia.
@@thesmithersy whereabouts, ? London and Bristol .
Billy Wizz everytime. Parkside boy...
Only takes one finger on the ball. Commentator, "its only 1 finger or 2" thanks for confirmation pops.
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Thanks for posting.
Rip Tuigamala 😔
That was such a class Wigan team all the way through, Billy the Whizz, Farrell, Edwards, Tuigimala, Radlinski, Offiah etc. They would of given a national Fiji team a run for their money. Also to all the League men here beating down on Union don't forget firstly 7's is a very similar game to league, more so than the 15 side version, Union was only starting to turn professional and if Union was so poor how come you poached so many Union players from Wales and the north of England back in the day, didn't a certain Chariots Offiah start his days playing for Nottingham!
James Parrott Bradford repeated the feat of winning the RU 7s a full 7 years later and a full 7 years after Union had turned professional, Bradford actually won the tournament in more convincing fashion than Wigan did. Welsh Union players, even the very best of them, took quite some time to get up to League standards. Jonathan Davies unarguably the best Fly Half in World Union played his first games of League in the Widnes 2nd on the wing. He took a long time to become World Class at League, Gibbs took a similar amount of time to get to grips with higher fitness levels, intensity and work rate. Not all Unions glitter turned into gold, many couldn't hack the transition and went from international Union players to average League players. Back to the 7s, It's notable that Union won't ever invite a top quality League team to be a guest in the tournament ever again. They've had their fingers quite publicly burnt on two occasions and won't risk it happening a third time after 23 years of professionalism.They are clever enough to know that while Union has improved so has League and it's not the money, the full time training but the rules of the respective games that dictate League players are superior all round athletes as opposed to specialists in one discipline.
Richard Kelly Bradford are shite
Some good points made Richard. Ultimately union and league are two different games tho it is no surprise that unions rules are being diluted to a create a more fluid open game ala league. For me I hope union continues to evolve but not at the cost of specialised jobs required of the props or locks. No doubt not all union converts were a success and vice versa where despite all the hype players such as Henry Paul, Andy Farrell and more recently Burgess were anything but amazing successes. A strong argument could be put forward that it was more the RFU was at fault for their fast tracking rather than player culpability. Lets hope union can keep learning and improving without turning into a league style game, I think there's room for both!
tuigamala an ex all black
They won't invite them back because they don't do these tournaments any more. Sevens has now changed to an all international series and all the players are full time dedicated to the short code.
Never understood the dislike between union and league. Both are legitimate forms of rugby football. I go to watch the Huddersfield Giants but also make sure to watch Premiership and SuperRugby highlights. Both are entertaining in their own way for many reasons
Because league is the rebel code.
My dislike for RU comes from the bigotry towards RL even the school I attended in Sydney was very anti the 13 a side code.
@@thesmithersy No Rugby league was the code that looked after its players financially.
@@lapalad And it's still less popular despite paying earlier!
@@thesmithersy What has that got to do with looking after the players financially?? And Rugby league is much more popular where I live.
2 thumbs up for rugby league .
As far as cross codes go, the seven- a-side format is probably as near as is possible for League and Union sides to play each other on equal terms. That Offiah try was a bit special ! Blistering pace that is rarely seen at Twickenham. Jason Robinson with his little legs going like bats wings ! what a comeback by Wigan from 0-15 down to win 38-15:
Offiah pace rarely seen at Twickenham. Yeah, apart from the many times he represented Rosslyn Park in the same tournament....
@Dictum1 Offiah came to Wigan from Widnes (a league team) and Edwards was also the England League captain.
@@GivemetheGravy edwards was dual code captain at school level at 14 (under16's)
@@GivemetheGravy Offiah came to League from Union.
Yeah strange considering he burnt those sidelines for rosslyn park prior to league...
Incredible line up ,a dream
The older Connolly got the more he looked like Jason Bourne! Freakishly strong, deceptively quick, hard as nail and fearless. Typical St Helens lad really!!
Went to this tournament and had plenty of banter with the RU fans, some in the belief that Wigan didn't have the skills for 7's. But the Orrell RU lads who I knew quite well all said that Wigan would paste every team there. Could've put an England, NZ or Oz 7's team out there and that Wigan team would still have won. Fitness and skill levels were on a different planet.
Now RU has been pro for over 20 years their fitness levels have markedly improved, as have their skillset. But what a lot of Union fans don't realise is that League hasn't exactly stood still.
If it was played today it would be a much closer game.
Despite the commentary and the comedy bias of Stuart Barnes, pantomime villain for League fans, he has gone on record saying that the most physical, skillful and intense game of rugby he has ever witnessed was played between New South Wales and Queensland, the State of Origin series which is played in that "bastard" code of Rugby League.
The dedicated 7s teams would tear Wigan a new one. You see it whenever a fringe 7s player plays in the premiership sevens, even though they are nothing special on the 7s circuit they are electric in the premiership sevens comp. A premiership sevens team without any dedicated 7s players would be much closer. The change in size and athleticism is huge, from mid 90's to now the average England player is about 2 stone heavier, fitter, stronger and faster. Would still be interesting to watch. IIRC Bradford won it in the early 200's
@Alfa&Omega 00000 😂😂😂ok
@@iainarthur7713 they werent fringe players then, they are now
@@pedro1707 I know, I was there for the Wigan win. My point in my reply to Northern Soul was the growth in specialisation and performance in modern 7s, hence if played today the RL team would get pasted by a professional 7s side. The 7s game is almost a different game now to 15s. In the same way that the best premiership 7s sides are shown up even by bit part prof 7s players
@@iainarthur7713 you sure? League has progressed also, still fitter and faster and far better core skills.
Great to see a Legendary Wigan side kicking the ass of a top RU side at their own game. The total bias towards RU from the commentators was so snobby and disrespectful. It wasn't just that Wigan were fitter, their skills were far, far superior too. The likes of Edwards and Farrell have gone on to share their skills and knowledge to coach the likes of France, Wales and Ireland at the highest level, which in turn has majorly contributed to the vast improvement RU in the northern hemisphere.
Even in his 20’s Shaun Edwards looked 40
Officials and commentary absolutely scandalous in their Union Bias
15-0 in WASPS were the superior team, Wigan battered them and all they went on about was fitness.
Be realistic those Wigan men where some of the best union and league players.....I was there on that day and Wigan were great. Plus Farrell and Robinson and Ofiah are universally known to be great athletes so get real
Don’t forget also, that this was right at the start of Union professional era. The posh boys had day jobs or had not long been professional. The Wigan team were absolutely dominant in League at the time. But what a line up on all sides! Three future World Cup winners (Robinson, Dallaglio, Gomarsall) plus Inger The Winger, Andy Farrell, Shaun Edwards - all of whom either had (or were going to have) a massive influence on the modern Union game. Then for good measure: Martin Offiah (legendary finisher), Gary Connelly and Kris Radlinski (great players). I was at Twickenham that day and the Wigan boys ran non-stop in all the games and fitness told in every game they played that day. Now I look back and realise what a privilege it was. With no eye for history, however, I got bladdered and chatted for some time with one of those pitch invaders.
@@niallbrowne9129 hahaha! Yes. If I remember correctly, Peter Winterbottom had a job in the City doing God knows what so he could turn out for Quins. But even so, not all players in a Union club in those days could have arrangements as formalised as they are now.
That’s a Hell of a good sevens team.
The league players superior intelligence pummelling the opposition
Offiah 😍😍😍 #player
bent ref, how many bullshit penalties to get the kick n clap side over the line... double movement, knock on, whatever you like chaps.... proves everything we know about kick n clap
Awesome !!
Love the classic WASPS kit. Still have my Canterbury shirt
Hell every member of Wigan are a great of the league. Some a great of both codes. What a side and you say they didn't have Henry Paul as well. Scary.
15-0 up and Wasps STILL lost at their own game.
Well no, this is 7's not Union... 😂
@@funkyjimbob 5 a side is still football
Fair play to Wigan. Yes, Union learnt a lot from League and League players. But let’s not forget, the Union game had only been professional for a year at this point and this unstructured format suits the league players far more. They are both great games with great players and the north south divide and class war stuff I’m reading in other comments isn’t relevant.
It was highly relevant for the longest time and we must never forget. League boys just wanted compensation for time away from work. The rah rahs were having none of it. Its afascinating story that deserves to be remembered. And those of us who experienced prejudicial treatment for playing amateur league here in NZ, we were threatened with expulsion from our beloved Maori rugby representation. I grew up playin union here in nz. We started a league club in 88. Union clubs would not let us on their grounds, so the council gave us a spot next to the beach in view of the main highway, brilliant, lol. I loved them both, games, havent watched rugby for years, games changed too much for me. And league is fast morphin into a more boring version of nfl, sorry americanos, lol. But it will always have a relevance, embrace it, learn your history or risk repeating misteaks. 😂
Wigan stuffed the toffs and gave them a rugby lesson
This was a humiliation for rugby Union. It confirmed what everyone knew - that rugby league is vastly superior as a game and as entertainment.
+Bobby Crush *was vastly superior
only in england. if they played in nz wigan wouldve got crucified. union in england is pathetic.
+Jetz pro Would they fuck!!
+Jetz pro shuddup you plonker, who were the reigning rugby union world champs? who won it again 3 years later?? err nz? err no!!
bongodrumzz
At this point, Rugby League was so much better in terms of sport and athleticism. The Union lads had no chance.
And the league players today,the Australian Kangaroos would pump any union team in the world. Wish it happened so we can have a laugh
Massive stadiums, huge crowds, where was all the money going if the R.U. players were not paid.
The classic Wasps shirt. Still have mine
Unclassic Wasps shirt. Whole Wasp kit is a ripoff of Saracens’s kit.
As an American i dont know people watch rugby union. Rugby League and in particular the NRL has far more skill, speed and action.
RL is basically the same as American football only with less body armour but keeps the same "stop for a rest after every tackle" concept.
@@thesmithersy what? NFL does one tackle and they have a break for 2 minutes. Atleast Rugby League is continuous does not stop
@@manly4ever913 After a tackle, everyone stops for a few seconds in league.
@@thesmithersy I'd say Union is more like NFL. The game is in play for an average of 30 minutes. They stop for 2 minutes just to form a scrum. Spilling of the ball is more lenient in Union than league. Amount of fumbles I've seen in Union and they just allow play on
@@thesmithersy In union the backs are at rest for almost the whole game while the forwards bum each other rolling about on the ground.
Several posters have drawn our attention to the fact that in the past talented union players have succeeded in league. No one can cite a league player succeeding in union all those years ago. Despite league being played by more amateurs than professionals the Union administrators banned all who had played league from their game. There were a few exceptions, the armed forces and educational institutions.
Fitness was a factor when the two codes met 20+years ago. This factor would not have been relevant at schoolboy level. The only reason Cowley School was so successful at the Manchester and London School boy sevens and considered themselves to have had a bad 15's season if they lost a match was because they were privileged to be born in a rugby league town.
In Australia many Rugby internationals came from a Rugby League upbringing
Lapalad, yes that is also true now in the UK. Ireland is ranked top team in the world, I don't know if any ex league players are in their team but their coach was league.
There are no barriers now to movement between the codes and players cannot be criticised for following the money. Unfortunately Union has a big financial advantage.
@@brianroberts5672 The no barrier is why Rugby league is shooting up in many countries around the world, I recently watched games of Rugby League from the African nations championship. I also refereed RL in Germany, Czech Rep and Serbia no longer can any Union player who fancies playing RL face a life time ban.
Lapalad, good to hear the message is spreading. Keep up the good work!
Rugby League will always take the piss out of Union for fitness, toughness and most importantly entertainment 👍
@J G Don’t know what your point is in your reply to Andrew Neville.
Yep it’s so good, loads of those League players are now heavily involved in Union, and loving it.
Not anymore sunshine, RL is for morons who can’t understand multiple phase play…rucking, mauling, scrums, lineouts, kicking….and so on.
@J G That’s football not soccer
What a Wigan team, they did really well against the 8 man union side didn’t they? Whatever happened to them all? They look like they had a future unlike Wasps
If you were to pick the best 7 UK based rugby league players of the 1990s that'd more or less be this team. Not sure who you could add to improve things. Maybe Alan Tait, Scott Gibbs or John Bentley. Possibly Graham Steadman or Robbie Paul. Hard to argue the case though.
swing loooow xD hahahahahahahaha both codes are awesome though
Fun fact: my dad used to play for wasps in the 1990s and 2000s, his name is bobby wallis
RIP INGA
Just watched again what happened to the swing low boys. iff they played them now in the ahem pro era of union they would still get stuffed. Prawn sandwich any one LOL
I read the team sheets and thought Wasps would be hammered from the off. Great Wigan players and to be fair Dallaglio and Gommersal looked good.
Quinnell was injured as was Offiah, ref was bent as for two of wasps tries, knock on waved off, head high ignored, offside ignored. It wasn't the best team Wigan could have put out IMO.
I think Gommersal would have had a shot in league. they would have improved his strength and fitness
I Wonder what the likes Hanley ,Gill, Lydon , Bell, Gregory would of done to them a few years earlier?
Gill would have destroyed em and done his dance every time
52 12 wigan LOL
@@ourdeano42 the Henderson Gill boogie....🤣
I bet it took all the courage they had the rugby union hierarchy to swallow this on their manor!!!!!…….luv it !!!
The ref had the wrong shirt on....
Wigan just the best team in the world in any code in the 90,s without a doubt, Only need to look at a few of the Wigan team that have gone on to transform R,U ,n make it a better game, even now though though a R,L team would beat a R,U team hands down, R,L as moved way ahead,
dodgy ref, 15 point start, half fit offiah, crocked quinnell crocked henry paul yet wigan still smash them.
Nothing wrong with the reffing
@@teebrinner5939 yeah riiiiiiiiigt
@@grahamlowe7388 I'm a Wigan fan from the 80s and playing union is a big change, anyway they won easily
Never mind Wigan look powerfull theirs some bloody big lads in that union team!! pity they can't play rugby though!!!
State of that first 10 mins!!!
Jesus.
Downwould pressure his he having a laugh
typical rugby union
Stuart Barnes say no more
😂🏈🏉🍒🏉🍒
Stuart Barnes was a tw@t as a player and a biased ill informed tool as a commentator..
I would love to see this in modern times union wouldn't stand a chance
Imagine if a union team played the Australian Kangaroos lol,will be laughing for 80 minutes lol
Are top tier Union club sevens still played? Would be good to see current Super League champs compete today against current Union crop of professionals.
Would be the same result, we need learn off union though on how to attract the crowd. League is dying unfortunately. Should go back to the old rules and fuck sky off and put it back on BBC to get more interest
Offiah limps off. Up steps JR
Difficult to fathom. Wasps now gone forever.
Wonder what the NRL clubs would do to the Union boys ?
Demolish them one by one,as once a French union coach said league players are a different level to union players lol. And he is frenchie union coach lol
@@manly4ever913
Maybe that's what Matt Rogers thought in the split second before took on Josh Lewsey.
NRL players would wipe the floor with any rugby union side at league. In Union, they'd not get the ball.
But as 'demolishing' players. No NRL players couldn't do that.
@@robertcottam8824 who the hell is Lewsey never heard of him.
@@manly4ever913
Ask Matt Rogers.
Unfortunately modern day professional union has become bogged down in technicalities, so much so the crowd are applauding the interruptions I'm afraid apart from a few highlights this years six nations has become another bore fest and England are the chief culprits
Lots of nostalgia from the league boys. In what year did union surpass your sport? I'd say by 2000 the power shift was complete
Didnt Bradford Bulls go there in 2002 and arse everybody?
@@TheDodger74 yep
Profit shift you mean?
League is much superior to watch, as sports entertainment.
@@RobMorganest1983 Lol no. Never was, never will be
No name, union has improved enormously due to professionalism and law changes. The law changes, if I may point out to you, ape rugby league. No kicking directly into touch (except from inside your own 22); tap penalties (except back healing); have you seen a straight scrum feed recently?; knock ons formally just a fumble changed to readjustment. I'm old enough to have played Union when you had to play the ball with your foot in general play before picking it up. Union until recently valued kicking as much as a try; indeed there was a time when a drop goal was 4 points and in the very early days a try was 0 points.
Union has more components to its game, line outs, mauling, rucking and whilst they require special skills they also produce penalty after penalty and stoppage after stoppage. League is a much simpler game, is much faster and has always lays emphasis on handling the ball because that is the essence of the game and what spectators want to see. It is not surprising that many of the lads who played Union at school in a league town wiped the floor with other team but still described union as punt and grunt. Nevertheless I am pleased to see the changes in union.
9's is a better game. 7's there is just too much space
3:05 “Wasps in their traditional black”
Sorry, but the talkieoverman seems to be getting Wasps bemuddled with Saracens. Wasp’s traditional colours are (unsurprisingly) YELLOW AND BLACK HOOPS. Why would two traditional Londoner Union clubs both play in all black. Traditionally.
That ref was as bent as a nine bob note
Commentators as biased as the referee and crowd
Gary Connolly was imperious throughout the tournament.
And that's why league is faster and harder than union
No. League is boring and predictable. Union had also only been professional for two years.
@@MKRM27 take it your a ra ra
Catch the ball kick it have a maul gasp for air catch the ball kick it that's predictable
I agree mate at least its not just kick and clap
And then union clubs approached league coaches to coach them on there fitness
Not one of those wasps players could have played a season in league......not hard enough!
How did it go for Sam burgess englands best league player in union?
@@avebac1 good point...its a different game, i wish folks would stop comparing
@@avebac1 Robinson ended up the best ever union player and was only a good player in league. Union players are pussies
Phuck Ewe ‘the best ever’ you are having a laugh? He was a brilliant player, but never the 🐐
These people whinging about Wigan being professional, whilst playing in a massive modern stadium creating purely for Rugby Union.
Awesome to watch again.....and see 3 Wigan players become future wasps :-)
Hi mate who were they
Men against boys. Best bit was Wigan scoring and starting the rout just as the rah rahs had broken out a stirring rendition of their ode to slavery, smugly thinking the likes of dallagio and scrivener had got the better of inga and chariots 🤣
Why so much gloating here? If you ever have a chance to speak personally to Tuigamala and Robinson they have nothing but respect for Dallaglio and Gommersall and the union boys. Having watched an interview with Andy Farrell the other day i wager he also has the same opinion. Yet some fans seem to have some outdated class war agenda which is just bollocks nowadays. But fans never have to do the work and shed the blood eh? Just spout opinions
@@cre8scapeYT That Wigan team was a very special team - with a lot of ex rugby union players in it, or players that had experience of rugby union. I remember the Bath versus Wigan match in the rugby league game. Wigan won easily, but the person I remember the most was the Phil de Glanville. That guy gave 120% and earned my respect that night. He gave everything. This from a Wigan RL fan. I grew up in South Africa, but came to Wigan in the early 80s. Didn't know what RL was, but eventually learned to love the speed of the game. Nowadays I prefer RU, but I agree - there is a place for both codes.
@@seanroocroft1684 Great post. PdG was not the best player in his position but he made up for it with nous and grit. His son is now playing for bath. I came back to this post having watched the outstanding Aus vs NZ RL semi-final yesterday A really great match and better than most of the recent RU internationals i have watched. I think real rugby fans like you can appreciate rugby full stop. forget the code...
@@cre8scapeYT Definitely agree with you. There is a place for both codes.
Edwards and Farrell I wonder where they are now took working class league players to show union how rugby should be played it's about passing running and tackling not kicking the ball out that's the wimps way
RL❤
PS. Farell - traitor.
this is what happens when a professional team plays an amateur team in the amateur version. no league team in england could do this today.
Union went professional in 1995. Wigan won in 1996 and then Bradford Bulls won it in 2002..A full 7 years after union went pro.
The bulls did beat wasps 7 years later and Josh Lewsey was playing who was the England full back for the 2003 world cup winning team.
The world cup in 1995 was the begin of professionalism in rugby union ,in France , the players were paid,certainly, much less than they are now, but it was more than the average French salary
Arse hole u are clueless
Hahaha. Part-time amateurs actually thought they could beat a team of professionals. Middle-class arrogance. All I can say is that the union boys were lucky that they turned professional after Billy Boston had retired.
i'm guessing that someone who namechecks Billy Boston has heard of Wales
ah can't spake!
LOL. The Australian Rugby League teams belted Wigan. Imagine what they would have done to the Union cats
Check your history books pal, at the time Wigan had already pasted Australian teams in the world club challenge and previously had gone over to Aus and won the 7s comp. This was a weakened Wigan side playing two crocked players and a bent ref.
@@tonyfranklin8306 Yes Wigan were a great team in the 780's an d90's because they had all the stars and the other teams were weak. But when they played the Aussie teams in the Super league era they got hammered. In fact the weak Aussie teams were bashing all the English teams. And that was the era we had the breakaway competition, Super league and the original NRL.